Qualifying Work Experience (QWE): Complete Guide for 2026

Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) is a mandatory requirement for becoming a solicitor in England and Wales. Understanding what counts, how to get it confirmed, and where to find it is crucial for your qualification journey. This comprehensive guide explains everything you need to know about QWE in 2026.

What Is QWE?

QWE is practical work experience that provides you with opportunities to develop some or all of the competencies needed to be a solicitor, as set out in the Statement of Solicitor Competence.

Key Requirements

Duration:

• Up to 2 years' full-time equivalent work experience
• Approximately 3,200 hours total
• Can be completed part-time
• Can be split across up to 4 different organisations (no minimum per organisation)

When:

• Can be completed before, during, or after SQE1 and SQE2
• No time limit to complete
• No requirement to complete before taking SQE exams
• Flexible to fit your circumstances

Where:

• Must be gained in a legal services environment
• Must be in England and Wales or for an England and Wales qualified organisation
• Can be paid or unpaid
• Can be full-time or part-time

The Statement of Solicitor Competence

QWE must provide opportunities to develop competencies across:

A: Ethics, Professionalism and Judgement

• Acting honestly and with integrity
• Maintaining client confidentiality
• Understanding professional obligations

B: Technical Legal Practice

1. Obtaining relevant facts
2. Undertaking legal research
3. Developing and advising on solutions
4. Applying legal and commercial knowledge
5. Drafting documents
6. Undertaking advocacy

C: Working with Other People

• Communicating clearly
• Establishing effective relationships
• Working in teams
• Managing clients' expectations

D: Managing Themselves and Their Own Work

• Maintaining competence and legal knowledge
• Managing time and workload effectively
• Using technology appropriately
• Managing own well-being

You don't need to develop all competencies in one role - they can be developed across different positions.

Where Can You Gain QWE?

Qualifying Organisations

Law Firms:

• Any size: Magic Circle to sole practitioner
• Any practice area
• Most common QWE setting
• Usually through paralegal roles

In-House Legal Departments:

• Private companies
• Public sector organisations
• Charities and NGOs
• Trade unions

Other Legal Service Providers:

• Local authorities
• Government Legal Department
• Crown Prosecution Service
• Legal advice centres and law centres
• Licensed conveyancers
• Some barristers' chambers
• Legal publishing (limited roles)

Does NOT Count:

• Purely administrative legal roles
• Court clerk positions (usually)
• Work experience that doesn't involve legal services
• Experience outside England and Wales (with limited exceptions)

Most Common Routes

1. Training Contracts

• Guaranteed 2 years QWE
• Structured rotations
• Often includes SQE funding
• Highly competitive

2. Paralegal Positions

• Most common QWE route
• Gain experience whilst earning
• Can specialise in preferred area
• More widely available than training contracts

3. Legal Executive Roles

• Often provide QWE
• May require more experience to obtain
• Can lead to Chartered Legal Executive status

4. Volunteering

• Law centres
• Pro bono organisations
• University law clinics
• Citizens Advice
• Can be combined with paid work

5. Multiple Part-Time Roles

• Combine several positions
• Total hours count towards QWE
• Good for building diverse experience

How to Find QWE Opportunities

Job Boards

Specialist Legal Sites:

• TotallyLegal.com
• LawCareers.Net
• SimplyLawJobs.com
• Chambers Student

General Sites:

• LinkedIn
• Indeed
• Reed
• CV-Library
• Milkround (for graduates)

Recruitment Agencies

Benefits:

• Access to unadvertised positions
• CV advice and interview coaching
• Temporary roles that can become permanent
• Market insights

Top Legal Recruiters:

• Hays Legal
• Robert Walters Legal
• Michael Page Legal
• Sellick Partnership
• Lateral Legal

Direct Applications

Speculative Applications:

• Research firms in your area or practice interest
• Tailor applications to each firm
• Follow up politely
• Network at events

Networking

• Law fairs and careers events
• Professional networking events
• LinkedIn connections
• University alumni networks
• Law Society events

QWE Confirmation Process

Who Can Confirm QWE?

