Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test
Update on QLTR applications
We have experienced a large rise in the number of QLTR applications since August. As a result, some applications have not been assessed within service levels. Please email us or call our contact centre as a matter of urgency if you intend to take the QLTT in January or February 2009.
Consultation
Arrangements for qualified lawyers transferring to become solicitors in England and Wales
We are seeking views on proposals to introduce a scheme that will replace the current Qualified Lawyers Transfer Regulations and the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test. The consultation period ends on 6 February 2009.
Introduction
The Qualified Lawyers Transfer Regulations (QLTR) allow certain overseas lawyers and other UK qualifed lawyers to become qualified as solicitors in England and Wales.
There are usually two requirements that applicants applying under the QLTR are required to meet (depending on which primary jurisdiction they are qualified in) before they can apply for admission as a solicitor of England and Wales.
- Pass the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test (QLTT), and/or
- Satisfy a two-year legal experience requirement (which includes experience of practising the law of England and Wales).
Experience requirement
Qualified lawyers from outside the European Union are also required to show that they have gained two years' experience of working in legal practice in a common law jurisdiction. At least one year must have been gained by practising the law of England and Wales. Such experience
- must have been undertaken in three areas of common law, and
- must have covered contentious and non-contentious areas of practice.
Find out more about the experience requirement.
Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test
About the test
The Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test (QLTT) is a conversion test; it enables lawyers who are qualified in certain jurisdictions outside England and Wales (and barristers of England and Wales) to qualify as solicitors in England and Wales.
The test covers four heads (subject areas):
- Head 1 – Property
- Head 2 – Litigation
- Head 3 – Professional conduct and accounts
- Head 4 – Principles of common law
Exemptions
The SRA will determine the QLTT head(s) or subject area(s) that you must successfully complete based on your primary professional qualification. Applications for exemption from the requirement to pass any one of the test heads will only be considered in limited circumstances.
Specification and providers
The SRA sets the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test specification (PDF 72K). The assessment is administered exclusively by SRA-authorised test providers. For details of test programmes and venues, you must contact test providers directly. Before you arrange to sit the appropriate head(s) with a test provider, you must apply to the SRA for a certificate of eligibility.
Application procedure
Find out how to apply.
Character and suitability
Qualified lawyers are also required to show that they are suitable for admission as a solicitor in England and Wales by declaring all convictions and other relevant matters when they apply for a certificate of eligibility to transfer to the roll of solicitors of England and Wales under the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Regulations. Download the guidelines that we use to assess character and suitability: Guidelines on the assessment of character and suitability (PDF 57K).
Before applying for admission as a solicitor in England and Wales, qualified lawyers are required to obtain a satisfactory standard disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau, which includes details of any current and spent convictions, police cautions, reprimands and final warnings held on the Police National Computer. We also make use of overseas criminal records information services whenever appropriate. Failure to disclose convictions and other issues at the certificate of eligibility stage or subsequently is a serious matter and may result in refusal of your application for admission as a solicitor.