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Passed the QLTS MCT

Updated 15 December 2022

The Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS) has been replaced by the SQE route. This information is only for lawyers who have already started qualifying through the QLTS.

If you have passed the multiple choice test (MCT), you can still complete your QLTS qualifications by taking the SQE2 assessment during 2023.

You will then have until 31 March 2024 (inclusive) to apply for admission as a solicitor of England and Wales.

Sitting the SQE2

If you haven’t already sat SQE2 or need to resit, there are three scheduled SQE2 assessments in 2023 – April 2023, July 2023 and October 2023.

Due to the results timings, your options are:

  • If you take the April 2023 sitting your results will not be out before the booking window closes for the July 2023 assessment. If you need to resit you will have to do so in October 2023 (unless you have already sat the SQE2 three times).
  • If you take the July 2023 sitting your results will not be out before the booking window closes for the October 2023 assessment. If you fail you will have to restart your qualification through the SQE route.
  • If you take the October 2023 sitting and you fail you will have to restart your qualification through the SQE route.

Keep an eye on the SQE assessment website for the booking open and close dates for each siting.

Already sat and failed the SQE2?

You have three attempts to pass SQE2 and complete your QLTS qualification. If you fail all three, you will need to qualify through the SQE route.

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Passing the QLTS MCT is not equivalent to passing the SQE1 and you do not qualify for an SQE2 exemption.

Any SQE2 exemption is based on a candidate being assessed through SQE1 as well, and their practice rights being the same as a solicitor of England and Wales.

There are differences between the QLTS day one outcomes and the Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) tested in SQE1. For example SQE1 includes the procedural subjects of Business Law and Practice Wills and the Administration of Estates, Property Practice, Dispute Resolution and Criminal Practice.

If you apply for an SQE2 exemption, and are successful, you will have to qualify through the SQE route, not QLTS. This means you would need pass the SQE1 assessment or apply for an individual exemption.

If you apply for an SQE1 exemption, you can ask us to take your MCT into account. This could be for the whole of SQE1 or just Functioning Legal Knowledge 1 (FLK1) or Functioning Legal Knowledge 2 (FLK2). Your MCT alone is not equivalent to all of FLK1 or FLK2.

We do not grant partial exemptions from either of the two SQE1 assessments – FLK1 and FLK2.

The deadline has passed for you to apply for admission. Please contact us to find out your options.

You must apply for screening so we can assess your character and suitability.

You will be able to apply for admission once you have completed your criminal record check. You will have until 31 January 2023 to do this provided you meet the conditions of our waiver. You do not need to apply for this waiver.

We are aware that some candidates may experience delays in obtaining criminal check documents and/or Certificates of Good Standing. To make sure you meet the deadline to apply for admission, we suggest you request all documents at the same time.

Lived outside of the UK for more than 12 months in the last five years

If you have lived outside the UK for more than 12 months in the last five years, you will need to provide a local criminal records check.

You still need to do this for the whole 12 months even if the entirety of that period does not fall within the preceding five years. For example, if you have lived in the UK for four years and six months, we will need a check for the full 12 months before this, so going back to five years and six months ago.

We are aware that these authorities do not provide criminal checks for our purposes:

  • Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China)
  • Kazakhstan
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Korea

We will accept a completed copy of our statutory declaration in place of a criminal check for these authorities. You must contact us for a copy of this.

Please also contact us if you are having any difficulties obtaining a criminal check from another authority.

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