Recording your qualifying work experience
Updated 12 April 2023
23 January 2025 - There is currently an issue with confirming qualifying work
experience. If your nominated solicitor experiences this issue, please contact
us [[Link] for further help.
Who can apply
Candidates who want to record a completed period of qualifying work
experience (QWE). Find out what you can claim as QWE on our candidate
pages [[Link] .
You only need to register the full two years' QWE by the time you apply for
admission as a solicitor. For example if you are due to leave a role shortly or
because you want to use a past role as QWE.
Before applying, please make sure the solicitor of England and Wales or
compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) we regulate are aware that they
will need to confirm your QWE. They will be contacted once you have
submitted this.
When to apply
You can apply when you have a completed and confirmed period of QWE - you
must enter an end date. This date cannot be in the future or left blank.
As QWE can be gained in up to four organisations, you’ll need to complete a
separate application for each period of QWE you register.
What you need
A completed period of QWE that has already ended. If you have been in
role for more than two years, we suggest you speak your confirming
solicitor to agree the best date range to use
Confirmation from a solicitor or compliance officer for legal practice
(COLP) we regulate.
How to record your QWE
Recording and confirming qualifying work experience in
mySRA
Confirming your understanding
Step 1 - check the boxes to confirm you understand our requirements
Organisation/branch
Step 2 - fill in your organisation details
Work experience type
Step 3 - details of what type of experience such as paid, apprentice,
placement or volunteer
Work experience details
Step 4 - tell us about when you completed your experience and its duration
start and end date of the QWE – the end date cannot be left blank and it
must be in the past
your work pattern (full time or part time)
total number of months and weeks completed
If you are an apprentice, you can use any two-year period from your
apprenticeship.
Confirmation by a solicitor or COLP
Step 5 - name and SRA number of the solicitor or COLP confirming your QWE
We have guidance [[Link]
work-experience/] for those who are confirming your experience if needed.
We cannot accept confirmation from any another qualified lawyer or barrister
unless they are also a solicitor or COLP we regulate.
Fee
There is no fee for this notification
Making your application
You will need to make your application by applying online in mySRA
[[Link] .
First, you will need to create an account [[Link]
account/] . If you already have a mySRA account, you will need to log in.
Once logged in, select 'Start new applications' on the homepage. The
application is called 'Notify us of your qualifying work experience'.
If you have started it already it, you will find your draft application in 'My
profile' under 'Applications and documents'.
You may find it useful to have this guidance open in a separate device or
browser window to help you complete the form.
We will let you know that we have registered your QWE within 30 days.
Log into mySRA to apply, Notify us of your qualifying work experience
[[Link]
