SQE assessment exemptions
Updated 22 April 2022
Do I have an exemption?
Answer a few questions to find out if you have an exemption.
Who can apply for an exemption
Exemption from the SQE assessments are only available to qualified lawyers. This is someone who has a legal professional qualification which allows them to practise in the UK or an international jurisdiction.
What is an exemption?
To get an exemption, your legal qualification and/or experience must be the same as the assessment content and standard, which is based on English and Welsh law.
What is an agreed exemption?
SQE2 agreed exemptions are applied to any legal qualification which we have reviewed and meet our requirements based on practice rights, competences and professional work experience.
SQE assessments
The SQE is made up of two parts:
- SQE1 which tests legal knowledge through a multiple choice test.
- SQE2 which test practical skills through oral and written exams.
Have an agreed exemption
We have already given some legal qualifications an agreed exemption and all lawyers who have these qualifications can apply for this.
The table below lists our agreed exemptions for qualifications we have looked at. This table will be updated if we grant further exemptions.
Agreed exemptions only apply to lawyers who have qualified through a jurisdiction's full legal qualification route and not cross qualified from another jurisdiction. Those who have qualified this way can still apply for exemptions, however the application will be assessed on a case by case basis.
Please find your jurisdiction below, check for your qualification and make the relevant application.
| Jurisdiction | Qualification | Assessment exemption available |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | Advogado |
Apply for the agreed SQE2 exemption |
| Denmark, Faroe Islands and Greenland | Advokat |
Apply for the agreed SQE2 exemption |
| Hong Kong | Solicitor |
Apply for the agreed SQE2 exemption |
| Romania | Avocat |
Apply for the agreed SQE2 exemption |
| Scotland | Solicitor |
Apply for the agreed SQE2 exemption only |
Individual exemption available
These legal qualifications have been looked at and do not meet all our requirements for an agreed exemption.
However, if your qualification is shown below, you can apply for an individual SQE2 exemption. This is so long as you have at least two-years’ legal work experience gained either as part of your qualification or after it (or a combination of these).
If you wish to, you can also apply for an SQE1 exemption using the same form as SQE2. Find out how you can apply for this
| Jurisdiction | Qualification | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Ontario) | Lawyer | SQE2 |
| Greece | Dikigoros | SQE2 |
| India | Advocate | SQE2 |
| Israel | Advocate | SQE2 |
| Italy | Avvocato | SQE2 |
| Japan | Bengoshi (Attorney in Law) | SQE2 |
| Malaysia | Advocate and solicitor | SQE2 |
| New York | Attorney | SQE2 |
| Pakistan | Advocate | SQE2 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Attorney at Law | SQE2 |
| Turkey | Avukat | SQE2 |
| Singapore | Advocate or Solicitor of the Supreme Court | SQE2 |
| South Africa | Attorney | SQE2 |
| Spain | Abogado | SQE2 |
| Sri Lanka | Attorney at Law | SQE2 |
| Venezuela | Abogados | SQE2 |
If your qualification is not in either table
If your qualification is not in ether table, we have not looked at it for an exemption. This means you have two options:
-
You can apply for an exemption based on your legal qualification and experience. Find out more about applying for this exemption.
Or
-
Contact your law society or bar and ask them to make an exemption application for your legal qualification. They will need to contact us to request this form.
Qualified lawyers in England and Wales
We have looked at the following legal qualifications and they do not meet our requirements for an agreed exemption:
- Barrister (who has completed pupillage)
- Chartered Legal Executive
- CILEx Practitioner
If you have additional work experience and/or other qualifications (over and above your Barrister or CILEX qualification), you can apply for an individual exemption. Find out more.