Access Law Clinic

QWE Review & Confirm

Can’t get your QWE confirmed by past or present employers?

Our ‘Review and Confirm QWE’ Service is here to help.

Access Law Clinic works with experienced solicitors to provide confirmation of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) for aspiring solicitors on the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) route to qualification as a solicitor in England and Wales.

With the introduction of this new pathway there is no longer a requirement for a formal period of recognised training known as a ‘training contract’ to be completed prior to qualification as competence is assessed by the SQE assessments. There is also no requirement for the QWE to take place at an organisation that is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

The SQE has therefore introduced greater flexibility and opportunity to gain QWE however the SRA does require that this QWE is confirmed by a solicitor or compliance officer for legal practice (COLP). Access Law Clinic works with experienced solicitors to assist in providing confirmation of its completion in instanced where either:

The supervisor or other person at the placement is unable to sign off confirmation of the QWE for the aspiring solicitor or
The organisation chooses to outsource the QWE sign off to a confirmation service.

What is QWE?

What counts as QWE?

QWE can be gained in England and Wales or internationally and does not need to cover English and Welsh law. QWE can be gained in up to four different organisations and must total a minimum of two years.

QWE must involve ‘the provision of legal services’ that offers the opportunity for the aspiring Solicitor to develop some or all of the competences needed to practice as a Solicitor. To qualify as QWE, the work experience must involve providing legal services and not be a simulated service

QWE can be paid or voluntary and within various capacities including but not limited to:

Work experience placement;
Employed as a paralegal;
On a training contract;
At a charitable organisation or law centre; or
Working in a law clinic such as Access Law Clinic.

When should QWE be completed?

How is QWE confirmed?

Aspiring Solicitors need to register the full two years’ QWE by the time they apply for admission as a Solicitor. They can register at any time and may wish to register before this time early if for example they are due to leave a role or because they want to use a past role as QWE.

A separate application to register QWE will be required for each organisation that the work experience takes place.

QWE must be registered with the SRA through their website.

On submission of the application the Solicitor of England and Wales or COLP the SRA regulates nominated will be notified by the SRA and requested to confirm the QWE.

Review and Confirm Service explained

Access Law Clinic works with individuals, firms and organisations with the QWE Review & Confirm Service. Our Solicitors review the placement for the relevant time period of QWE applied for against the competences the SRA require to be developed to assess whether the placement meets the criteria required. This applies to both historical and existing placements.

Our fee for each successfully confirmed placement is £475. Each approval is assessed on its own merits and in line with the specified SRA guidance and procedures.

For more information on our QWE Review & Confirm Service send your updated CV to [email protected] and book a complementary online consultation to discuss your work experience.

"Highly recommended to anyone seeking professional and efficient QWE confirmation services!”

Kirill Zabelin

"Professionalism and unwavering support, wholeheartedly recommend to anyone in need of QWE confirmation services."

Ewa from LexDex

“I would absolutely recommend the service to anyone seeking QWE confirmation."

Charlie Tye

"I will always recommend them as the only place to get your QWE confirmed"

KMM

"It is incredible how swift the process was and how supportive the staff were to me."

William Jimenez

" The team at Access Law are extremely professional, efficient and resourceful"

Lobna Abouelleil

"I would definitely recommend Access Law Clinic if you need help getting your QWE confirmed.”

Oktawia Kucharzyk

“I highly recommend Access Law Clinic if you need help confirming your QWE. Their process, which took less than a week, was efficient and straightforward. ”

Kieran Spencer