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the ways to become a solicitor in England

How can I become a solicitor in England? I was a lawyer in another country. Now I am living here and I want to know if there is a quick way to become a solicitor here?

Reply 1

17Student17

For those from the UK who start their 3 year LLB degree at age 18 it takes 6 years (if they do a different subject first it is about 7 years). For those qualified abroad you will need to pass SQE1 (50% of people fail it) and SQE2 exams in most cases and usually choose to do a course. If qualified abroad you may not need the 2 years of compulsory work/a training contract. https://www.sra.org.uk/become-solicitor/qualified-lawyers/ You may get some exam exemption if you are qualified in certain countries https://www.sra.org.uk/become-solicitor/qualified-lawyers/sqe-exemptions/

However, being qualified and getting a job as a solicitor in the UK are very different things. Also plenty of foreign lawyers do not choose to qualify in the UK and still practise eg lots of Australian lawyers are in London in house and at firms where they have skills needed by those firms.