News
Qualified Lawyers Transfer Regulations – Review
15 April 2008
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is fundamentally reviewing the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Regulations (QLTR). The review aims to ensure that anyone who qualifies under the regulations has the knowledge and skills required to practise as a solicitor of England and Wales. The review will also provide assurances about fitness for purpose, standards and integrity of the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test.
Pending the outcome of the full review, we are considering the introduction of new guidance for applicants and for those who determine applications, to ensure that
- applications made under the current QLTR are consistently considered according to the regulations, and
- information available to applicants is clear and comprehensive.
In December 2007, the SRA published draft interim requirements, inviting feedback by 31 January—with the intention that the requirements would take effect on 1 March 2008.
However, the feedback we received revealed some significant concerns, and several misunderstandings about the proposed interim requirements. Therefore, we have postponed their introduction and published a consultation paper to elicit wider input into our decision making and to aid understanding about the proposed changes. The consultation period ended on 14 April.
We will consider responses to the consultation before deciding whether the interim measures should be introduced, amended or postponed pending the outcome of the wider review which has already begun.
In the mean time, applications made under the QLTR will continue to be considered in line with existing published guidance. Certificates of eligibility already issued to QLTR applicants will remain valid.
Please send enquiries about the consultation process to trainingconsultations@sra.org.uk.