I have had a few enquiries recently from overseas students who have come to the UK to pursue LLMs (having obtained a first degree outside of the UK).
In particular, there seems to be some confusion about what steps overseas students need to take to be eligible to practice as a solicitor in the UK, particularly with the recent changes in routes to qualification. Let’s start from the beginning.
The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) is the new centralised exam that replaced the previous routes to qualification as a solicitor in England and Wales, including the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). The GDL has been replaced with the Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL), which covers the same content as the GDL however it is not compulsory. Non-law students may wish to take the PGDL to help them prepare for the SQE, however many institutions now provide specific SQE preparation courses.
The SQE will be open to all candidates who meet the eligibility criteria, regardless of their location or nationality. Candidates who have obtained qualifications to practice law outside of the UK will be able to take the exam, subject to meeting the eligibility requirements.
Overseas or international students and lawyers who wish to qualify via the SQE route will need to meet the academic requirements and English language proficiency standards. The academic requirements mean that candidates must have a degree or equivalent qualification, or a qualification or experience that is recognized as equivalent by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). English language proficiency requirements can also be met with a minimum score of 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam.
If you are a student with a non-UK degree (either in law or any other subject), and you are not a foreign qualified lawyer in a jurisdiction recognised by the SRA, you may still be eligible to qualify as a solicitor through the SQE. You will need to show that your non-UK qualification is equivalent to either a UK degree or equivalent UK qualification through a UK NARIC Statement of Comparability, and complete the two-year period of qualifying work experience like all other domestic candidates who pursue the SQE route. The work experience can be obtained in England and Wales or overseas.
To be clear, your non-UK qualification does not have to be a law degree. It can be any degree, provided it is equivalent to a UK degree (in any subject).
The SQE has been designed to be a more flexible and accessible route to qualification as a solicitor, and should be particularly beneficial to overseas or international students and lawyers seeking to practice in the UK. It allows candidates to study at their own pace and prepare for the exam in a way that suits them, with a range of study resources available. It is also expected to provide more transparency and consistency in the assessment and qualification of candidates.
If you need help with your new legal CV, please do get in touch with me.