Your QWE must be confirmed by:

• A solicitor qualified in England and Wales, OR
• A Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP), OR
• A Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA)

They must:

• Be able to make an informed decision about your competence development
• Have sufficient oversight of your work
• Not necessarily be your direct supervisor
• Be from the same organisation where you gained the experience

What Gets Confirmed?

The confirming solicitor must be satisfied that:

1. You undertook work that provided opportunities to develop competencies
2. The work meets the SRA's definition of QWE
3. You conducted yourself in accordance with SRA Principles and Code of Conduct

They do NOT:

• Assess whether you actually developed the competencies
• Certify you're competent
• Guarantee you'll be admitted as a solicitor

When to Get Confirmation

Flexible Timing:

• Can be confirmed during your employment
• Can be confirmed after leaving the role
• Can be confirmed years later
• Should be done whilst confirming solicitor remembers your work

Recommended:

• Confirm in blocks (every 6 months, annually, or upon leaving)
• Don't wait until you've completed all 2 years
• Easier to confirm whilst work is fresh in mind

How to Request Confirmation

Through MySRA Portal:

1. Create your MySRA account
2. Navigate to QWE section
3. Enter details of your work experience
4. Identify your confirming solicitor
5. System emails confirming solicitor
6. They review and confirm via their MySRA account
7. Confirmation recorded on your account

Information Needed:

• Organisation name and address
• Your role and responsibilities
• Dates of employment
• Full-time or part-time hours
• Which competencies you had opportunity to develop
• Confirming solicitor's details

Record Keeping

Keep Detailed Records:

• Dates of employment
• Hours worked
• Description of tasks and responsibilities
• Examples of work undertaken
• Competencies developed
• Supervisor/confirming solicitor details
• Any supporting documents (job descriptions, appraisals)

Why This Matters:

• Easier to request confirmation later
• Evidence if questioned by SRA
• Helps identify competency development
• Useful for future job applications

Calculating Your QWE Hours

Full-Time Work

Standard Full-Time:

• 35-40 hours per week
• 1 year = 1,600-1,920 hours
• 2 years = approximately 3,200-3,840 hours

QWE Requirement: Up to 2 years

• Approximately 3,200 hours total
• 2 years of full-time work easily exceeds this

Part-Time Work

Examples:

20 hours per week:

• 1 year = 960 hours
• Need approximately 3.3 years to complete QWE

15 hours per week:

• 1 year = 720 hours
• Need approximately 4.4 years to complete QWE

2 days per week (14-16 hours):

• 1 year = approximately 700-800 hours
• Need approximately 4-4.5 years to complete QWE

Multiple Positions

You can combine:

• Different part-time roles simultaneously
• Sequential full-time roles
• Mix of full-time and part-time
• Paid and unpaid work

Example:

• 6 months full-time paralegal = 960 hours
• 12 months part-time (20hrs/week) = 960 hours
• 6 months full-time different firm = 960 hours
• 6 months volunteering (15hrs/week) = 360 hours
• Total: 3,240 hours = QWE complete ✓

Common QWE Scenarios

Scenario 1: Training Contract

Situation:

• 2-year training contract at law firm
• Full-time position
• Rotations through different departments

QWE Status:

• Meets full requirement ✓
• One confirming solicitor can confirm whole period
• Structured to ensure competency development

Scenario 2: Paralegal Then Training Contract

Situation:

• 1 year as paralegal
• Then secure training contract

QWE Status:

• Paralegal year counts (if confirmed) ✓
• Training contract counts too
• May complete QWE during first year of training contract
• Total QWE would be 3 years (more than required is fine)

Scenario 3: Multiple Part-Time Roles

Situation:

• Legal assistant 3 days/week (24 hours)
• Law centre volunteer 1 day/week (7 hours)
• For 2.5 years

QWE Status:

• Combined hours: 31 hours/week
• 2 years worth = approximately 3,100 hours ✓
• Actual time = 2.5 years
• Each role needs separate confirmation

Scenario 4: Career Changer

Situation:

• Leaving previous career
• Secure paralegal role whilst studying for SQE
• Work 2 years whilst preparing for and passing SQE exams

QWE Status:

• 2 years paralegal work = QWE complete ✓
• Can take SQE during QWE
• Efficient route to qualification

Scenario 5: International Lawyer

Situation:

• Qualified lawyer from another jurisdiction
• Work in England and Wales qualified firm
• London office of international firm

QWE Status:

• Work in England and Wales office counts ✓
• May complete QWE more quickly due to experience
• Still need confirmation from England and Wales qualified solicitor

Frequently Asked Questions

Must I complete QWE before taking SQE exams?

