Many people only start thinking seriously about Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) once they are already preparing for the SQE, by which point a lot of the relevant work is behind them. The natural worry is that experience from a job you have already left is somehow lost. It is not. Retrospective QWE is permitted, and a great deal of qualifying experience is confirmed after the fact. This guide explains how it works and what you need to make it happen.
QWE has no expiry date
The SRA does not impose a time limit on when QWE was gained. Experience from years ago can still count, provided it met the requirements at the time and you can evidence it now. There is also no rule that experience has to be confirmed while you are still in the role. The two key conditions are the same as for any QWE: the work involved providing genuine legal services, and it gave you exposure to at least two of the competences in the Statement of Solicitor Competence.
What you need to confirm a past role
Retrospective confirmation rests on two things being available now:
- Evidence of the work you did. This can be a record of your responsibilities, examples of documents you produced (suitably redacted where confidential), references to matters you worked on, appraisals, or anything that demonstrates the substance of your role.
- A supervisor who can be contacted. The person who oversaw your work needs to be reachable to give feedback confirming what you did. They do not need to be a qualified solicitor, and they do not need to still work at the organisation.
If your original supervisor has moved on or is unreachable, another person who oversaw your work and can speak to it may be able to provide the feedback instead. The aim is corroboration that the work genuinely happened.
You do not need the employer's cooperation
A common misconception is that confirming past experience means going back to a former employer and asking them to run some formal process. It does not. An independent solicitor who did not employ you can confirm the experience by reviewing your evidence and obtaining feedback from your former supervisor. The organisation as a whole does not need to be involved.
Combining old and new experience
Retrospective experience does not have to stand alone. QWE can be built from up to four placements, so a past role can be combined with your current job or other experience to reach the two-year minimum. Each placement is assessed on the same basis, and the total has to add up to at least two years full-time or the equivalent.
A paralegal role from three years ago
You spent two years as a paralegal before moving into a different field. With your records of the work and a former supervisor who can be reached, that experience can be confirmed retrospectively today.
Overseas legal work before moving to the UK
Legal work done abroad can count as QWE. If you have evidence of the work and a contactable supervisor, it can be confirmed retrospectively, just like UK experience.
A past placement plus your current job
An earlier role gave you one year of qualifying experience, and your current job is adding more. Together they can make up the two years, confirmed across more than one placement.
Frequently asked questions
How long ago can the experience have been?
There is no time limit set by the SRA on when QWE was gained. The practical limit is whether you can still evidence the work and reach a former supervisor for feedback.
What if I no longer have documents from the role?
Evidence can take many forms, including a written account of your responsibilities, appraisals, references, or your supervisor's recollection. We can talk through what you have and what would help.
My old supervisor has left the company. Is that a problem?
Not necessarily. Feedback can come from anyone who oversaw your work and can confirm what you did. If your original supervisor is unreachable, another person who supervised you may be able to help.
Can I combine a past job with my current one?
Yes. QWE can be made up of up to four placements. A previous role and your current job can be combined to reach the two-year minimum.
Does retrospective confirmation cost more?
No. The fee is fixed by the number of competences confirmed, starting at £250, regardless of how many placements are involved or when the experience was gained. The assessment is free and there is no upfront payment.
What to do now
If you have experience from a previous role that you think might qualify, it is worth having it assessed before assuming it is lost. Tell us about the work using our short form, and we will respond within 24 hours with whether it is likely to count, which competences apply, and how retrospective confirmation would work, with no obligation and no payment.