Most Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) is perfectly valid, but a handful of avoidable mistakes can cause it to be questioned, delayed or rejected. Knowing what these are in advance saves a lot of frustration, and many of them are simple to put right. This guide runs through the most common pitfalls and how to steer clear of them.
1. Assuming the work has to be at a law firm
One of the most common errors is the opposite of a rejection problem: candidates rule out genuinely qualifying experience because it was not at a traditional firm. QWE can be gained in any legal setting and anywhere in the world, so in-house teams, charities, clinics and overseas employers all count. Dismissing valid experience is a mistake in its own right.
2. Counting work with no real legal substance
The flip side is over-claiming. QWE must involve providing genuine legal services. Purely administrative or operational work, or a role that only implements a framework someone else designed without any legal judgement of your own, does not qualify on its own. Time spent observing or doing clerical tasks is not the same as doing legal work. Being honest about substance up front avoids problems later.
3. Misunderstanding the competence requirement
QWE needs to give you exposure to at least two of the competences in the SRA's Statement of Solicitor Competence. Some candidates either do not map their experience to the competences at all, or assume a single narrow task covers everything. Taking the time to identify which competences your work genuinely demonstrates is what makes confirmation straightforward.
4. Leaving evidence too late
Evidence is far easier to gather while you are in a role, or soon after, than years later. Failing to keep any record of what you did, the matters you worked on, or examples of your output can make confirmation harder than it needs to be. A contemporaneous record of your work is one of the most useful things you can maintain.
5. Relying on the wrong person to confirm it
A frequent misunderstanding is thinking your day-to-day supervisor must be a qualified solicitor, or conversely that only your employer can confirm your QWE. Neither is true. Your supervisor only corroborates the work; the formal confirmation is given by a solicitor, who can be independent of your employer. Getting this distinction right opens up routes that candidates often assume are closed.
6. Not handling confidential material properly
Legal work often involves confidential information, and sharing client material inappropriately to evidence your QWE is a mistake. Evidence can be redacted or anonymised, and much can be demonstrated through a description of your work rather than the underlying documents. Confidentiality and good evidence are not in conflict if handled carefully.
7. Trying to stitch together too many tiny placements
QWE can be built from up to four placements. Attempting to combine more than four, or relying on a string of very short stints with little substance, runs into that limit. It is better to focus on placements that carry genuine legal weight than to accumulate fragments.
Over-claiming an administrative role
A role described as legal work but consisting mainly of filing and diary management is likely to be questioned. Being realistic about substance avoids a rejection.
No record of strong experience
Genuinely qualifying work becomes hard to confirm years later with no evidence kept. A simple record maintained at the time would have made it easy.
Waiting on the wrong confirmer
A candidate stalls because their non-solicitor manager cannot give the formal confirmation. An independent solicitor can do that, using the manager's feedback on the work.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common reason QWE is questioned?
Work that lacks genuine legal substance, or experience that has not been mapped clearly to the competences. Both are avoidable with an honest assessment up front.
Do I need formal documents to evidence my QWE?
Not necessarily. Evidence can include a description of your responsibilities, examples of your work, and your supervisor's feedback. Confidential material can be redacted.
How many competences do I actually need?
At least two of the competences in the Statement of Solicitor Competence. Most substantive legal roles demonstrate several.
Can a mistake be fixed, or is the experience lost?
Most issues can be addressed, for example by gathering better evidence or correctly identifying who should confirm the work. An assessment will show what is needed.
How do I avoid these mistakes from the start?
A free assessment at the outset identifies which experience qualifies, maps it to the competences, and flags anything that needs attention before you proceed.
What to do now
The simplest way to avoid these pitfalls is to have your experience assessed before you commit time to it. Tell us about your work using our short form, and we will respond within 24 hours with whether it is likely to qualify, which competences apply, and anything worth addressing, with no obligation and no payment.