Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) can be obtained in England and Wales or internationally, and it is not required to specifically focus on English and Welsh law. Aspiring solicitors can accumulate QWE across up to four different organisations, with the total duration needing to reach a minimum of two years.
For experience to qualify as QWE, it must involve the provision of legal services, allowing the aspiring solicitor to develop some or all of the competencies necessary for practising as a solicitor. Importantly, the work experience must involve providing legal services and must not be a simulated exercise.
QWE can be either paid or voluntary and can be acquired in a variety of settings, including but not limited to:
- A work experience placement (including during a law degree)
- Working as a paralegal
- On a training contract
- Working at a voluntary or charitable organisation or a law centre
- Working in a law clinic
- Working in an in-house legal department
This broad and flexible approach to QWE allows aspiring solicitors to gain relevant experience in diverse legal environments, which can help them develop the practical skills required for qualification.