Become a solicitor 2020

saravr87

3 5

Posted May 06, 2020 11:27

I'm a european law graduate who wants to become a solicitor in UK.
I am happy to read some opinions and suggestions about this topic.
I know there is a route made by GDL+LPC (even if they are going to change soon with the introduction of SQE).
Another route would be to qualify first in my country as a lawyer and then move to UK (but I live in Italy, a civil law country).
Any thoughts about it?
Any suggestions?
Thank you !

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juristedul...

42 13

Posted Jun 03, 2020 08:11

QLTS consist only of 2 examinations, but this is aimed to qualified attorneys from recognised jurisdictions.If you already hold a law degree, I think you would be better off qualifying in Italy and then thinking of taking the QLTS
Bear in mind that SQE was set in order to avoid student from both UK and foreigner jurisdictions to pass through the tedious and expensive process of getting a training contract, LPC, etc.
As QLTS will be taken out and replaced by SQE, now practice courses will be mandatory for both UK and foreigner students, so I would suggest you to qualify as a Lawyer in Italy and take the current QLTS exam before fall of 2021

[Edited by juristedulevie on Jun 03, 2020]

QLTS consist only of 2 examinations, but this is aimed to qualified attorneys from recognised jurisdictions.<div>If you already hold a law degree, I think you would be better off qualifying in Italy and then thinking of taking the QLTS</div><div><br></div><div>Bear in mind that SQE was set in order to avoid student from both UK and foreigner jurisdictions to pass through the tedious and expensive process of getting a training contract, LPC, etc.</div><div><br></div><div>As QLTS will be taken out and replaced by SQE, now practice courses will be mandatory for both UK and foreigner students, so I would suggest you to qualify as a Lawyer in Italy and take the current QLTS exam before fall of 2021<br></div>

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saravr87

3 5

Posted Jun 03, 2020 14:51

Thank you for the reply! In Italy to qualify as a lawyer it is a long process so I will not be able to do it before the SQE. In Italy to qualify as a solicitor you need a master degree plus 18 months of not paid training contract (which is not possible to do it during your studies) plus bar exam. I only completed the bachelor's degree. Thank you

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juristedul...

42 13

Posted Jun 03, 2020 19:14

Thank you for the reply! In Italy to qualify as a lawyer it is a long process so I will not be able to do it before the SQE. In Italy to qualify as a solicitor you need a master degree plus 18 months of not paid training contract (which is not possible to do it during your studies) plus bar exam. I only completed the bachelor's degree. Thank you

I understand, in that case I think it would be quicker to do the GDL and take the new SQE since it would take same time as qualifying in your country. I'm currently on the same situation as yours, but in my case, I just have left a 6 months of non-paid practice, take the bar exam and take the oath before the Supreme Court of my country. Good things, sometimes, takes time. Wish you luck

[Edited by juristedulevie on Jun 03, 2020]

[quote]Thank you for the reply! In Italy to qualify as a lawyer it is a long process so I will not be able to do it before the SQE. In Italy to qualify as a solicitor you need a master degree plus 18 months of not paid training contract (which is not possible to do it during your studies) plus bar exam. I only completed the bachelor's degree. Thank you  [/quote]<div>I understand, in that case I think it would be quicker to do the GDL and take the new SQE since it would take same time as qualifying in your country. </div><div>I'm currently on the same situation as yours, but in my case, I just have left a 6 months of non-paid practice, take the bar exam and take the oath before the Supreme Court of my country. Good things, sometimes, takes time. Wish you luck</div>

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saravr87

3 5

Posted Jun 03, 2020 19:39

Thank youI wish you the best luck too. I think this info might interest you: I just spoke to some solicitors from England and they suggest me to do the SQE route (with a prep course) as you are eligible to sit the SQE also with a not-english degree (you only need to ask for a statement of comparability). Here the info: https://www.sra.org.uk/students/sqe/degree-equivalent/What they say is basically to get some work experience asap in England and to qualify through the SQE. I asked them how can an european grad student being hired in a legal office there to get working experience? They say there are many opportunities as the qualified working experience required by the SRA might also be a traineeship or some secretary role.Another route is to do the QLTS exams before sept 2021. You can take the QLTS even before passing the bar in your country. You will apply to the SRA once you are a lawyer in your jurisdiction. Good luck!

