SQE qualifying work experience (QWE) explained

Passing SQE1 and SQE2 is not enough on its own to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. You also need two years of qualifying work experience (QWE), confirmed by a solicitor. Here is what that means in practice.

What counts as QWE

The SRA's qualifying work experience guidance sets the rules. In short, QWE is:

• two years full time, or the part-time equivalent

• with up to four organisations, paid or voluntary, in England and Wales or abroad

• real legal work, not simulated exercises

• a chance to develop at least two of the competences in the SRA's Statement of Solicitor Competence

• gained before, during or after your SQE assessments

Paralegal roles, law clinics, placements and training contracts can all qualify. The SRA will not say in advance whether a particular role counts, so check yours against the self-assessment questions in its guidance.

How QWE is confirmed

QWE is not graded. You request confirmation through your mySRA account, and a solicitor of England and Wales or a compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) confirms three things: how long you worked, that you had the opportunity to develop the competences and that no concerns arose about your character and suitability.

Keep a simple log of your matters as you go. Rebuilding two years of evidence at the end is far harder, and a solicitor can decline to confirm work they cannot verify.

No solicitor at your organisation?

This is common for paralegals in firms without a solicitor, in-house teams, overseas roles and voluntary work. The SRA allows a solicitor from outside your organisation to confirm QWE, as long as they have reviewed your work and had feedback from your supervisor.

Hunnings Consultancy's external confirming solicitor service does exactly this, reviewing your evidence remotely against the SRA competences. Its article on QWE and SRA spot checks explains why you should keep copies of that evidence until you are admitted. Qualifico has no commercial arrangement with Hunnings Consultancy.

Already qualified as a lawyer?

Qualified lawyers do not need QWE, and can apply to the SRA for an exemption from SQE2 rather than sitting it. Hunnings Consultancy publishes plenty of guidance for lawyers qualifying from other jurisdictions, including who can act as your supervisor on an SQE2 exemption application, and offers a review service for SQE2 exemption applications.

How Qualifico helps

QWE often runs alongside study. Qualifico is a self-study platform covering SQE1 (FLK1 and FLK2) with question practice and flashcards, and SQE2 with Written Response practice on the web app, which gives an automated, indicative mark and the mark-scheme points you missed. For the wider route, see what the SQE involves or the SQE resource hub.