What do you need to be a solicitor in England and Wales?

• Becoming a solicitor in England and Wales involves completing a degree or equivalent, passing the SQE stages, accumulating two years of QWE, and passing the SRA's character check. The process can take five to eight years and is flexible, allowing various educational routes including apprenticeships and non-law degrees with GDL or integrated courses. Success depends on thorough preparation, strategic QWE placements, and understanding the character assessment requirements.

Becoming a solicitor in England and Wales requires four core elements: a degree or equivalent Level 6/7 qualification, passing both stages of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), completing two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE), and satisfying the Solicitors Regulation Authority's (SRA) character and suitability assessment. Understanding what you need to be a solicitor is the first step to planning a realistic, well-structured path into the profession. Qualification timelines typically range from 5 to 8 years, depending on your chosen route and funding arrangements. This guide breaks down every requirement clearly, so you can plan with confidence.

What educational qualifications do you need to become a solicitor?

A law degree is not mandatory to qualify as a solicitor. The SRA accepts any undergraduate degree in any subject, provided it is at Level 6 or above on the Regulated Qualifications Framework. What matters is that you can demonstrate the legal knowledge required to pass the SQE examinations.

That said, a law degree provides a strong foundation for SQE1 and is preferred by many law firms because of the depth of legal knowledge it builds. Non-law graduates typically complete a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), also known as a law conversion course, before attempting SQE1. The GDL condenses core legal subjects into one intensive year of study.

The main educational routes into the profession are:

Solicitor apprenticeships combine paid employment with SQE preparation over a period of roughly 5 to 6 years. Hours worked during the apprenticeship automatically count towards QWE, making this route particularly efficient for school leavers or career changers who cannot afford full-time university study.

Overseas qualifications are also recognised, provided they are validated through UK ENIC, the national agency for international qualifications. If your degree was awarded outside the UK, you will need a statement of comparability from UK ENIC confirming it meets Level 6 or above.

Pro Tip: If you hold a non-law degree, do not assume the GDL is your only option. Some SQE preparation providers offer integrated courses that combine legal knowledge teaching with SQE1 revision, which can be more cost-effective than a standalone GDL.

How do the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) stages work?

The SQE replaced the Legal Practice Course (LPC) as the standard route to qualification. It has two stages, and passing SQE1 is a prerequisite for SQE2. Both stages are set and assessed by Kaplan on behalf of the SRA.

Here is how each stage works:

1. SQE1 tests your legal knowledge across subjects including contract law, tort, criminal law, property law, equity and trusts, and constitutional law. It consists of two written papers, each containing 180 multiple-choice questions. 2. SQE2 assesses practical legal skills. You are tested on client interviewing, advocacy, case and matter analysis, legal research, legal writing, and drafting. These are assessed through a series of oral and written tasks. 3. Order of sitting is technically flexible, but SQE1 must be passed before you can sit SQE2. Most candidates sit SQE1 first and use the result to guide their SQE2 preparation. 4. Preparation routes vary widely. Law graduates typically revise and sit SQE1 with less additional study. Non-law graduates face a steeper challenge because candidates without a law degree may face greater challenges preparing for SQE1, making structured preparation courses strongly advisable. 5. Resits are permitted. There is no limit on the number of attempts, though each resit carries a fee and adds time to your qualification timeline.

The SQE framework is designed to be accessible regardless of educational background, but the breadth of SQE1 should not be underestimated. It covers more legal subjects than most law degrees teach in depth, so targeted revision is critical.

Pro Tip: Sit a full SQE1 mock examination under timed conditions at least six weeks before your actual sitting. The multiple-choice format rewards speed and pattern recognition, not just knowledge. Practising under exam conditions is the single most effective preparation method.

What is Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) and how can you complete it?

QWE is the practical experience component of the solicitor qualification. It replaces the old training contract system and is considerably more flexible. You must complete the equivalent of two years of full-time legal work experience, but QWE can be accumulated part-time, across multiple organisations, and in non-consecutive periods. There is no maximum time limit to complete it.

The types of placements that qualify include:

• Paid roles in law firms, in-house legal teams, or the Crown Prosecution Service
• Unpaid placements or pro bono work at legal advice clinics
• Paralegal positions and legal secretary roles where legal skills are actively developed
• Work completed during a solicitor apprenticeship
• Placements at up to four different organisations, which can be combined to reach the two-year total

The key requirement is that a solicitor must sign off your QWE, confirming that you developed legal skills during the placement. This means purely administrative roles in a legal setting will not qualify unless you can demonstrate genuine legal skill development.

Pro Tip: Do not treat QWE as a box-ticking exercise. The SRA expects you to demonstrate competence across a range of legal skills. Seek placements in at least two different areas of law, such as property and litigation, to build a genuinely broad skill set that will also make you more attractive to employers.

Record-keeping is critical. The SRA requires you to maintain a detailed log of your QWE, including dates, the organisation, the supervising solicitor, and the skills you developed. Losing this documentation can cause serious delays to your admission application. Understanding ID verification procedures used in legal practice is one example of the practical compliance knowledge you will develop during QWE in a conveyancing context.

What are the character and suitability requirements to become a solicitor?

The SRA conducts a character and suitability assessment on every applicant before admission to the Roll of Solicitors. This is not a formality. The SRA takes its responsibility to protect the public seriously, and any concerns about past conduct will be scrutinised carefully.

