Our aim is to serve the public interest and protect consumers of legal services.
We monitor solicitors and their firms to make sure they are complying with the rules.
We exchange information with other regulators and law enforcement agencies in order to protect the public.
We investigate concerns about solicitors' standards of practice and compliance with the rules, where necessary taking regulatory action such as reprimanding the solicitor.
When necessary, we close down solicitors' firms so as to protect clients and the wider public, and returning papers and monies to their owners.
We refer solicitors to the independent Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and deal with the prosecutions.
We run a compensation fund to help people who have lost money as a result of a solicitor's dishonesty or failure to account for money they have received.
Dear hello I m advocate akhlaq from Pakistan I ve bar high court license last 10 yr whether SRA give me exemption because my dream law practice in London ❤
Hi, qualifying work experience (QWE) must be in roles providing legal services that give you the opportunity to develop the competencies (at least two) and skills needed to be a solicitor. We'd suggest you take a look at the competencies to see if your role gives you this opportunity. We have a training template that sets these out and might be useful for recording your evidence in order to get the confirmation needed. In total, you'll need two years' QWE full time or equivalent and it must be confirmed by a solicitor of England Wales (or a compliance officer for legal practice we regulate). www.sra.org.uk/become-solicitor/sqe/qualifying-work-experience-candidates/qwe-training-template www.sra.org.uk/become-solicitor/sqe/qualifying-work-experience-candidates/
I have a question about signing off by a solicitor that SRA regulated. I am based in the USA. I am interested in doing SQE and be admitted as a solicitor in the England and Wales. I have 15 years of experience working in the law firm and in house legal team and fulfilled the QWE. How can I get a solicitor confirming my experience?
Hi, we are sorry for the delay in replying. The solicitor of England and Wales confirming your qualifying work experience does not have to work for same organisation as you. However, they will need to have: - reviewed your work during the relevant period of work experience - received feedback from the person or persons supervising you. www.sra.org.uk/become-solicitor/sqe/qualifying-work-experience-candidates/
We want to clarify a point in the webinar on whether an individual can remain employed as a paralegal following admission. If an individual is admitted as a solicitor, they can still be employed by a firm as a paralegal. They will, however, still need to have a practising certificate. The title of their role is a matter for the firm. We would not interfere provided that it is not misleading to clients. As with the current approach to qualification, firms will want to have conversations with individuals during qualification about the potential roles and opportunities available after admission.
Just came across this.... Great conversation to be had. Well done the SRA for at least taking the 1st step. Remembering that is all it is. It takes systemic action when these issues regarding racism occurs in practice. Race and class operate very differently and should not be talked about as if they are the same or suffer from the exact same consequences in their disadvantage. Just like one couldn't equate sex or disability discrimination with race. They can be intersectional but STILL operate independently in their consequence. As one of the panel members expressed so very, very well, class can be invisible, hidden via education process or go ignored but ethnicity cannot. As every highly successful Black person will tell you of their heinous encounters with racism despite their success and achievements. When I apply for a job, as a Black Woman, I'll look at the Company page and if I see a whole sea of White faces and maybe 1 Asian person and 'exceptionally' 1 Black person, I know it is not an environment for me because it's recruitment tells me there is clearly racism operating in that environment and they are not doing enough (if anything) to redress any imbalances. A token person of colour one can point to to show 'diversity' is an insidious part of the manipulation of racism and it's games, calculated to keep the status quo intact.
We just wanted to pick up on one additional point in response to feedback. For clarification, if you are a qualified lawyer who has completed the LPC - and are therefore exempt from the MCT - you must pass the QLTS OSCE, meet the character and suitability requirements and apply for admission by 2021. That is correct, but it is worth adding that due to the disruption caused by Covid-19, we at the SRA will also allow those who have passed the OSCE to apply for a waiver from the requirement to apply for admission before 1 September 2021. This is as long as the candidate has been admitted in another jurisdiction as a qualified lawyer before 1 September 2021. If you a candidate in this situation, you will have until 31 December 2021 to apply for admission .
Any idea on what unis are offering course on SQE for next year? Haven't seen many universities offering any for next as of yet. Given that student will need to apply soon for the next academic year shouldn't there be more on this?
Hi Ojidur, the training market is still emerging at the moment, so we won’t know exactly what all the options will look like until after the SQE is introduced. However it looks like there will be a range of different ways to prepare for the SQE - from full on courses to shorter, sharper courses for those who don’t need a full course. We have heard from providers who are considering producing preparatory materials. There are also universities considering incorporating SQE into their law degree courses. A full list of providers is available on our website: www.sra.org.uk/sra/policy/sqe/training-provider-list/
@@SRAsolicitors thanks so much for getting back to me. That helps, I come from and engineering background and so have no law experience and it was just concerning to see that not enough announcements have been made by institutions as of yet
How many years post qualified does a solicitor need to be before they can sign you off? Also, do they need any additional training or qualifications or authorizations in order to be able to sign off QWE?
The individual signing off the QWE only needs to be admitted to the roll of solicitors of England and Wales, they do not require and post qualifications or additional training. For more information - www.sra.org.uk/qwe
@@SRAsolicitors Hi, I think you misunderstood... I am not enquiring about the candidates... My query is how many years experience does the solicitor signing them off need before they can sign them off, if any? The link you sent is unclear... Many thanks...
@@BBHair1 As mentioned in our first comment the individual signing off the QWE only needs to be admitted to the roll of solicitors of England and Wales, they do not require and post qualifications or additional training once admitted.
The individual signing off the QWE is required to be an admitted solicitor of England and Wales, they can be from outside the organisation you are gaining your experience from. For more information - www.sra.org.uk/qwe
I think this is a fantastic move from the SRA to alter the route for becoming a solicitor. It provides more flexibility and is certainly more appealing to a person like me, who has undertaken a alternative career after completing their LLB. I’ll certainly be returning to the legal industry, and hopefully I can count my earlier 1 year paralegal experience. Thank you so much SRA!!!!
This is the most positive aspect of the new regime. The flexibilbity could mean an end to never ending paralegal work in the hope of getting a training contract.....
Some paralegals should not be allowed to 'qualify' as they're dishonest - as happens in regulatory departments. Honesty is the hallmark of a profession, yet many, many lawyers fail to practise with integrity and turn a blind eye to the abuse and misrepresentation of healthcare professionals in England.
If there are no essay questions, just multiple choice and no writing skills in SQE1 the legal professional will be fundamentally dumbed down. The fact BAME people in the tests did badly on the written essay questions and had poor written English is not a reason to remove that element as good written and spoken English is a key skill for solicitors. The earlier we can weed out people with poor skills in that area the better so they are not let loose on the general public. We need to ensure that those passing SQE1 have the skills of someone with a 3 year law degree or who would have passed the GDL. The first quesiton they show is wrong - why is the client able to sue - you are able to sue anyone. It misses a vital word - "successfully". Is anyone vetting these questions who understands proper English? I could sue the prime minster tomorrow for breach of covenant. I am allowed to do that. i am able to do that.; I can start the claim. I will not win but I can sue. Why should the student have to read in the word successfully?
I agree with you and I'm a BAME! Personally I find it offensive to re-configure means of testing just because of statistics that are unfavourably. The GDL through the Independent Case study Report of 4,500 and the closed book exams (which would have an element of essay style questions) is the best way for ALL people to prepare for a potential career in Law.
Poor questions... Only the person writing could feasibly pass! I wonder if they tested these on students who were not solicitors, or merely, qualified, experienced lawyers. This is only SQE1! Remember this is supposed to be degree level/lpc?!? I.e those without a law degree should also be able to at least attempt this!
