Breakdown of routes to admission

The number of solicitors being admitted to the roll in England and Wales has increased.

The table below provides a breakdown of those admitted in the 12 months to end of February 2024 and the 12 months to end of February 2023 by their routes to qualification.

In the 12 months to end of June 2023, 72% of new solicitors took the Legal Practice Course followed by a period of recognised training. The second most popular route is now the SQE route.

Date(s) Legal Practice Course followed by a period of recognised training Chartered Legal Executives (CiLEX) & Assistant Justices’ Clerks Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test SQE Registered European Lawyer Equivalent
Means
Republic of Ireland Exempt Northern Ireland Exempt Other/ Unknown Total
March 2023 to February 2024 6,590
(71%)
232
(3%)
344
(4%)
4
(0%)
1770
(18%)
1
(0%)
119
(1%)
130
(1%)
63
(1%)
3
(0%)
9,256
March 2022 to  February 2023 5,361
(70%)
267
(3%)
1081
(15%)
6
(0%)
531
(7%)
1
(0%)
110
(1%)
128
(2%)
47
(1%)
0
(0%)
7,532