Are you seeking information on how you can become a solicitor in England and Wales but need to learn of the recent transformation? Well, you need not worry as we guide you from scratch.
Well, you may consider LPC the conventional pathway for motivating aspiring solicitors with a relevant law degree from the UK or some equivalent recognized institution. These institutions help or assist aspiring solicitors with the relevant and necessary legal information and even enhance their practical skills, which will help them further in their profession.
On the contrary, the QLTS offered a lucrative opportunity for proficient and experienced lawyers from outside England and Wales. This scheme probably helped them showcase their existing legal skills and even enabled them to bridge the gap so that they could practice as solicitors within the English and Welsh legal systems. This scheme probably analyzed their knowledge and expertise with the help of a series of exams and practical exercises. This further ensured whether their posed skills and expertise work efficiently within the specific legal framework or not.
But something happened in September 2021 that was very important. With the introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), the QLTS was largely superseded and is now the main path for internationally qualified advocates to obtain solicitor qualification. With this shift, a more centralized and standardized process was created, inspiring all aspiring solicitors, regardless of any legal expertise or background.
What was the QLTS?
Experienced solicitors from outside of England and Wales who desired to practice as solicitors inside the borders of the English and Welsh legal systems were specifically catered to by the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS). By bridging the gap between the current legal knowledge and the particular requirements for solicitors in England and Wales, this scheme provided a special path for the solicitors.
Moreover, there are two distinct parts which are included in the QLTS assessment, specifically:
- Multiple Choice Test (MCT)
The multiple-choice Test (MCT) is a computed-generated test in which the candidate is evaluated based on their level of understanding of the core legal principles relevant to English and Welsh law. This test ensures the candidate’s basic knowledge across various legal areas.
- Occupational Skills Course Assessment (OSCE)
This test covers a candidate’s practical knowledge and assesses their ability to use their legal knowledge and skills in simulated real-world scenarios. OSCE covers the basic tasks of a lawyer, such as legal writing, client interviewing, oral presentation, and case analysis.
QLTS only requires a candidate to fulfill their Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) before undergoing the assessments, as opposed to SQE. It further provides flexibility for experienced lawyers who might have yet to gain prior experience within the English and Welsh legal systems. With QLTS, a candidate can even reappear to retake the test as many times as they want if they still need to succeed initially.
Why Did the QLTS Change? (Reasons for Introducing SQE)
SQE was brought out in September 2021 as a unified qualifying mechanism for solicitors in England and Wales, ushering in an era of reform. The end of the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS) resulted from an attempt to find a more uniform and efficient system that would meet the universal standards.
Let’s have a quick read to some key reasons for this change:
- Single Qualification Route
Before the SQE was introduced, there were separate pathways for different backgrounds. The QLTS existed for internationally qualified lawyers, while the Legal Practice Course (LPC) served those with UK law degrees. With SQE, the aim was to introduce a single and systematic route for all aspiring solicitors, regardless of their educational background and prior legal expertise. It served as a more transparent and consistent qualification procedure.
- Standardized Knowledge and Skills
The introduction of SQE was also to ensure a uniform system across all newly qualified solicitors. The main aim of SQE is to ensure that everyone undergoes similar assessments, which in turn guarantees that all solicitors possess a robust foundation in the core legal principles and practical capabilities required for the profession.
- Potential Improvement in Quality
The goal of implementing SQE was to improve the caliber of recently qualified solicitors as well. SQE focuses on both practical skills and theoretical knowledge. The two-stage assessment proposed by SQE might lead to a more prepared group of solicitors who are equipped with relevant knowledge to enter the profession.
What is the SQE?
The SQE, (Solicitors Qualifying Examination) which replaced the QLTS (Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme) will be the key route available to every future solicitor in England and Wales has been introduced since September 2021. The SQE introduced a seamless, unified process which brought all solicitors skills and knowledge to the attention of the public almost instantly.
There are two distinct stages of which the SQE comprises of, they are:
- SQE1: Functioning Legal Knowledge
The candidates’ knowledge and abilities are evaluated at this point. In order to practice as a solicitor in England and Wales, the candidate must be aware of the relevant legal principles. This computer-based test is available for attempt anywhere in the world, giving applicants the freedom to show up from any location.
- SQE2: Practical Legal Skills
This now is the overall purpose of the test and examining possibilities of using the candidates’ legal education and experience in a real-life scenario. This implies that the candidate should be able to give practical examples on matters such as conducting case analysis, client interviews, scouting for legal research, writing legal briefs, among others. Nonetheless, SQE2 can be attempted in England and Wales only and not everywhere in the world as the case applies to SQE1 which can be taken anywhere in the world.
Key Differences Between QLTS and SQE
| Feature | QLTS | SQE |
| Who can take it? | Qualified lawyers from outside England and Wales | All aspiring solicitors (law graduates, non-graduates, paralegals, qualified foreign lawyers) |
| Assessment format | Multiple Choice Test (MCT) & Occupational Skills Course Assessment (OSCE) | SQE1 (Functioning Legal Knowledge) & SQE2 (Practical Legal Skills) |
| Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) | Not required | Required (generally 2 years; exceptions for qualified foreign lawyers) |
| Number of attempts | Unlimited | 3 attempts per stage within 6 years |
Conclusion
The shift from QLTS to SQE in September 2021 highlights a significant modernisation of the solicitor qualification procedure in England and Wales. As discussed above, QLTS previously catered specifically to qualified foreign lawyers, which offered a separate route for them to bridge the gap to practice law within the English and Welsh legal systems.
But the SQE waltzed its way to substitute the whole process as soon as it was branded into the industry with its feature of a single qualification route for all the contestants for the position of solicitor; no matter whether they possessed a background qualified or not.
Hence, if you’re willing to pursue a career as a solicitor in England and Wales, it’s essential to have in-depth knowledge of the SQE system.