Thank you:slightly-smiling-face:I wish you the best luck too. I think this info might interest you: I just spoke to some solicitors from England and they suggest me to do the SQE route (with a prep course) as you are eligible to sit the SQE also with a not-english degree (you only need to ask for a statement of comparability). Here the info: https://www.sra.org.uk/students/sqe/degree-equivalent/<div>What they say is basically to get some work experience asap in England and to qualify through the SQE. I asked them how can an european grad student being hired in a legal office there to get working experience? They say there are many opportunities as the qualified working experience required by the SRA might also be a traineeship or some secretary role.</div><div>Another route is to do the QLTS exams before sept 2021. You can take the QLTS even before passing the bar in your country. You will apply to the SRA once you are a lawyer in your jurisdiction. Good luck!</div>

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juristedul...

42 13

Posted Jun 04, 2020 04:06

Thank youI wish you the best luck too. I think this info might interest you: I just spoke to some solicitors from England and they suggest me to do the SQE route (with a prep course) as you are eligible to sit the SQE also with a not-english degree (you only need to ask for a statement of comparability). Here the info: https://www.sra.org.uk/students/sqe/degree-equivalent/What they say is basically to get some work experience asap in England and to qualify through the SQE. I asked them how can an european grad student being hired in a legal office there to get working experience? They say there are many opportunities as the qualified working experience required by the SRA might also be a traineeship or some secretary role.Another route is to do the QLTS exams before sept 2021. You can take the QLTS even before passing the bar in your country. You will apply to the SRA once you are a lawyer in your jurisdiction. Good luck!

Great! had I known that I could sit QLTS without prior admission to my country's bar would have spared me a lot of time. It all comes down to assess which one of both would be easier / cheaper to pass. Though my only concern about what you mentioned above about getting work experience in UK is that I have read on several post that even British students struggles quite a bit to obtain either a training contract or an internship, plus the uncertainty about the new immigration scheme after BREXIT .. in that case, it might be better to sit the QLTS rather than QSE, since it would be way easier to land a job with the admission already achieved. What do you think? Well, whichever decision you follow, don't falter to message me in case you get further info pls and thanks again!

[quote]Thank you:slightly-smiling-face:I wish you the best luck too. I think this info might interest you: I just spoke to some solicitors from England and they suggest me to do the SQE route (with a prep course) as you are eligible to sit the SQE also with a not-english degree (you only need to ask for a statement of comparability). Here the info: https://www.sra.org.uk/students/sqe/degree-equivalent/<div>What they say is basically to get some work experience asap in England and to qualify through the SQE. I asked them how can an european grad student being hired in a legal office there to get working experience? They say there are many opportunities as the qualified working experience required by the SRA might also be a traineeship or some secretary role.</div><div>Another route is to do the QLTS exams before sept 2021. You can take the QLTS even before passing the bar in your country. You will apply to the SRA once you are a lawyer in your jurisdiction. Good luck!</div> [/quote]<div>Great! had I known that I could sit QLTS without prior admission to my country's bar would have spared me a lot of time. It all comes down to assess which one of both would be easier / cheaper to pass. Though my only concern about what you mentioned above about getting work experience in UK is that I have read on several post that even British students struggles quite a bit to obtain either a training contract or an internship, plus the uncertainty about the new immigration scheme after BREXIT ..  in that case, it might be better to sit the QLTS rather than QSE, since it would be way easier to land a job with the admission already achieved. What do you think? Well, whichever decision you follow, don't falter to message me in case you get further info pls and thanks again!:slightly-smiling-face:<br></div>