The assessment covers:

• Identity verification: you must provide official documentation confirming your identity.
• DBS check: a Disclosure and Barring Service check is mandatory for all applicants in England and Wales.
• Financial checks: the SRA reviews your financial history, including any county court judgments, insolvency, or significant debt.
• Overseas criminal record checks: if you have lived in another country for 12 months or more in the last five years, you must obtain a criminal record certificate from that country. This applies to each country where you have lived for the qualifying period.
• Conduct history: any cautions, convictions, or regulatory findings must be disclosed. Failure to disclose is treated as a separate, serious concern.

Screening results are valid for six months. This creates a logistical challenge: apply too early and the results may expire before your admission is complete. Apply too late and you risk delaying your start date.

Early assessment is strongly advised if you have any concerns about your past conduct, financial history, or criminal record. The SRA allows candidates to request an early assessment before formal application, which gives you time to address concerns or seek legal advice before they affect your admission timeline.

What skills and attributes do legal employers look for beyond qualifications?

Qualifications open the door. Skills determine whether you succeed once inside. Legal employers value commercial awareness, integrity, adaptability, and communication skills alongside academic achievement. Legal knowledge alone is not sufficient to build a successful solicitor career.

The skills that matter most include:

• Communication: the ability to explain complex legal issues clearly to clients who are not legally trained. This is tested directly in SQE2 through client interviewing assessments.
• Commercial awareness: understanding how businesses operate, what drives commercial decisions, and how legal advice affects a client's bottom line. Read the Financial Times and follow sector news relevant to your target practice area.
• Integrity: solicitors hold positions of trust. Demonstrating consistent honesty in applications, interviews, and placements is non-negotiable.
• Adaptability: the law changes. Clients' needs change. The ability to adjust your approach quickly is a quality that distinguishes good solicitors from great ones.
• Networking: building professional relationships during your QWE and studies creates opportunities that formal applications alone rarely generate.

Continuing professional development (CPD) does not end at qualification. The SRA requires qualified solicitors to maintain their competence throughout their career, which means ongoing learning is a permanent feature of the profession.

Pro Tip: Use your QWE placements to build a portfolio of written work samples, such as client letters, research memos, and drafted clauses. Bringing concrete examples to interviews is far more persuasive than describing skills in the abstract.

Understanding the practical side of legal work, including how solicitors handle property transactions and the costs involved in buying a house, gives aspiring solicitors useful commercial context before they qualify.

Key takeaways

Qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales requires a degree or equivalent, passing SQE1 and SQE2, completing two years of QWE, and satisfying the SRA's character and suitability assessment.

George's view on the solicitor qualification path

The most common misconception I encounter is that you need a law degree to become a solicitor. You do not. The SRA's framework is genuinely open to graduates from any discipline, and I have seen candidates with backgrounds in engineering, medicine, and languages qualify successfully. What you do need is a clear plan, because the SQE covers an enormous range of legal subjects and the preparation demands are serious.

The area where I see candidates underestimate the process most is QWE. Many treat it as a minimum-hours exercise rather than a genuine opportunity to build competence. The SRA's framework permits placements across up to four organisations, which is a real advantage if you use it deliberately. A candidate who completes QWE in two contrasting practice areas, say residential property and commercial litigation, will be far better positioned than one who spends two years in a single narrow role.

The character and suitability process also catches people off guard, particularly those who have lived abroad. Obtaining overseas criminal record certificates takes time, sometimes months, and the six-month validity window means timing your application carefully is genuinely important. Start this process earlier than you think you need to.

The solicitor qualification path is demanding, but it is also more accessible and flexible than it has ever been. Plan carefully, choose your QWE placements with purpose, and treat the SQE as the serious professional examination it is.

How Conveyancing-solicitor supports your understanding of legal practice

Aspiring solicitors benefit from understanding how legal services work in practice, not just in theory. Conveyancing-solicitor connects clients across the UK with SRA-regulated and CLC-regulated conveyancing firms, offering fixed-fee quotes and transparent legal costs. Seeing how regulated legal professionals operate in a real property transaction context gives future solicitors valuable insight into client care, compliance, and the economics of legal practice. If you want to understand what solicitor costs look like from a client's perspective, Conveyancing-solicitor provides clear, practical guidance that complements your legal studies and career preparation.

FAQ

Do you need a law degree to become a solicitor?

No. The SRA accepts any degree at Level 6 or above. Non-law graduates typically complete a Graduate Diploma in Law or an integrated SQE preparation course before sitting SQE1.

How long does it take to qualify as a solicitor?

Qualification typically takes 5 to 8 years depending on your chosen route, funding arrangements, and how quickly you complete QWE and pass the SQE examinations.

What is QWE and how much do you need?

Qualifying Work Experience is the practical component of solicitor qualification. You must complete the equivalent of two years of full-time legal experience, which can be accumulated part-time and across multiple organisations.

What does the SRA character and suitability check involve?

The SRA requires identity verification, a DBS check, financial checks, and criminal record certificates from any country where you have lived for 12 months or more in the last five years. Results are valid for six months.

Can you become a solicitor without going to university?

Yes. The solicitor apprenticeship route allows candidates to qualify post-A-levels by combining paid employment with SQE preparation over approximately 5 to 6 years, without attending university.

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