How to apply under the QLTS

Last updated 22 March 2017

International applicants

Applicants who are qualified outside of the EEA and Switzerland and who hold a recognised professional title in a recognised jurisdiction should apply directly to Kaplan QLTS to register for the assessments.

View a list of recognised international jurisdictions.

For EEA and Swiss nationals qualified in the EEA or Switzerland and Intra- UK lawyers

Applicants who are EEA or Swiss nationals qualified in the EEA or Switzerland who wish to apply for exemptions should complete the QLTS - Exemptions application form and submit this to the SRA with the completed relevant assessment table and supporting evidence. There is a fee of £400 attached to this application.

Applicants who are qualified as a barrister of England and Wales or as a Scottish solicitor are entitled to apply to the SRA for exemptions for the areas where it has been determined under Directive 2005/36/EC (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) that there are no substantial differences between the Day One Outcomes and some of the outcomes achieved during the qualification process as a lawyer in the UK. Applicants should apply using the QLTS - Exemptions application form. There is no fee for this application if no further assessment of qualifications is requested.

Intra-UK applicants who wish to have further exemptions assessed should complete the relevant sections of the QLTS - Exemptions application form. A fee of £400 is applicable.

You will not be able to register with Kaplan QLTS until this process has been completed and your exemptions have been assessed.

Applicants who do not wish to apply for exemptions should register direct with Kaplan QLTS.

LPC Graduates

Applicants who have successfully completed the LPC are entitled to apply to the SRA for full exemption from the Multiple Choice Test (MCT). Applicants should complete the QLTS - Exemption from the MCT application form . There is no fee attached to this form.

Assessment tables

Download assessment table for barristers in England and Wales (Editable PDF 2 pages, 226K)
Download assessment table for solicitors in Scotland (Editable PDF 3 pages, 216K)
Download assessment table for solicitors in the Republic of Ireland (Editable PDF 2 pages, 200K)
Download assessment table for EU/EEA applicants (Editable PDF 5 pages, 245K)

Solicitors admitted by the Law Society of Ireland

The SRA has determined under Directive 2005/36/EC (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) that the only area of substantial difference between the Day One Outcomes and the outcomes achieved during the qualification process as a solicitor of Ireland is that relating to the law and practice of land/property law.

Solicitors who have been admitted by the Law Society of Ireland who are eligible under the Directive and who wish to qualify as a solicitor of England and Wales therefore have the choice of either;

completing the land/property elements of each of the QLTS assessments (for the OSCE this involves being assessed on property and probate, as the probate element is inextricably linked); or
completing the English Property Law module provided by the Law Society of Ireland.*

* After each sitting of the Property Law Module, the Law Society of Ireland will provide the SRA with the names of those candidates who have passed. The SRA will then send an AD1 form to these candidates to enable them to apply for admission as a solicitor of England and Wales. Candidates can only apply for admission through this route if they meet the other requirements of the Directive and after they have completed the qualification process to become a solicitor of Ireland.

Barristers of Ireland

Barristers of Ireland should apply using the assessment table for EU applicants above.

Solicitors admitted by the Law Society of Northern Ireland

The SRA has determined that, of the outcomes tested prior to admission, there are currently no areas of substantial difference between the law and practice of Northern Ireland and that of England and Wales. Therefore lawyers who have passed a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) and been admitted as a solicitor by the Law Society of Northern Ireland, do not need to pass any QLTS assessments. Solicitors who meet these criteria should contact us for an AD1 form.

Barristers of Northern Ireland

Barristers of Northern Ireland should apply using the assessment table for EU applicants above.

Character and suitability disclosures

All applicants must meet our requirements as to character and suitability. This will be assessed when you apply for admission. This will include the provision of a certificate of good standing from your home bar or professional/regulatory body.

If you are aware of anything which may prevent you from meeting our requirements and would like an early check on any character and suitability issue you may apply to us using the QLTS - Character and Suitability form. Please note that it may take us up to six months to assess your application.

Forms

QLTS - Exemptions (PDF 12 pages, 505K)
QLTS - Exemption from the Multiple Choice Test (PDF 7 pages, 312K)
QLTS - Character and Suitability (PDF 14 pages, 344K)