How to apply for exemptions under the QLTS

15 May 2018

Exemptions Guidance

The Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme helps you become a solicitor of England and Wales if you are already a qualified lawyer in one of our recognised jurisdictions. You can also take this route if you are a qualified barrister in England and Wales and have completed your pupillage.

Exemptions for Legal Practice Course (LPC) graduates

If you have successfully completed the LPC in the law of England and Wales, you can ask us for full exemption from the MCT assessment.

Is there a fee?

There is no fee for this application.

Do I need to complete any forms?

You must download and complete this application form.

QLTS MCT exemption application (PDF 4 pages 187KB)

How do I apply for this exemption?

  1. Email our QLTS Team explaining what exemption you would like to apply for
  2. Attach your completed application form
  3. Attach a copy of your Legal Practice Course certificate and transcript
  4. Send

Exemptions for UK and Ireland lawyers and barristers of England and Wales

If you are qualified in Scotland, Ireland or Northern Ireland, or you are a fully qualified barrister of England and Wales, you may be eligible for pre-agreed exemptions.

The assessments test knowledge of the Day One Outcomes. To meet the Outcomes, you must demonstrate that you have relevant knowledge in the Law and practice of England and Wales. The following pre-agreed exemptions apply:

Outcome Solicitor of Scotland Barrister of E+W (with pupillage) Ireland Northern Ireland (with QLD)
A1 ✓ ✓ ✓
A2 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
A3 ✓ ✓
A4 ✓ ✓ ✓
A5 ✓ ✓ ✓
A6 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
A7 ✓ ✓ ✓
A8 ✓ ✓
A9 ✓ ✓ ✓
A10 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
A11 ✓ ✓ ✓
C1 ✓ ✓ ✓
C2 ✓ ✓ ✓
C3 ✓
C4 ✓

We carried out a benchmarking exercise that compared several routes to qualification with that of a solicitor of England and Wales.

More on how to apply for additional exemptions

Is there a fee?

There is no fee for this application.

Do I need to complete any forms?

You must download and complete this application form.

QLTS exemption application (PDF 12 pages 505KB)

How do I apply for these exemptions?

  1. Email our QLTS Team explaining what exemption you would like to apply for
  2. Attach your completed application form
  3. Attach a copy of your certificate of good standing from your home Bar Association (if voluntarily suspended, submit a letter from your home Bar and one from your employer)
  4. Send

Exemptions for EU, EEA, Swiss and UK lawyers

You can apply for exemptions from the QLTS assessments if you are:

  • a fully qualified Lawyer of European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland (Swiss) national, or
  • an Irish or UK lawyer.

The assessments test your knowledge of the Day One Outcomes. To meet the Outcomes, you must demonstrate that you have relevant knowledge in the Law and practice of England and Wales.

Is there a fee?

This application costs £400.

See our ways to pay for more information.

Do I need to complete any forms?

You must download and complete this application form.

QLTS exemption application (PDF 12 pages 505KB)

Assessment tables

Download assessment table for barristers in England and Wales (PDF 2 pages, 226KB)

Download assessment table for solicitors in Scotland (PDF 3 pages, 216KB)

Download assessment table for EU/EEA applicants (PDF 5 pages, 245KB)

Exemptions for Northern Ireland (NI) and Republic of Ireland (ROI) lawyers

Solicitors admitted by the Law Society of Northern Ireland with a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD)

If you have passed a QLD and been admitted as a solicitor by the Law Society of Northern Ireland, you do not need to pass any QLTS assessments.

You can apply for admission by completing this application form.

Admission application form (PDF 11 pages 229KB)

Solicitors admitted by the Law Society of Ireland who are EU or EEA nationals

There is only one difference between the route to qualification as a solicitor in England and Wales and the route to qualifying in Ireland. This difference is the law and practice of land property.

You can complete:

  • the land and property elements (Outcomes A8, C3 and C4) of the QLTS assessments, or
  • the English and Welsh Property Law and Practice course provided by the Law Society of Ireland. If you do this, you will not need to complete the QLTS assessments.
  • You can apply for exemption from Outcomes A8, C3 and C4.

Is there a fee?

This application costs £400.

See our ways to pay for more information.

QLTS exemption application (PDF 12 pages 505KB)

Assessment table for solicitors in the Republic of Ireland (PDF 2 pages, 200KB)

Solicitors admitted by the Law Society of Northern Ireland without a QLD

Please contact us

Solicitors admitted by the Law Society of Northern Ireland who are not EU or EEA nationals

Please contact us

Barristers of Ireland and Northern Ireland who are EU or EEA nationals

You can apply for exemptions using the following application form.

There is a fee of £400.

QLTS exemption application (PDF 12 pages 505KB)

QLTS EU applicants assessment table, form (PDF 5 pages 245KB)

Barristers of Ireland and Northern Ireland who are not EU or EEA nationals

Please contact us

Transitional candidates

In January 2014 the OSCE and Technical Legal Skills Test (TLST) were merged. The MCT remains the same

If you completed at least one of the QLTS assessments before January 2014, the following will apply.

  • If you passed the MCT but did not sit the old OSCE or TLST, you must sit the new OSCE in full and pay the fee for both parts.
  • If you passed the old OSCE but did not pass the TLST, you must sit OSCE part 2. You will only pay the fee for part 2.
  • If you passed the TLST but not the old OSCE, you must sit OSCE part 1. You will only pay the fee for part 1.

Visit Kaplan to learn more.