Education and training – Annual Report 2023/24

We currently admit solicitors into the profession through a range of routes. However, increasingly each year, solicitors will enter the profession through the SQE route only. More information on the different types of routes can be found below.

SQE route

Introduced in September 2021, aspiring solicitors now qualify and are admitted to the profession by passing both parts of the SQE assessment (SQE1 and SQE2) and by meeting our other requirements. The SQE assures that all individuals entering the profession have been assessed to the same high standard.

Previous routes (Legal Practice Course and Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme)

Transitional arrangements remain in place for aspiring solicitors who started their path to qualification before the SQE was introduced:

• Legal Practice Course (LPC) route – taking a qualifying law degree or a non-law degree and the common professional examination, followed by the LPC and then a period of recognised training (PRT).
• Qualifying as a solicitor under the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme () (please note, this arrangement ended in December 2024).
• Qualifying as a Chartered Legal Executive and then going on to take the LPC.
• Applying as an assistant justice's clerk (conditions apply).
• Equivalent means (EQM). This allows individuals to qualify by showing they have met our requirements for a particular stage of training by demonstrating that they have equivalent experience.

Since late 2021, it has no longer been possible to start a route to qualification as a solicitor using any of the above routes. The only exception is for EQM as relevant individuals can still apply for an LPC and/or PRT equivalent.

Swiss lawyers and the registered European lawyer route

Swiss lawyers who are also a registered European lawyer (REL) can apply through the REL route. They are the only people who can apply through this route following the UK's exit from the EU in 2020.

Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland routes

Before the introduction of the SQE, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland solicitors could cross-qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. Since the introduction of the SQE, these solicitors are now classed as qualified lawyers and are now admitted under the SQE route. The table below shows historic data between 2017/18–2020/21.

The table below shows the number of individuals that joined the profession from each route from 2017 to 2024.

Please note:

• The Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test (QLTT) was a precursor to, and was largely phased out and replaced by, the QLTS. Individuals can no longer start this route, but they can still be admitted via it due to a waiver and meeting some other requirements. Because of this, a small number of individuals still enter the profession by this route.
• Some of these figures differ slightly from those we have reported in previous years. We are now collecting this information in a new way and have reviewed past data. This new approach allows for greater clarity on which route an applicant has taken, with more routes identified in the chart above. We have corrected any past data errors in the table above.

The information in this section shows the breakdown of individuals who qualified through the SQE route. These individuals are made up of:

• individuals who passed SQE1 and SQE2 (excluding apprentices)
• solicitor apprentices who passed SQE1 and SQE2
• qualified lawyers.

Additional information

We publish more data and detailed information about the SQE and other qualifications routes elsewhere. This includes:

• statistical reports after each SQE assessment and annual reports on the SQE
• an independent reviewer's report
• an annual quality assurance report on the LPC.

Organisations authorised to offer a period of recognised training

Under the LPC route, we authorise organisations to provide a PRT, the work-based part of a solicitor's training. Around three-quarters of these are law firms, and the rest are in-house legal teams or law centres.

Until the LPC is no longer available as a transitional arrangement, we may continue to see small increases in these numbers over the next few years.   Please note that the authorisation of an organisation to offer a PRT is not time limited and the number of authorised organisations and the number of individuals doing PRT is not the same.

Solicitor apprenticeships

Qualifying through a solicitor apprenticeship offers an opportunity to earn-as-you-learn on the job. It provides greater opportunities for people from all types of backgrounds to become solicitors. All solicitor apprentices will take SQE1 and SQE2.

New registrations of solicitor apprenticeships

These figures show the number of new registrations of solicitor apprenticeships. Please note, the figures below are taken from the summer of each year and are sourced from the Department for Education (DfE).

Some of these figures differ slightly from those we have reported in previous years. We use the most current data as provided on the DfE website when compiling this report.

A higher-rights-of-audience qualification allows solicitors to act as an advocate in the higher courts. These are the Crown Court, High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in England and Wales. This data can be found on a separate webpage.

Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX)

A membership body that provides training to become a legal executive. A separate body, CILEX Regulation, regulates CILEX members.

Equivalent means (EQM)

A route to admission as a solicitor which allows individuals to demonstrate they have met our requirements for a particular stage of training through providing evidence of equivalent experience.

Legal Practice Course (LPC)

Under the LPC route transitional arrangements, this is a compulsory training course usually taken just before the PRT. It combines academic and practical training, to prepare students for work in a law firm or in-house legal team.

Period of recognised training (PRT)

Under the LPC route transitional arrangements, this is compulsory work-based learning, typically in a law firm or in-house legal team, which forms part of the vocational stage to qualifying as a solicitor.

Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS)

This scheme involved assessments that people had to take if they were already qualified as a lawyer in another jurisdiction and wanted to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. Barristers qualified in England and Wales and who wished to cross-qualify as a solicitor were also able to qualify through this route. The arrangement to apply for admission as a solicitor under the QLTS ended in December 2024. The QLTS has now been replaced by the SQE.  

Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test (QLTT)

This test pre-dated and performed the same role as the QLTS. It was largely phased out and replaced by the QLTS. Individuals can no longer start this route, but they can still be admitted via it due to a waiver and meeting some other requirements. Because of this, a small number of individuals still enter the profession by this route.

Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE)

A single rigorous assessment introduced in September 2021 that all new aspiring solicitors will, in due course, take to qualify as a solicitor. It is split into two parts, SQE1 and SQE2, and assesses practical legal knowledge and practical legal skills.

SQE route

To qualify through the SQE route, candidates need to pass the SQE1 and SQE2, have a degree or equivalent, gain two years' qualifying work experience and pass our suitability requirements.  For those who are already a qualified lawyer, there can be exemptions from the assessments and qualifying work experience.