No. You can take SQE1 and SQE2 before, during, or after completing QWE. The only requirement is that all must be completed before applying for admission as a solicitor.

Can QWE be completed abroad?

Generally no. QWE must be in England and Wales or for an England and Wales qualified organisation.

Limited exceptions:

• International firm's England and Wales-qualified office
• Secondment from England and Wales firm
• Must involve England and Wales law
• Seek SRA guidance if uncertain

What if I can't find a confirming solicitor?

Options:

• Contact the organisation's COLP or COFA
• Ask a solicitor who supervised you (even if left the firm)
• Approach the organisation's professional support
• If organisation no longer exists, contact SRA for guidance

Prevention:

• Identify confirming solicitor early
• Maintain good relationships
• Request confirmation periodically (don't wait years)
• Keep detailed records

Does my degree or SQE preparation count as QWE?

No. QWE is work experience, not study.

What doesn't count:

• Degree studies
• LPC or GDL courses
• SQE preparation courses
• Mooting or university law clinics (unless substantial legal work)

Can I get QWE confirmed before passing SQE?

Yes. QWE can be confirmed at any time, independent of SQE exam status.

Recommendation:

• Confirm as you go
• Don't wait to pass SQE
• Easier whilst work is recent

What if I worked in legal role before SQE existed?

It may count. Work completed before the SQE route can count as QWE if:

• It meets the current QWE requirements
• You can get it confirmed by a solicitor
• It involved legal services

Contact SRA if:

• Significant time has passed
• Organisation no longer exists
• Confirming solicitor unavailable

How much does QWE cost?

The QWE itself:

• FREE (it's work experience, not a course)
• If paid role, you earn a salary
• If volunteer role, unpaid but valuable experience

Confirmation:

• No SRA fee for QWE confirmation
• Organisations don't typically charge

Total cost: £0

Maximising Your QWE

Choose Roles Strategically

Consider:

• Practice areas you're interested in
• Skills you need to develop
• Employer's reputation
• Opportunities for progression
• Quality of supervision and training

Don't Just Chase QWE:

• Choose roles that develop you professionally
• Build your CV for post-qualification roles
• Network and learn
• Quality matters, not just ticking boxes

Track Your Development

Keep a QWE Log:

• Regular entries (weekly or monthly)
• Tasks undertaken
• Competencies developed
• Challenges overcome
• Feedback received

Benefits:

• Easy to request confirmation
• Helps with job applications
• Demonstrates professional development
• Identifies areas to work on

Seek Feedback

Regular Check-ins:

• Discuss progress with supervisor
• Ask for constructive feedback
• Identify development areas
• Show commitment to improvement

Be Professional

Remember:

• You're being assessed on professionalism
• Conduct yourself ethically always
• Confirming solicitor considers your conduct
• Reputation matters in legal community

Conclusion

QWE is a flexible, achievable requirement that ensures you gain practical experience before qualifying as a solicitor. With proper planning, record-keeping, and professional conduct, you can complete it whilst earning a salary and building valuable experience.

Key Takeaways:

✅ 2 years' equivalent experience required (approx. 3,200 hours) ✅ Can be part-time, split across roles, completed flexibly ✅ Must be in legal services environment ✅ Can be completed before, during, or after SQE exams ✅ Must be confirmed by England and Wales qualified solicitor ✅ Keep detailed records of your experience ✅ Request confirmation periodically ✅ Paralegal roles most common route ✅ No cost for QWE itself ✅ Quality of experience matters for your development

Start planning your QWE strategy today. Whether through training contracts, paralegal positions, or a combination of roles, there are many routes to completing this essential requirement.

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Looking for QWE opportunities? Check our Paralegal Jobs page. Use our QWE tracker tool to log your experience and monitor progress towards qualification.