SRA proposes qualifying examination for all new solicitors

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has proposed that all new solicitors should be required to pass a Solicitors Qualifying Examination.

The proposed examination would be based on a new ‘Competence Statement’ developed by the SRA, which said that pre-qualification workplace experience was likely to form part of any new system.

The regulator claimed that the changes, which are subject to consultation, would ensure consistent high standards of entry into the profession, “providing confidence for the public and employers”, and potentially boost diversity.

The SRA highlighted how, currently, solicitors become qualified in a number of ways with most taking the law graduate route involving a three-year law degree, followed by a year’s Legal Practice Course and then two years of recognised work place training. There are also routes in for graduates in other subjects, non-graduates and lawyers qualified in other countries.

“The current system does not measure all candidates on a consistent or comparable basis,” it argued.

“Trainee solicitors are ultimately signed off as competent to practise at the end of their training contracts their law firm. But, again, there is no mechanism to compare standards.”

Paul Philip, SRA chief executive, said: "Entry into a profession is the key point at which the quality of the profession as a whole is defined. So it has to be right that everyone meets consistent, high standards.



"We think that the best way to ensure that solicitors meet the standards we, their clients and the public expect is to put in place the same, rigorous assessment for aspiring solicitors. That will give real confidence to employers, the users of legal services and indeed the profession itself."



The consultation runs until 4 March 2016 and can be found here.