Getting overseas QWE signed off?

[hd112211]

I have been looking into the SQE route as an alternative to TC route due to my circumstances and wondered if anyone had details on the requirements to get overseas QWE signed off?

I’ve read on the SRA website that QWE can be attained overseas providing that it conforms to their criteria and that it is signed off on by a solicitor of England & Wales.

Does anyone know if the Solicitor needs to be currently practicing in England & Wales, or of any other specific requirements?

Thanks!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

I have been looking into the SQE route as an alternative to TC route due to my circumstances and wondered if anyone had details on the requirements to get overseas QWE signed off?

I’ve read on the SRA website that QWE can be attained overseas providing that it conforms to their criteria and that it is signed off on by a solicitor of England & Wales.

Does anyone know if the Solicitor needs to be currently practicing in England & Wales, or of any other specific requirements?

Thanks!

You need exposure to English law and be covering topics/competencies within the framework that the SRA has set. You will need an English qualified lawyer or a compliance officer (although I suspect they will need to have responsibilities for the U.K.) to sign off the experience. They don’t need to be based in the U.K. - if they are a solicitor they just have to hold a practising certificate for England and Wales.

If you are qualified in another jurisdiction you don’t need qualifying work experience though - you just need to pass the SQE assessments.

 

[hd112211]

You need exposure to English law and be covering topics/competencies within the framework that the SRA has set. You will need an English qualified lawyer or a compliance officer (although I suspect they will need to have responsibilities for the U.K.) to sign off the experience. They don’t need to be based in the U.K. - if they are a solicitor they just have to hold a practising certificate for England and Wales.

If you are qualified in another jurisdiction you don’t need qualifying work experience though - you just need to pass the SQE assessments.

Thank you Jessica! That’s answered my question. Now I can check if the work itself will be eligible.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Thank you Jessica! That’s answered my question. Now I can check if the work itself will be eligible.

The following pages of the SRA website will be useful:

Statement of solicitor competence

The Statement of Solicitor Competence sets out what solicitors need to be able to do to perform their role effectively.

www.sra.org.uk

Threshold standard for competencies

Because the competence statement is generic and applies to all solicitors, a threshold standard was developed to set out the level at which the competences in the competence statement should be performed upon qualification as a solicitor.

www.sra.org.uk

Statement of legal knowledge

The Statement of Legal Knowledge sets out the knowledge that solicitors are required demonstrate at the point of qualification.

www.sra.org.uk

 

[Kokean]

The following pages of the SRA website will be useful:

Statement of solicitor competence

The Statement of Solicitor Competence sets out what solicitors need to be able to do to perform their role effectively.

www.sra.org.uk

Threshold standard for competencies

Because the competence statement is generic and applies to all solicitors, a threshold standard was developed to set out the level at which the competences in the competence statement should be performed upon qualification as a solicitor.

www.sra.org.uk

Statement of legal knowledge

The Statement of Legal Knowledge sets out the knowledge that solicitors are required demonstrate at the point of qualification.

www.sra.org.uk

The following pages of the SRA website will be useful:

Statement of solicitor competence

The Statement of Solicitor Competence sets out what solicitors need to be able to do to perform their role effectively.

www.sra.org.uk

Threshold standard for competencies

Because the competence statement is generic and applies to all solicitors, a threshold standard was developed to set out the level at which the competences in the competence statement should be performed upon qualification as a solicitor.

www.sra.org.uk

Statement of legal knowledge

The Statement of Legal Knowledge sets out the knowledge that solicitors are required demonstrate at the point of qualification.

www.sra.org.uk

I am from Malaysia who seeks to do SQE via distance learning and sit for exams in home country for SQE1. Meanwhile, my observations is that we have many Barrister At Law qualified from UK and practising in Malaysia and can’t get solicitors in my radars. Therefore, it is very difficult for me to do like what you mentioned above. Nevertheless can I check if I can ask Barrister at Law who qualified in UK to sig off my QWE. TQ!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

I am from Malaysia who seeks to do SQE via distance learning and sit for exams in home country for SQE1. Meanwhile, my observations is that we have many Barrister At Law qualified from UK and practising in Malaysia and can’t get solicitors in my radars. Therefore, it is very difficult for me to do like what you mentioned above. Nevertheless can I check if I can ask Barrister at Law who qualified in UK to sig off my QWE. TQ!

They will need to be a solicitor rather than a barrister in England and Wales. A Barrister who can practice is England and Wales cannot sign off QWE unfortunately.