SQE exemptions

An SQE exemption is a formal decision by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) that you do not need to sit a part, or, in some cases, all of the SQE assessment because your existing qualifications and experience already cover it.

The principle behind exemptions is straightforward. The SRA’s role is to ensure every newly admitted solicitor meets a defined standard of knowledge and practical skill.

If your existing qualification and experience already meet that standard for part of the SQE, there is no need to re-test you on it. The exemption process is the SRA’s mechanism for recognising that.

Exemptions are most commonly granted to foreign-qualified lawyers, LPC graduates and certain other UK-qualified legal professionals. Whether you qualify depends on your jurisdiction, your training, your work experience and the part of the SQE you are seeking exemption from.

The SQE assessment is the one route to qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales. Candidates from both the UK and abroad need to complete the SQE exams and meet a set of requirements before qualifying:

• Hold a degree or equivalent
• Complete two years of qualifying work experience (QWE) – foreign qualified lawyers are exempt
• Pass the two stages of the SQE assessment
• Meet the SRA character and suitability requirements and apply for admission

However, there are some exceptions. Depending on your legal background and professional qualifications, you might be entitled to an exemption from one or more of the SQE exams.

SQE1 is divided into two parts: Functioning Legal Knowledge 1 (FLK1) and Functioning Legal Knowledge 2 (FLK2). You can apply for exemption from either or both, but you cannot apply for exemption from individual topics within an FLK.

To be granted an SQE1 exemption you must demonstrate that:

• Your qualifications and/or experience cover the areas of law assessed in the relevant FLK; and
• The law you are qualified in or have practised is not substantially different from the law of England and Wales in those areas

In practice, SQE1 exemptions are very uncommon. The knowledge and experience threshold is high, and most candidates, including most foreign-qualified lawyers, sit SQE1 even where they qualify for SQE2 exemption.

SQE2 assesses practical legal skills across five core practice areas. To be granted exemption from SQE2 you generally need to show that you have rights to practise in the same areas as a solicitor of England and Wales, along with at least two years of professional legal work experience (gained either as part of your qualification or after it, or a combination of both).

The five practice areas covered by SQE2 are:

• Criminal litigation
• Dispute resolution
• Property practice
• Wills and intestacy, probate administration and practice
• Business law and practice

There are two routes to an SQE2 exemption:

Pre-agreed exemption — Available to lawyers qualified in specific jurisdictions that the SRA has already assessed against its criteria. If you are qualified in one of these jurisdictions and meet the two-year experience requirement, the SRA grants the exemption on application.

Individual exemption — Available to lawyers whose jurisdiction is not pre-agreed, or whose qualification does not automatically meet the criteria. Each application is assessed individually against the SRA’s published standards.

The SQE has been designed to gradually phase out the LPC as a route to qualifications. During the transition period, LPC graduates are entitled to special arrangements.

As an alternative to completing the training contract, candidates who have completed the LPC may ask the SRA to recognise experience equivalent to the qualifying work experience (QWE) as a period of recognised training.

The request should be made on the My SRA account. This will then inform Kaplan that you do not need to sit SQE1 and you can book on to SQE2. You will then be exempt from SQE1 and need to successfully pass the SQE2 assessment. You would then need to have proof of your LPC and two years of confirmed QWE when you apply for admission.

If you are not sure whether to complete the traditional LPC route or take SQE2 in combination with QWE, our blog article comparing the two routes may help.

Before you can apply for an exemption, register for the SQE, or book your exam dates with Kaplan, you need a mySRA account. Set this up first.

The SRA reviews each application against its published criteria. Pre-agreed jurisdictional exemptions are usually processed more quickly than individual applications. Plan for several months in either case, particularly for individual exemptions where additional evidence may be requested.

You can track the status of your application through your mySRA account.

Before you can apply for an exemption, register for the SQE, or book your exam dates with Kaplan, you need a mySRA account. Set this up first.

Once your exemption is granted, you can register for the SQE assessments you still need to sit. You can begin preparing for those assessments at any time, including while your exemption application is still under review.

Need help preparing your application? Some candidates prefer specialist support when applying for an SQE2 exemption, particularly for individual (non-pre-agreed) applications, where evidence and presentation matter. You may wish to obtain advice from a specialist in this area who offers practical, specialist guidance from start to finish.

Learn about the SQE2 exemption advice service →

Where you go next depends on what you are exempt from and what you still need to do: