Who Determines What Qualifies as QWE

Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) is a crucial component in the journey to becoming a solicitor in England and Wales, allowing aspiring solicitors to gain practical, hands-on experience while developing key professional competencies. The determination of what qualifies as QWE is shaped by guidelines that prioritise the development of essential legal skills and competencies. Various organisations, including law firms, in-house legal teams, law clinics, and even unregulated providers of legal services, are now eligible to offer opportunities that qualify as QWE. The flexibility in where QWE can be obtained broadens access for candidates to diverse legal environments, enriching their overall training experience.

For work to be recognised as QWE, it must be fundamentally grounded in legal work and the provision of legal services. This means that the candidate should engage in tasks that allow them to develop the core skills outlined in the statement of solicitor competence. These skills include but are not limited to ethical judgment, client handling, and understanding legal procedures. The aim is for candidates to gain a broad range of experiences across these competencies, enabling them to better understand the full scope of a solicitor's role and to develop the skills needed to perform effectively in different legal contexts. Therefore, the work undertaken should not be narrowly focused but instead offer exposure to a variety of legal tasks and challenges, simulating the real-world environment solicitors operate in.

The assessment of whether the work qualifies as QWE ultimately rests with a solicitor or a Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP) who confirms that the candidate has had meaningful opportunities to develop the required competencies. This confirmation is more than just a sign-off; it signifies that the candidate's experience aligns with the professional standards expected of a solicitor. To ensure that this happens, it is recommended that at the start of the QWE period, the candidate and the supervising solicitor or COLP agree on the nature of the work and how it will contribute to the development of the necessary competencies. This proactive approach helps in setting clear expectations and ensures that the candidate’s work experience is focused on achieving the desired professional growth.

In conclusion, the determination of what qualifies as QWE is guided by the legal nature of the work, its alignment with the development of solicitor competencies, and the confirmation by a supervising solicitor or COLP. If these standards are consistently maintained, QWE can ensure that aspiring solicitors receive practical, varied, and competency-driven experience that prepares them for the demands of the profession.