Qualified lawyers

Updated 5 March 2025

This information is for international/overseas lawyers and UK lawyers.

Here are the steps you need to take before applying for admission as a solicitor of England and Wales. We also offer guidance on when to do this, but the steps do not have to be done in a set order.

You'll also find a personalised SQE checklist within mySRA (in 'My profile') that tracks your progress to admission and highlights next steps.

UK lawyers

UK qualified lawyers include:

Barrister of England and Wales (who has a full practising certificate)
Cost Lawyer
Chartered Legal Executive
CILEX Practitioner
Licensed Conveyancer
Patent Attorney
Scottish solicitor
Trade Mark Attorney.

For Northern Ireland or Republic of Ireland solicitors, please read your pathway.

Create a mySRA account and add your jurisdictions - do this first

Create a mySRA account - this is where you will tell us about your degree, apply for any SQE exemptions, and finally apply for admission. Find out how to create an account.
Tell us you are a qualified lawyer in mySRA. You do this in the 'My profile' section under 'Jurisdiction'. Please click 'add jurisdiction', select your professional title, and add the date you qualified. This automatically tells us you do not need to have qualifying work experience and any SQE2 exemptions you may be entitled to.
Create an SQE assessment account to book your exams and get your results. Find out how.
Please make sure the names match exactly on the two accounts.

Validate your degree - anytime

Your degree must be a UK degree or equivalent level 6 qualification and can be in any subject. Find out how we check and validate your degree.
You can also apply for equivalence to a degree using other qualifications and/or relevant work experience. Find out how to apply for an equivalence.
Barristers of England and Wales, Chartered Legal Executives and CILEX Practitioners do not need to go through the degree check and validation process.

Retrieve SQE assessment results and/or exemptions - passed all relevant exams

You can potentially apply for an SQE exemption based on your legal qualification and/or your individual qualifications/experience. Find out more about exemptions.
If you are granted an exemption from SQE2, you will also need to demonstrate your English or Welsh language competence.
You'll need to retrieve your SQE results in mySRA once you have passed all your required assessments. Log into mySRA, and in 'Start a new application' you'll find the 'Retrieve your SQE results' application.

Background checks and suitability - just before applying for admission

We check your suitability when you are applying for admission. You can also speak to us early if you have any potential concerns.
You will need to do a background check/screening.Once complete, you are ready to apply for admission. Find out how to apply for screening.

Applying for admission

When applying, you will choose 'Solicitors Qualifying Examination route' on the application. Find out more about applying for admission.
You will be asked to upload a copy of a certificate of good standing from all jurisdictions where you hold a legal professional qualification and have been admitted.
The certificate(s) must be less than three months old (we recommend that the date of issue is no longer than two months on the date you make your application) and confirm:
your date of admission
that you are in good standing
that you have not been subject to any disciplinary proceedings
that there are not any pending disciplinary proceedings against you
that you are currently entitled to practise.

Applying for a practising certificate - after choosing your admission date

Once you have chosen your admission date, you can apply for a practising certificate. Find out how to apply.