QWE: Qualifying Work Experience for the SQE
Here’s everything you need to know about Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) and how you can go about securing some.
If you’re taking the SQE route to become a qualified solicitor, you will need to complete two years of full-time qualifying work experience.
Similar to a training contract, QWE is essentially gaining practical experience of providing legal services that will allow you to develop and enhance the core competences that are needed to successfully practice as a solicitor. Any QWE you undertake must be confirmed by a solicitor or compliance officer for legal practice.
So, without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about QWE and how you can go about securing some.
How do I access QWE?
Unlike the LPC route which requires you to undertake a two-year training contract, typically in one firm, the SQE enables you to complete your QWE in up to four organisations, and there is no minimum or maximum amount of time that you need to spend at each organisation. This can be taken in one full block or in different stages – flexibility really is key here. It can also be taken at any time during your SQE journey.
This gives you the opportunity to gain experience within a variety of different firms, while allowing you to balance your QWE with your studies.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority states that QWE can comprise of paid or volunteer work which may include the following:
On placement during a law degree
Working in a law clinic
At a voluntary or charitable organisation
Working as a paralegal
On a training contract
The Qualifying Work Experience needs to help you to build the skills, knowledge, and behaviours that you need as a qualified solicitor. If, for example, you’re completing one task repeatedly or carrying out administrative duties, this wouldn’t satisfy the SRA’s definition of QWE.
When can I undertake QWE?
You can begin your QWE at any point during your SQE journey. For instance, you may want to get the SQE out of the way and begin your QWE once you’ve passed your professional exams, similar to the LPC route. Alternatively, you may wish to start work in a firm before you start your studies or align the two together. These ‘new’ routes when it comes to QWE will most likely be the most common, as it enables you to build practical understanding of the law while being able to finance your studies.
How is QWE recorded and confirmed?
You will be required to record your QWE, and this will then be signed off and confirmed by a solicitor or compliance officer for legal practice before you can apply for admission as a solicitor. As advised by the SRA, it is a good idea to check with the firm or organisation in which you are undertaking your QWE to see what processes are in place to record your experience. You can also check you’re on the right track by recording your time through appraisals or monthly meetings.
The SRA offers a QWE training template which allows you to record your work experience. Through this template you are able to record physical evidence, as well as the ways in which you believe you have met the competences in the Statement of Solicitor Competence.
What type of QWE should I consider?
What type of lawyer do you want to be? Where do you see yourself working? Which area of law would you want to specialise in? What sort of firm do you see yourself working in? It’s important to ask yourself these questions before you begin your QWE journey, as future organisations will be looking at your QWE and whether this represents the career you aspire to. It’s not about the easiest or the quickest route to qualification – but the one which aligns with your career goals.
How are firms approaching QWE?
The way in which firms approach their trainees gaining qualifying work experience will differ from firm to firm. Some leading law firms have said that they will continue to operate a ‘seat rotation’ scheme which will allow trainees to spend time in different specialisms/areas of the firm to widen their knowledge and skillset. This is also helpful for trainees who are not yet sure which area of law they want to specialise in.
Other firms have adopted a different approach, where trainees will stay in that one area of practice to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of that specialism. One of the benefits of the SQE is that firms can now consider their approach to qualifying work experience, and trainees can look at what the firms are offering and whether or not it is suited to their goals.
How can I secure my QWE?
It’s time to take advantage of the flexibility QWE offers under the SQE route. Make connections and discuss opportunities with your current or prospective employer to find out what training is available to you.
BPP has connections with leading law firms within the UK and further afield. Through our focus on employability and our careers service, we can assist you with networking opportunities to help you secure your QWE.
