Once candidates decide to get their Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) confirmed, the next question is almost always about time: how long does it take, and what holds it up? The honest answer is that the confirmation itself is not a lengthy process. Most of the timeline depends on how quickly evidence and supervisor feedback come together. This guide explains what the process involves, what affects the timing, and how to keep it moving.
What confirmation actually involves
QWE confirmation is a defined set of steps rather than an open-ended review:
- Assessment. Your experience is reviewed against the Statement of Solicitor Competence to identify which competences it demonstrates and confirm it is likely to qualify.
- Evidence. You gather a record of your work and supporting material, with guidance on what is needed.
- Supervisor feedback. The confirming solicitor contacts the person who supervised your work to corroborate what you did.
- Confirmation. Once the requirements are met, the solicitor provides the formal confirmation and handles the mySRA step.
None of these steps is inherently slow. The variable that matters most is how quickly steps two and three happen, and that is largely within your control.
What affects the timeline
The main factors that determine how long sign-off takes are:
- How ready your evidence is. If you can readily describe your work and produce supporting material, the process moves quickly. If you need to track down old documents, it takes longer.
- How responsive your supervisor is. The confirming solicitor needs feedback from your supervisor. A supervisor who replies promptly keeps things moving; one who is hard to reach is usually the biggest cause of delay.
- How many placements are involved. Confirming experience across several placements means coordinating with more than one supervisor, which can add time.
- The complexity of your situation. Straightforward cases move faster than ones that need careful assessment of whether the work qualifies.
The assessment is the fast part
The initial assessment of whether your experience is likely to qualify can be done quickly. At QWE Confirmed we aim to respond within 24 hours of you submitting the short form, telling you whether your experience is likely to count and which competences apply. That early answer means you know where you stand before committing any time to gathering evidence.
How to keep it moving
The single most effective thing you can do is line up your supervisor early. Let them know to expect contact and that all they need to do is confirm the work you did. Having a clear account of your responsibilities ready, along with any documents or examples you can share, also removes the most common bottleneck. When evidence and feedback are ready, the formal confirmation itself is quick.
A well-prepared, single-placement case
Your evidence is ready and your supervisor responds promptly. With nothing waiting on third parties, confirmation can be completed quickly once the assessment is done.
A multi-placement history
Experience spread across several roles means contacting more than one supervisor. It still works smoothly, but coordinating multiple people naturally takes a little longer.
A hard-to-reach former supervisor
The work qualifies, but the supervisor is slow to respond. This is the most common delay, and lining them up early is the best way to avoid it.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly will I know if my experience qualifies?
We aim to respond to the initial assessment within 24 hours of you submitting the short form, telling you whether your experience is likely to qualify and which competences apply.
What is the biggest cause of delay?
Waiting on supervisor feedback. Letting your supervisor know to expect contact, and that they only need to confirm the work you did, is the best way to keep things moving.
Does confirming several placements take longer?
It can, because it means obtaining feedback from more than one supervisor. The process is the same, but coordinating more people adds time.
Do I have to pay before the process starts?
No. The assessment and guidance are free, and there is no upfront payment. You only pay once your evidence has been reviewed and confirmed as meeting the requirements.
Can I start before I have all my evidence?
Yes. The assessment can be done first, so you know your experience is likely to qualify before you invest time gathering everything together.
What to do now
The fastest way to get a clear answer on your own timeline is to start with the free assessment. Tell us about your work using our short form, and we will respond within 24 hours with whether your experience is likely to qualify and what confirmation would involve, with no obligation and no payment.