What is a Certificate of Eligibility?

It is a document in which the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) states which Heads of the QLTT a lawyer must pass before he/she can apply to be admitted as an English solicitor.

Before registering for the QLTT, candidates must obtain a Certificate of Eligibility directly from the SRA. A candidate cannot sit in the test without producing a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility. Course(s) may be booked without obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility. This certificate will confirm which Heads candidates are required to take. Please note that eligibility to sit the Test and any further exemptions from sitting any part of the Test, are matters that are dealt with solely by the SRA. The certificate will be valid for three years from the date of issue. The Certificate of Eligibility can take approximately eight weeks to process, therefore early applications are advised.

Before enrolling as a solicitor with the Supreme Court of England & Wales an overseas lawyer must have two years practicing experience.

Experience requirements:

At least two years’ of work experience in legal practice in a common law jurisdiction; of which

• At least one year must have been gained by practising the law of England and Wales – gained either in a firm or other organisation regulated by the SRA or under the direct supervision of a solicitor who has been admitted in England and Wales and who must have held a current practicing certificate when they were supervising you and have previously held at least four such practising certificates; and

• Experience should be gained in three distinct areas of law and experience of both contentious and non-contentious practice.

Newly qualified overseas lawyers can also apply for the Certificate of Eligibility without having the two year post enrolment experience. The SRA may consider pre enrolment (before enrolling with the State Bar Council) experience as a paralegal, legal clerk or legal executive and issue a conditional Certificate of Eligibility with the additional requirement that the candidate must gain further experience prior to making an application for admission to the Roll of Solicitors of England and Wales. To fulfil the additional requirement of practising the law of England & Wales, a candidate may be required to work for a specified period (mentioned in the Certificate of Eligibility) in a Solicitor’s office in England & Wales in the practice of English law; or overseas in the practice of Common Law (subject to the SRA requirements).

Any queries about Certificate of Eligibility application process or practice experience must be raised directly with the SRA Contact Centre on +44 (0) 1527 504450 Or via e-mail at contactcentre@sra.org.uk. Or visit the SRA website at www.sra.org.uk

Please contact the SRA at the following address to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility application form:
Contact Centre Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), Ipsley Court, Berrington Close, Redditch, Worcestershire, B98 0TD, UK.T : 0044 (0) 1527 504450 E : contactcentre@sra.org.uk info.services@sra.org.uk W: www.sra.org.uk

DOCUMENTS TO BE ENCLOSED

The documents required to be submitted to the SRA while applying for the Certificate of Eligibility are:

1. Completed Application Form duly signed and sealed.
2. Original Certificate(s) of good standing from the relevant professional body or home court in all jurisdictions where you have been admitted as a lawyer.
3. Original reference letter from the Institution where you have completed your LL.B stating whether your studies were conducted in English.
4. Official translations to be attached for ALL documents submitted which are not in English.
5. A certified copy of your marriage certificate, or a statutory declaration if your name is now different from that shown on your Certificate(s) of Good Standing.
6. Original QLTT Experience Evidence form(s) evidencing your experience with attached letter from Supervisor on official letterhead of the firm. This letter must be signed by the supervisor who completed the QLTT Experience Evidence Form and not by the HR department.
7. If self employed or practicing independently for any period and as such have no supervisor or partner please provide letter(s) from another professional acquaintance, colleague or partner who is not a relative of yours or employed by you.
8. Demand Draft in the sum of £400 payable to the Law Society (please refer to page 4 of the guidance notes for accepted modes of payment).

Click here to Download: Certificate of Eligibility: Application Form