Qualified lawyers - becoming a solicitor

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Graffin

Guidance outlines the requirements and route for qualified lawyers to become a solicitor in the UK. It covers eligibility to practise in the UK or an international jurisdiction, the need for a level 6 qualification, and SQE assessment requirements (SQE1 and SQE2). It also explains practice rights across criminal, civil, property, and wills/probate, plus UK practice title categories and market options in England and Wales. SQE exemptions are described, including evidence expectations, limitations, and practical application tips for mySRA account setup and forms.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time33 min

AccessFree to download

Requirements for becoming a solicitor

SQE assessment overview

SQE1 details

SQE2 details

Practice rights

Working in the UK: legal titles

Options in England and Wales markets

SQE exemptions

SQE1 exemption rules

Top tips for SQE exemptions

SQE2 exemption

Sensitivity: General Qualified lawyers – becoming a solicitor • Must hold a legal qualification which allows you to practise in the UK or an international jurisdiction • You’ll need: – Degree or other level 6 qualification – Pass the SQE (made up of two parts-SQE1 and SQE2) or an exemption – Meet our character and suitability requirements • NB – no requirement for qualifying work experience Sensitivity: General SQE1 • Two parts to SQE1 – Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) 1 – Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) 2 • Identifying legal principles and applying them to client problems and transactions • Taken over two days – can be done in UK or international centres Sensitivity: General SQE2 • Tests practical legal skills and functioning legal knowledge equally • Simulating tasks carried out by a solicitor in practice through written and oral tests • Written – taken over three day at UK or international centres • Oral – take over two days at UK centres (Cardiff, Manchester and London) Sensitivity: General Practice rights • Conduct criminal litigation (including advising clients at the police station) • Conduct civil litigation/dispute resolution • Property practice • Wills and intestacy, probate administration and practice • Business organisations rules and procedures Sensitivity: General Working in the UK-Lawyers and other titles • Solicitors – reserved legal services, alongside other services / general legal advice • Registered foreign lawyers – some legal services – manager or owner • Other regulated lawyers – reserved legal services alongside other services – includes barristers, licensed conveyancers, immigration advisers • Non-regulated lawyers – on-restricted legal services / general legal advice – such as professional will-writers Sensitivity: General Options in the English and Welsh legal services markets • Provide non-reserved / restricted legal services • Registered foreign lawyer • Seek admission as a solicitor or another type of regulated lawyer Sensitivity: General SQE exemptions – what are they? • All qualified lawyers can apply for exemptions • Agreed or individual based on qualifications and experience • Full list of agreed [exemptions-](exemptions-sra.org.uk/sqe-exemptions)[sra.org.uk/sqe-exemptions](exemptions-sra.org.uk/sqe-exemptions) Sensitivity: General SQE1 exemption • Cannot grant partial exemptions – only all of FLK1 or FLK2 • Your qualifications and experience need to cover all areas of law tested in SQE1 • Must be at the standard of a newly qualified solicitor in England and Wales – level three of our Threshold Standard ([sra.org.uk/threshold](sra.org.uk/threshold) ) Sensitivity: General Top tips for SQE exemptions • Create your mySRA account – make sure you use the same personal details when also opening your SQE assessment account • Read our exemptions [information-](information-sra.org.uk/sqe-exemptions)[sra.org.uk/sqe-exemptions](information-sra.org.uk/sqe-exemptions) • Read [our guidance-](our guidance-sra.org.uk/exemption-form)[sra.org.uk/exemption-form](our guidance-sra.org.uk/exemption-form) • Read the application [form in mySRA-](form in mySRA-sra.org.uk/mySRA)[sra.org.uk/mySRA](form in mySRA-sra.org.uk/mySRA)‘Apply for qualified lawyer exemption from the SQE assessments' Sensitivity: General SQE2 exemption • Can apply for an SQE2 exemption before sitting the SQE1 assessment – no limitations on when to apply • Upload evidence of your qualification, a copy of your admission certificate is the best evidence • Provide a reference to show at least two years' professional legal work experience

FAQs

What requirements are needed for qualified lawyers to become a solicitor in the UK?

You must hold a legal qualification that allows practice in the UK or an international jurisdiction, have a level 6 qualification, and either pass the SQE (SQE1 and SQE2) or qualify for an exemption. You also need to meet character and suitability requirements.

How does the SQE1 assessment work and what does it test?

SQE1 has two parts: Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) 1 and FLK 2. It focuses on identifying legal principles and applying them to client problems and transactions, taken over two days in UK or international centres.

What are the key points about SQE exemptions and evidence?

All qualified lawyers can apply for exemptions based on agreed or individual qualifications and experience. For SQE1, exemptions cannot be partial (only all of FLK1 or FLK2), and evidence must cover all areas of law tested; for SQE2, you can apply before SQE1 and must upload evidence such as a copy of an admission certificate and references showing at least two years of professional legal work experience.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Graffin