The Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS) enables lawyers who qualified in jurisdictions outside of the United Kingdom to practise as solicitors in England and Wales, and is governed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). However, the method for cross-qualification will be changing from September 2021 with the introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) meaning that the QLTS route into qualification will eventually be phased out. + 44 (0) 207 117 6077 | Email: info@qlts.co.uk 2 QLTS ASSESSMENTS ENHANCING YOUR LAW FIRM’S PROFILE AND MARKETABILITY The QLTS is the fast-track route for foreign lawyers to qualify as solicitors in England and Wales. No. Over 1000 people take the QLTS annually and the pass rates can vary but at BARBRI, our pass rate is 78% among first-time takers. Is my Jurisdiction recognised? QLTS will allow you to act on behalf of all clients in England and Wales and will allow you to practise under a wider jurisdiction, supporting clients on international legal matters, which will undoubtedly support your career prospects. *Data verified by ICF International (NASDAQ:ICFI), an independent, third-party research firm. The research covered three consecutive sittings of the MCT in 2013 and 2014. Do I need a practising certificate in my home jurisdiction? To meet the Outcomes, you must demonstrate that you have relevant knowledge in the Law and practice of England and Wales. Assessment results are usually made available within 12-14 weeks after the assessment date. Here is a list of recognised jurisdictions. The SRA will carry out a full financial check and require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) standard disclosure at the point of admission, so it can check if the applicant has a criminal background. We have always planned to replace the QLTS with the SQE. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Candidates who have started on their route to qualification have several options to complete their qualification – either through other existing arrangements, if their experience and training allow this, or through the SQE. Garrett Gunchick Qualified in the US (New York), Alvino van Schalkwyk Qualified in South Africa, Magdalena Pilichowska Qualified in Poland, Luis Arana Tagle Qualified in Argentina and the US, Wojciech Baginski Qualified in the US and Poland (Foreign), Wilfredo Caceres Ghisilieri Qualified in Peru, Stephen Kines Qualified in the US and in Canada, Ekaterina KitaninaQualified Lawyer in Russia, Társis GonçalvesQualified in Brazil and the US, Olga Gourjon (nee Demyanets)Qualified in Ukraine, James Newdigate Qualified in South Africa, Lucilla GiulianiQualified in Italy and Spain, Monde Michelo Marshall Qualified in Zambia, Alexander Ladeyschikov Qualified in Russia, Adriana Guerra Speight Qualified in Mexico, Christian Dam Pedersen Qualified in Denmark, Allana Samara Wilckens Qualified in Brazil, Olivia Delagrange Qualified in Spain and Belgium, Samuel Thampapillai Qualified in Australia, Grace Taylor Richardson Qualified in Singapore, Aleksandra Krawcewicz Qualified in New York, Michael Weatherley Qualified in Australia, © 2020 QLTS School LLC. Part Two is called the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). You will need to have met our requirement to be qualified in another jurisdiction, by 31 August 2021 (inclusive). Part One is the multiple choice test (MCT), which tests knowledge and understanding of the English legal system and European Union Law, constitutional law and judicial review, professional conduct and solicitors’ accounts, financial regulation, money laundering and taxation, contract law, tort law, criminal law, property law, equity and trusts, human rights and business law. The QLTS is the mandatory award required of qualified lawyers from other jurisdictions wishing to qualify as a solicitor in England & Wales. An MCT exemption application takes us a minimum of 14 days to process. The assessment, structured in two parts, tests applicants for the knowledge and skills which solicitors must possess at the moment of qualification. The Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS) enables lawyers who qualified in jurisdictions outside of the United Kingdom to practise as solicitors in England and Wales, and is governed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Find out more on our transition to SQE page. Exemption from one or more elements of the QLTS assessments can be granted by the SRA only to EEA or UK lawyers. You can also take this route if you are a qualified barrister in England and Wales and have completed your pupillage. Foreign Lawyers. QLTS case study: From a New York lawyer to an English solicitor in South Korea. Plus, it can be daunting to start any new training programme, particularly if it is a financial investment in your career. The next step is different for lawyers who are qualified in the European Economic Area (EEA) and lawyers who qualified outside the EEA. If no evidence is submitted, applicants should take all of the assessments. If you’re a qualified lawyer, the QLTS offers you an excellent opportunity to advance your legal career and obtain the most prestigious title in the legal profession, an English solicitor, in just a few months. If your jurisdiction is not on this list, please contact QLTS Team. To be eligible for the QLTS, barristers must have completed a pupillage. Covid-19 has impacted on the availability of the OSCE. The OSCE is conducted in the context of three practice areas: business law, litigation (civil and criminal) and property law (conveyancing and probate). If you do not have any character and suitability issues, you can go straight to Kaplan to book your assessments. If you sign up now to the QLTS, you can rest assured that you won’t be disregarded once the SQE is introduced in 2021 and you won’t have to change qualification routes. You will have until 31 December 2021 to apply for the waiver. There are providers who offer training for the QLTS assessments but SRA cannot endorse or recommend any provider. Plus, you’ll be provided with a tutor for the OSCE who will be able to supply one-to-one practice with scheduled practice sessions through four scheduled calls. You must meet the SRA’s character and suitability requirements. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. So, if you have successfully completed the Legal Practice Course and wish to apply for an MCT exemption so that you can apply for admission under the QLTS, you should do this as soon as possible. These changes have opened up the English legal market to qualified lawyers from places as diverse as Korea, Japan and Russia.[1]. Do I need a practising certificate in my home jurisdiction? look forward to offering you our valuable insight on how to succeed in the assessments. Mr Sung-Hwan Choi is a dual-qualified lawyer in New York and the District of Columbia (USA) and recently qualified as a solicitor of England Wales in April 2014, through the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS). The SRA assesses the character and suitability of all those applying for solicitor status. An exemption from the MCT does not guarantee that you will be able to qualify through QLTS. I am hoping to qualify at the New York Bar, and then under QLTS. So why … The QLTS is the mandatory award required of qualified lawyers from other jurisdictions wishing to qualify as a solicitor in England & Wales. Registered in Delaware. Kaplan is the sole assessor of the QLTS, and as such is not permitted to offer training courses for the scheme. Clifford Chance: Sparking an interest in law, Training in Scotland and Northern Ireland, Technology, media and telecommunications, How to get a training contract: The application process, The debunking of a myth: The Graduate Diploma in Law, The Legal Practice Course: The Lex Lowdown, Vacation schemes: What they are and why they are worth pursuing. QLTS general. The Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS) allows those who are already qualified lawyers in other jurisdictions to qualify as a solicitor of England and Wales without having to complete the full education and training requirements currently specified in the SRA Training Regulations. This means that students can still get the full QLTS experience from the comfort of their own homes – and they’re encouraged to. QLTS case study: From a New York lawyer to an English solicitor in South Korea. lawyers who break that jurisdiction's ethical code can be sanctioned and barred from practice. Those who have cleared the QLTS MCT will be able to sit for the OSCE until 2022. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The English legal profession is relatively open and the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS) is the path that allows qualified lawyers in other jurisdictions to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. Whether you want to cross qualify for practical reasons including relocation or perhaps you’re looking to add a competitive edge, it will make you invaluable to your employer. If you feel that your academic qualifications make you eligible for a partial exemption, you can apply for a Certificate of Academic Standing to bypass the GDL.