What does QWE stand for?

QWE stands for qualifying work experience, and refers to the two year period of full time equivalent legal work experience a person needs to become a qualified solicitor, alongside passing their Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE1 & 2). 

What is QWE?

QE is designed to replace the older two-year training contract that individuals previously carried out with the LPC route to qualifying as a solicitor. It constitutes two years of full-time equivalent legal work during which a candidate carries out duties which cover key solicitor competencies as defined by the SRA. This is the key point that helps you work out whether your legal work experience is actually QWE.

Where can I do my two years QWE?

Your QWE does not need to be carried out all in one place or in one country. You can count up to four different organisations in the calculation - and the time does not need to be consecutive as long as it adds up to two years full time equivalent. 

QWE does not necessarily need to be carried out in a law firm, it can be any organisation delivering some form of legal services, as long as some of the solicitor competencies are still covered. For example, you might work within a HR department, or at Citizens Advice. The time could be paid, or voluntary and you could be based anywhere in the world.

How is it confirmed by the SRA?

You need to find a qualified solicitor or compliance officer (regulated by the SRA) who can confirm that you completed the qualifying work experience that you have submitted to the SRA. They need to confirm that it constitutes full time equivalent work (for example, a part time worker might need longer to have an equivalent bank of experience) and that it covers some of the solicitor competencies, that is all. They need to know enough about your direct work in that role to feel able to confirm it for you. 

When can I do my QWE?

You can complete your QWE before, during, or after you pass SQE1 and SQE2. You could, for example, work as a paralegal for two years, then complete the SQE. Or, you could take your SQE while working and building up your QWE. It could even be that you already have two years of voluntary work experience that counts, so all you need is to pass SQE1 and SQE2. QWE works to fit your circumstances, not the other way around. There are no time restrictions for QWE.

How does QWE differ from training contracts?

There are quite a few key differences between QWE and training contracts. QWE is designed to be more flexible. While a training contract is typically in one organisation, full time, for a set period of time, QWE is more like a cumulative bank of work. It can be added up from four different places, completed part or full time, and be paid or voluntary. QWE simply looks at what you did in terms of working with clients and delivering legal services, and how long for. It’s not about prestige or rewarding particular experience over others - it’s about getting the right knowledge and experience, for the right duration. 

It’s worth noting that QWE is also assessed at the level of a day one qualified solicitor. Unlike training contracts, where candidates are assessed at a lower level, a solicitor confirming QWE assesses whether your time working meets the qualified solicitor competencies. It is a more flexible approach to qualifying, but it has not lost its rigour. 

Key tip

When you are starting a role in the legal sector, where you think it might be QWE, speak to your employer and supervisor as early as possible to get their agreement to this and confirming it for you at the end of your role. 

Want to learn more?

Find out more about the QWE in our dedicated QWE hub here. Learn about keeping your QWE record, the core competencies to meet, and more. 

Interested in reading some student perspectives, or those from a qualified solicitor? Qualified solicitor Sophie talks about how to approach QWE here.

Kathryn Newton, our Programme Leader, has shared an insightful three part series on QWE which you can read here, here and here. 

More of a visual learner? Watch our QWE webinar here with brilliant insights from our CEO Giles Proctor.