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saravr87

3 5

Posted Jun 04, 2020 19:26

I actually follow Legal Cheek page, they are doing a a lot of webinars on the topic! Also if you have instagram follow law and broader (chrissie wolf is a solicitor in england and has a channel about it) and verylawyersproblem (she is a solicitor who comes from france). If you like to do the QLTS I think it would be easier because you dont need any qualifying working experience to become a solicitor. Otherwise with the SQE you need 24 months of working experience (might be legal clinics, paralegal roles etc and you can change maximum 4 employer). My concern is about getting the work experience too as they require some legal knowledge to work for example as paralegal. And coming from a civil law system we wouldnt have any. Try to ask Barbri (a QLTS provider) or QLTS school what options you might have. On Barbri they also have a sort of quiz online to identify the best route for you depending on what stage you are. If you will decide to take the SQE route let me know so maybe we could help each other on that!:) As far as I know SQE1 will be about 360 questions in 2 days while QLTS 18 assessments in 1 day.

I actually follow Legal Cheek page, they are doing a a lot of webinars on the topic! Also if you have instagram follow law and broader (chrissie wolf is a solicitor in england and has a channel about it) and verylawyersproblem (she is a solicitor who comes from france). If you like to do the QLTS I think it would be easier because you dont need any qualifying working experience to become a solicitor. Otherwise with the SQE you need 24 months of working experience (might be legal clinics, paralegal roles etc and you can change maximum 4 employer). My concern is about getting the work experience too as they require some legal knowledge to work for example as paralegal. And coming from a civil law system we wouldnt have any. Try to ask Barbri (a QLTS provider)  or QLTS school what options you might have. On Barbri they also have a sort of quiz online to identify the best route for you depending on what stage you are. If you will decide to take the SQE route let me know so maybe we could help each other on that!:)  As far as I know SQE1 will be about 360 questions in 2 days while QLTS 18 assessments in 1 day. 

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juristedul...

42 13

Posted Jun 04, 2020 21:30

I actually follow Legal Cheek page, they are doing a a lot of webinars on the topic! Also if you have instagram follow law and broader (chrissie wolf is a solicitor in england and has a channel about it) and verylawyersproblem (she is a solicitor who comes from france). If you like to do the QLTS I think it would be easier because you dont need any qualifying working experience to become a solicitor. Otherwise with the SQE you need 24 months of working experience (might be legal clinics, paralegal roles etc and you can change maximum 4 employer). My concern is about getting the work experience too as they require some legal knowledge to work for example as paralegal. And coming from a civil law system we wouldnt have any. Try to ask Barbri (a QLTS provider) or QLTS school what options you might have. On Barbri they also have a sort of quiz online to identify the best route for you depending on what stage you are. If you will decide to take the SQE route let me know so maybe we could help each other on that!:) As far as I know SQE1 will be about 360 questions in 2 days while QLTS 18 assessments in 1 day.

Thanks for sharing that info! and yes I'm still hesitant about what path would be better to pick, I dropped you a message, check ur inbox!

[quote]I actually follow Legal Cheek page, they are doing a a lot of webinars on the topic! Also if you have instagram follow law and broader (chrissie wolf is a solicitor in england and has a channel about it) and verylawyersproblem (she is a solicitor who comes from france). If you like to do the QLTS I think it would be easier because you dont need any qualifying working experience to become a solicitor. Otherwise with the SQE you need 24 months of working experience (might be legal clinics, paralegal roles etc and you can change maximum 4 employer). My concern is about getting the work experience too as they require some legal knowledge to work for example as paralegal. And coming from a civil law system we wouldnt have any. Try to ask Barbri (a QLTS provider)  or QLTS school what options you might have. On Barbri they also have a sort of quiz online to identify the best route for you depending on what stage you are. If you will decide to take the SQE route let me know so maybe we could help each other on that!:)  As far as I know SQE1 will be about 360 questions in 2 days while QLTS 18 assessments in 1 day.  [/quote]<div><br></div><div>Thanks for sharing that info! and yes I'm still hesitant about what path would be better to pick, I dropped you a message, check ur inbox!</div>

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