Anyone qualified early as a solicitor via existing QWE + passing SQE1 & 2?

[farrow]

Hi all,

I’m hoping to hear from anyone who has experience (or knows someone) who qualified as a solicitor “early” by using existing Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) plus passing both SQE1 and SQE2, rather than completing a full two-year training contract/graduate scheme. (No one replied to this old thread)

Questions:

• Has anyone here qualified early this way, or know someone who has?
• How did your firm handle the transition? Did you move straight into an NQ (newly qualified) role, or did you face any challenges?
• Did you encounter any pushback from HR or supervisors about “completing the programme” versus qualifying as soon as you met the SRA requirements?
• If you had to leave your firm, how did you approach applying for NQ roles as an early qualifier?

Would really appreciate any insights, tips, or stories.

 

[Jessica Booker]

My general advice is not to qualify until you know you have got an NQ role lined up, whether that is with your current firm or another organisation. The process is fairly quick with the SRA and if you qualify without an NQ role lined up, you risk being "over qualified" but "under experienced". This is one of the downsides of the SQE qualification process - the SRA's requirements are much lower than what firms expect, especially as the QWE requirement for the SRA is very basis (and a very low benchmark) while firms will value your experience more than anything else when thinking whether you are suitable for an NQ role.

People will not get push back from firms/employers if their QWE has given them exposure to NQ levels of responsibilities. The issue is that many looking to qualify via QWE over a TC won't have gained the necessary level of responsibilities to operate at the firm's/employer's expectations. I am hearing of people who are now qualified but are still in the paralegal roles they were in before qualifying. The organisation they are working for either doesn't have NQ roles or the firm does not see the individual operating at an NQ level. They also can struggle in applying for external roles if they are competing with NQs who have done a traditional TC and have had higher levels of responsibility.

Saying that, qualifying via QWE outside of a TC can work well. It can work well if your two years' experience is in one specialist area, especially if that area is in demand. If you have effectively been operating at a trainee/NQ level throughout the two years, then you can be an attractive candidate, both internally and externally. But you have to be confident that your experience is of that level.

I think it is generally easier to qualify in an existing role than it is to compete in the external market. To qualify internally, you need to have career development and performance conversations through appraisal and feedback systems to see whether the firm will be able to offer you an NQ role.

 

[farrow]

My general advice is not to qualify until you know you have got an NQ role lined up, whether that is with your current firm or another organisation. The process is fairly quick with the SRA and if you qualify without an NQ role lined up, you risk being "over qualified" but "under experienced". This is one of the downsides of the SQE qualification process - the SRA's requirements are much lower than what firms expect, especially as the QWE requirement for the SRA is very basis (and a very low benchmark) while firms will value your experience more than anything else when thinking whether you are suitable for an NQ role.

People will not get push back from firms/employers if their QWE has given them exposure to NQ levels of responsibilities. The issue is that many looking to qualify via QWE over a TC won't have gained the necessary level of responsibilities to operate at the firm's/employer's expectations. I am hearing of people who are now qualified but are still in the paralegal roles they were in before qualifying. The organisation they are working for either doesn't have NQ roles or the firm does not see the individual operating at an NQ level. They also can struggle in applying for external roles if they are competing with NQs who have done a traditional TC and have had higher levels of responsibility.

Saying that, qualifying via QWE outside of a TC can work well. It can work well if your two years' experience is in one specialist area, especially if that area is in demand. If you have effectively been operating at a trainee/NQ level throughout the two years, then you can be an attractive candidate, both internally and externally. But you have to be confident that your experience is of that level.

I think it is generally easier to qualify in an existing role than it is to compete in the external market. To qualify internally, you need to have career development and performance conversations through appraisal and feedback systems to see whether the firm will be able to offer you an NQ role.

thanks for your reply. yeah, that’s what my googling was telling me too but it’s great to have this confirmed.

Bummer though! Also my understanding is that if you are NQ through the SQE route you are not allowed to apply for training contracts, even though it’s basically just a grad programme? (Different under the old LPC).

 

[Jessica Booker]

thanks for your reply. yeah, that’s what my googling was telling me too but it’s great to have this confirmed.

Bummer though! Also my understanding is that if you are NQ through the SQE route you are not allowed to apply for training contracts, even though it’s basically just a grad programme? (Different under the old LPC).

Most firms will not consider you for a training contract because you have qualified and they will expect that if you are qualified you won’t want to take a step back in terms of pay, responsibility and career progression. There are few exceptions, but most won’t consider you suitable for an entry level position if you have two years experience.