This article has been written by Oishika Banerji of Amity Law School, Kolkata. This article discusses SQE as a great opportunity for Indian lawyers. 

It has been published by Rachit Garg.

Introduction 

A person who is currently practising law in their home country is eligible to do so in the UK via the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS) until September 2021. However, the SQE has since taken the place of the QLTS, and an Indian lawyer wishing to practise in the UK must now qualify it.  

Lawyers are no longer restricted to the jurisdiction in which they were educated and qualified due to recent advances and globalisation trends in the legal profession. Today, there are ambitious lawyers in the world’s leading commercial and legal centres. Therefore, a crucial element and useful aspect of the legal services and advice offered by a lawyer is their understanding of the local cultural, economic, political, and social norms of each jurisdiction. 

Indian lawyers qualifying SQE can practice in England as well as in India and subsequently can migrate to UK, provided that suffice their interest. Let us therefore be well-acknowledged with the possible opportunities that SQE holds in store for Indian lawyers, precisely. 

Dual-qualified English Solicitor and why become one?

Dual-qualified English Solicitor signifies being a lawyer in the most significant jurisdiction in the world with an open economy, which will transform how you operate and what you can do for yourself, your business, and your clients. Why to become so have been provided with a list hereunder: 

1. English solicitor is more than just a title you may add to your resume or CV. It is a symbol of distinction on a global scale. English law has had a substantial impact on the international development of legal and regulatory systems due to its historical dominance in maritime trade.
2. Additionally, the training and certification process in England and Wales is highly recognised abroad.
3. It is interesting to note that the majority of attorneys seeking to qualify as dual-qualified English solicitors do not intend to practise law in London. Instead, they prefer to remain in their home country and make use of the knowledge, skills, and credentials they have acquired by becoming English solicitors. Hence flexibility also exists. 
4. Clients nowadays are searching for attorneys and law firms that give a one-stop solution, are able to offer a deep understanding of their clients’ businesses, the continuity and confidentiality of a full-service practice, and the resources necessary to meet all of a client’s business and legal needs. Therefore, it is clear that dual-qualified lawyers have a competitive advantage over their peers in a world where competition is on the rise and can, as a result, provide clients with a much more comprehensive service.

Why join the Roll of Solicitors in England and Wales? 

In accordance with English and Welsh Law, solicitors represent and assist their clients. A wide range of legal operations are performed by solicitors, ranging from commercial law, probate, conveyancing to that of family law, civil and criminal litigation, and arbitration.

1. Expanding the range of job options available in the legal industry.
2. Improving their marketability, reputation, and professional standing in their country of origin.
3. Providing clients with a greater range of legal services (whose preference today is to use a one stop-shop for their legal needs).
4. Advising existing clients on English law-related issues.
5. Working in London as a solicitor.
6. Increasing revenue by means of attracting more clients and getting more business.

Benefits of practising as an English Solicitor

1. Your professional profile is elevated to the highest, most prestigious level when you become an English solicitor. 
2. You will be able to take on work that is only available to people with the qualification, working on a variety of national and worldwide issues. 
3. Being a licenced English solicitor will open doors for you, whether you decide to work in a prestigious law company in London or stay in your native country and advance your legal career there.
4. You will be well-equipped with critical perceptions and guidance on the factual and legal elements of conducting business across numerous jurisdictions when combined with your chosen specialisation. 
5. Because you will be able to offer solutions and guidance on issues that only someone with your training and qualification can, this might mean the difference between a company operation making a profit or going bankrupt.
6. English law qualifications are crucial for providing clients with a worldwide approach to meeting their legal service needs because English law continues to be the most popular option of law for international trade, maritime law, and dispute resolution.

SQE requirements for Indian students

If you’re an Indian  student, in order to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales, you’ll need to:

1. Hold a degree in any subject or an equivalent qualification (such as an apprenticeship) or work experience.
2. Complete two stages of assessment, SQE1 and SQE2.
3. Complete two years of qualifying work experience (QWE).
4. Satisfy the Solicitor Regulation Authority’s (SRA) character and suitability requirements.

Degree-level experience

If you have a degree or equivalent qualification from outside the UK, you can take the SQE if your qualification is:

1. Shown to be equivalent to either a UK degree or equivalent UK qualification through a UK National Information Centre (ENIC) statement of comparability, or
2. An accredited qualification at level 6 (or above) of the European Qualifications Framework.

Equivalent experience if you do not have a degree

1. If you can demonstrate work experience that is equivalent to a UK degree, you can take the SQE even if you do not have a degree.
2. With significant work-based learning, this would be an acceptable level of general education and learning (level 3 equivalent of the Regulated Qualifications Framework).
3. Applications for equivalency will be evaluated individually.

Indian lawyers can have work experience outside the UK for qualifying SQE

1. The two-year qualifying work experience (QWE) can be completed anywhere in the world as long as a solicitor from England and Wales certifies it as meeting SRA requirements.
2. QWE can be done at a maximum of four separate organisations, including:

• Law firms.
• Legal clinics in academic institutions.
• Law centres.
• Other appropriate organisations.

3. There will be no minimum length of time for placements.
4. Before becoming eligible to become a solicitor, the job experience does not have to be finished all at once. Candidates may earn experience as they advance through their schooling; provided that it is approved, this experience may involve paralegal or summer internship work.
5. Candidates should think about whether a placement will provide them enough time to develop the skills they need to have validated and approved.

The SQE gives aspirational attorneys access to the key, resulting in dual-qualified attorneys who are future-proof, client-focused, and knowledgeable about other cultures. The decision to invest in your legal career and learn the abilities of a “modern-effective lawyer” is ultimately yours.

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