SQE for lawyers qualified outside England and Wales: exemptions explained

Do qualified lawyers have to take the SQE?

In most cases, yes. A lawyer qualified outside England and Wales must pass SQE1 and either pass SQE2 or be granted an SQE2 exemption – but does not need qualifying work experience. (SRA, qualified lawyers) (SRA, pathways to qualification)

For the SRA, a qualified lawyer is someone who holds a professional legal qualification that confers rights to practise in England and Wales or in another jurisdiction. To be admitted as a solicitor of England and Wales, a qualified lawyer needs (SRA, qualified lawyers):

• a degree in any subject, or an equivalent qualification;
• a pass in SQE1;
• a pass in SQE2, or an SQE2 exemption;
• to meet the SRA’s character and suitability requirements.

Can you be exempt from SQE1?

Rarely. The SRA describes SQE1 exemptions as very rare, with a high threshold: only one has been granted since 2021. (SRA, SQE1 exemption) To apply, you must be able to confirm all of the following:

• you have not failed SQE1 and are not waiting for SQE1 results;
• your qualification and experience cover all areas of English and Welsh law assessed in SQE1 – not only legislation and case law, but the processes and procedures used in practice and their application to real situations;
• the law of your jurisdiction is not substantially different from the law of England and Wales;
• your experience covers all the topics in the statement of legal knowledge, including ethics and professional conduct;
• you reach Level 3 of the SRA Threshold Standard – the level of a day-one solicitor.

Academic study alone, including the LPC, is not enough, and pre-qualification experience counts only if it was a mandatory part of qualifying as a lawyer. The SRA also says there are significant differences between the law of England and Wales and the laws of every jurisdiction it has reviewed so far, so relying on another legal system – even one based on English law – is not enough on its own. It does not assess partial equivalence: you must meet the full FLK1 or FLK2 content. (SRA, SQE1 exemption) (SRA, exemptions Q&A)

For most qualified lawyers, the practical conclusion is to plan for sitting SQE1.

Can you be exempt from SQE2?

An SQE2 exemption is not automatic either. You need at least one of these practice rights (SRA, SQE2 exemption):

• criminal litigation (including advising clients at the police station);
• civil litigation (dispute resolution);
• property practice;
• wills and intestacy, probate administration and practice;
• business organisations, rules and procedures.

You also need at least two years’ professional legal work experience (or equivalent), experience covering all the skills assessed in SQE2, and the Level 3 standard; and you must not have failed SQE2. If you hold only some of the practice rights, you must provide evidence of your skills, including spoken and written advocacy before a court or in litigation. (SRA, SQE2 exemption) The SRA’s exemption finder shows qualifications it has already assessed and the evidence each one needs. (SRA, SQE exemptions)

Lawyers qualified elsewhere in the UK and Ireland

• Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland solicitors do not need to sit the SQE assessments or complete QWE. They need a degree or equivalent and a certificate of good standing from every jurisdiction where they are admitted. (SRA, pathways to qualification) (SRA, UK lawyer agreed exemption)
• Scottish solicitors who qualified through Scotland’s full qualification route are exempt from SQE2, but must apply for the exemption (no fee). They can also apply for an individual SQE1 exemption. (SRA, UK lawyer agreed exemption)
• Other lawyers qualified in England and Wales – such as barristers with a full practising certificate, chartered legal executives, CILEX practitioners and licensed conveyancers – can apply for an SQE2 exemption, which is decided case by case. (SRA, exemptions Q&A)

How do you apply, and what does it cost?

You can sit SQE1 while waiting for an SQE2 exemption decision; your SQE1 result does not affect it. If the exemption is refused, you must pass SQE1 before you can sit SQE2. There is no time limit for sitting any remaining assessments after an exemption. (SRA, exemptions Q&A)

English or Welsh language proficiency

Most candidates show their proficiency by passing SQE2. If you are exempt from SQE2, you must show it before applying for admission – either because the qualification your exemption is based on was assessed in English or Welsh, or with a Secure English Language Test certificate dated no more than three years before you rely on it, for example IELTS (Academic) UKVI with 7.5 overall or Pearson PTE (Academic) UKVI with 71. (SRA, language proficiency)

Your degree

An overseas degree can satisfy the degree requirement if it is equivalent to a UK level 6 qualification. The SRA’s validation service checks this through mySRA for £54.84. The check does not confirm the language your degree was taught in. (SRA, degree check)

Preparing for SQE1 as a lawyer from another jurisdiction

• Study English and Welsh law, not comparative law. SQE1 tests the knowledge of English and Welsh law expected of a newly qualified solicitor of England and Wales. (SRA, SQE1 Assessment Specification) A familiar rule from home can make a wrong option feel right – our guide to single best answer questions covers that trap.
• Give practice and procedure real time. The SRA stresses that SQE1 covers processes and procedures used in practice, not only legislation and case law (SRA, SQE1 exemption) – in subjects such as Dispute Resolution, Property Law and Practice, probate and Criminal Law and Practice.
• Know the format. From January 2027, each FLK has 170 questions in two sessions of 85. (SRA announcement, 10 September 2026) See what FLK1 and FLK2 cover and the 2027 dates.

To find out which areas of English and Welsh law need the most work, try the free SQE1 quick test or see our SQE1 course.

High Performer Certs is an independent study platform. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), and it is not authorised or accredited by the SRA or the SQE assessment provider. The SQE and SOLICITORS QUALIFYING EXAMINATION trade marks are the property of and are used under licence from the Solicitors Regulation Authority.