Solicitor

Regulators: Law Society

Solicitors Regulation Authority
Nations: England
Wales
Sectors: Law

Regulatory or professional bodies

Primary regulator

Regulatory authority: Solicitors Regulation Authority
Address: The Cube
199 Wharfside Street
Birmingham
B1 1RN
Email address: contactcentre@sra.org.uk
Website: https://www.sra.org.uk
Phone number: +44 (0)3706 062 555

Additional regulator

Regulatory authority: Law Society
Address: The Law Society's Hall
113 Chancery Lane
London
WC2A 1PL
Email address: enquiries@lawsociety.org.uk
Website: https://www.lawsociety.org.uk
Phone number: +44 (0)20 7242 1222

Regulation

Regulation summary

Provision of legal services including five of the six reserved legal activities listed in the Legal Services Act 2007.

Regulation type

Licence

Reserved activities

The exercise of a right of audience; the conduct of litigation; reserved instrument activities; probate activities; the administration of oaths (see section 12 Legal Services Act 2007)

Protected titles

Under the Solicitors Act 1974, s.21, it is a criminal offence for anyone who is not a solicitor to wilfully pretend to be a solicitor, or take or use any name, title, addition or description implying they are qualified or recognised by law as qualified to act as a solicitor.

More about regulated activities and titles: https://www.sra.org.uk/

Qualifications and experience

New professionals

Routes to qualification

A link to information on the routes to qualification as a solicitor are set out under "More about qualification" below.

Guidance for refugees and people living in the UK under a safe and legal (humanitarian) route - see Routes to recognition within the UK, below. If you are unable to provide any of the required evidence/documents for admission as a solicitor of England and Wales, please contact us.

More about qualification

https://www.sra.org.uk/become-solicitor/

Professionals from other UK nations

Routes to recognition within the UK

A link to information on the routes to qualification as a solicitor for professionals who practise a corresponding profession in other parts of the UK is in "More about recognition within the UK" below.

Guidance for refugees and people living in the UK under a safe and legal (humanitarian) route:

Application route: Our website provides information for qualified lawyers on requalifying as a solicitor of England and Wales. (Please refer to the links in the Useful links section)

Evidence and documentation required: Our webpage on admission as a solicitor sets out our requirements for documentation. (Please refer to the links in the Useful links section)

Examinations/portfolios: You will need to sit and pass the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). Qualified lawyers can apply for an exemption from the SQE2 assessment of practical legal skills, and do not have to do Qualifying Work Experience.

Fees: SQE1 £1,934 and SQE2 £2,974 - these are exam fees only. Our website sets out options for preparatory study. We also charge £265 for processing SQE2 exemption applications.

Additional support: If you are unable to provide any of the required evidence/documents for admission, or to apply for an SQE2 exemption, please contact us.

More about recognition within the UK

https://www.sra.org.uk/become-solicitor/qualified-lawyers/

Professionals from outside the UK

Recognition for professionals outside the UK

All - there are routes to recognition for professionals from all countries

Summary of routes

A link to information on the routes to qualification as a solicitor for professionals who practise a corresponding profession outside the UK is in
"More about recognition for professionals outside the UK" below.