What Evidence Do You Need to Confirm Your QWE?

Once you know that your experience counts as Qualifying Work Experience (QWE), the next question is almost always the same: what evidence do I actually need to get it confirmed? Many candidates worry that they do not have the "right" documents, or that they have left it too late and no longer have access to their old work. In practice, the evidence requirement is more flexible and more manageable than it first appears.

This guide explains what your evidence needs to show, which documents are genuinely useful, how to handle confidential material, and what to do if your evidence feels thin.

Is There an Official Format?

No. The SRA does not prescribe a single fixed format for QWE evidence. What matters is that the confirming solicitor has reviewed your work during the relevant period and obtained feedback from the person who supervised you. Your evidence is simply what allows that review to happen properly. That gives you a lot of freedom in how you present it.

The SRA does publish a QWE record template, and it is a useful tool for organising your experience against the competences. It is worth knowing that this record is a training and reflection tool, not a document you submit to the SRA when you apply. The substance of your experience is what counts.

What Your Evidence Needs to Show

Whatever documents you use, your evidence as a whole should demonstrate four things:

• Duration: at least two years' full-time equivalent experience, which can be spread across up to four organisations.
• Genuine legal services: that the work involved real legal tasks, not purely administrative or operational duties.
• Competences: exposure to at least two of the competences in the SRA's Statement of Solicitor Competence.
• Supervision: that your work was supervised, so that feedback can be obtained from your supervisor as part of the confirmation.

Documents That Help

You will rarely need all of these, but the more you can provide, the smoother the review. Useful evidence includes:

• Confirmation of your role and dates, such as an employment contract, offer letter, or reference
• A description of your day-to-day work and the types of matters you handled
• Samples of work you produced, such as research notes, drafts, attendance notes, or correspondence
• A training diary, work log, or portfolio if you kept one
• Performance reviews or appraisals
• The contact details of a supervisor who can speak to your work

If you did not keep a portfolio at the time, do not worry. Evidence can take a number of forms, and as part of the assessment we will look at what you have and advise you on what is needed for your particular situation.

Confidentiality and Redaction

Most candidates have worked on matters that are confidential, and you should not share client or commercial information you are not entitled to disclose. The solution is straightforward: redact. Remove or replace client names and any sensitive commercial detail, and keep the legal substance that shows what you actually did. Extracts, screenshots, and redacted PDFs are all acceptable, and we are happy to put a non-disclosure agreement in place if that helps you share your evidence with confidence.

What If Your Evidence Feels Thin?

This is one of the most common concerns, and it is also one of the easiest to address. With us, your evidence is reviewed before any payment is taken. If something needs strengthening, we tell you exactly what is required, and there is no extra charge for that back-and-forth. You only pay once we have confirmed that your evidence meets the SRA's requirements, so there is no risk in simply asking.

How Evidence Fits the Process

At QWE Confirmed, evidence is gathered in a guided way rather than left to you to figure out alone:

1. Free assessment: you tell us about your experience and we give you a personalised view of whether it qualifies, with no payment.
2. Guided preparation: if it looks suitable, we send you a record template and written guidance tailored to your situation, so you know precisely what to include.
3. Supervisor feedback: we obtain the feedback the SRA requires, either from material you forward to us or by contacting your supervisor directly.
4. Confirmation: once your evidence is in order and payment is made, the confirmation is issued, ready for you to submit through mySRA.

If you are not sure whether your evidence is strong enough, the simplest step is to ask. Fill in our short form for a free, personalised assessment before you commit to anything.