Everything candidates ask us about qualifying work experience for the SQE and how we confirm it. Tap any question to see the answer. If yours isn't here, just email us.
Getting started & cost
No. Your initial assessment, competency mapping, evidence guidance, training record template, and all email communication is provided free of charge. You only pay once we have reviewed your evidence and confirmed that it meets the SRA's requirements. There is no upfront payment and no obligation at any stage.
The fee is fixed by the number of competences we confirm, and you know it upfront: £250 for two to three competences, £400 for four to six, and £500 for seven or more. The same fee applies no matter how many placements your experience came from, and there is no charge for the assessment, competency mapping or guidance. You only pay once your evidence has been reviewed and confirmed as meeting the SRA's requirements.
There is no additional charge. Whether the competencies being verified were gained in one placement or four, the fee is determined solely by the number of competencies. This is a key difference from other providers who charge per placement.
Eligibility & what counts
You need a minimum of two years of full-time qualifying work experience, or the part-time equivalent. It does not have to be continuous or in one job. It can be built up across up to four placements, and it must give you exposure to at least two of the competences in the SRA's Statement of Solicitor Competence. We help you work out whether your experience adds up and which competences it demonstrates.
Absolutely - and this is a particular strength of QWE Confirmed. Our solicitor has genuine in-house corporate experience and is well-placed to verify QWE gained in non-traditional settings such as in-house legal teams, compliance departments, corporate governance roles, law clinics, and overseas legal departments - including where the supervisor is not an English-qualified solicitor.
Yes. QWE can be obtained anywhere in the world, provided it involved providing legal services. QWE Confirmed regularly works with candidates based outside England and Wales.
Yes. The SRA does not distinguish between paid and unpaid work. What matters is the substance of what you did. Volunteering at a law clinic or advice charity, pro bono projects and unpaid placements can all count, provided the work involved providing genuine legal services and demonstrates the required competences. Read our guide on volunteering and pro bono.
Yes. You can record and confirm qualifying experience while you remain in the role. You do not have to leave or wait until the job ends. Confirmation can be handled by an independent solicitor using feedback from your day-to-day supervisor, so there is no need for a formal employer process. More on using your current job.
Yes. Retrospective QWE is permitted by the SRA. The key requirement is that sufficient records exist to evidence the work and that a supervisor from that time can provide feedback. More on retrospective QWE.
Confirmation & supervisor
Where a candidate's employer does not have a solicitor or COLP who can confirm their QWE, the SRA permits an independent solicitor of England and Wales to review and confirm it externally. QWE Confirmed provides this service - and we guide you through every step.
No. Your day-to-day supervisor does not need to be a qualified solicitor. They simply confirm the work you carried out during your experience. The formal QWE confirmation itself is provided by our confirming solicitor.
This is one of the most common situations we help with, and it is almost always solvable. Often there is simply no solicitor or COLP at the workplace who can confirm the experience; sometimes an employer is reluctant. Either way, the SRA allows an independent solicitor who did not employ you to confirm your QWE, provided they review your work and receive feedback from the person who supervised it. You do not need your employer's cooperation beyond your supervisor being willing to confirm what you did. What to do if your employer won't sign off.
Process & evidence
No - and this is an important part of what we do. After you tell us about your work experience, we review it and help you identify which competencies from the SRA's Statement of Solicitor Competence are relevant. We work through the competency mapping with you and give you detailed written guidance, free of charge, so you're never trying to figure it out on your own.
Typically a record of the work you did, examples of what you produced (suitably redacted where confidential), and feedback from the person who supervised you. You do not need a perfect paper trail. We give you written guidance on what helps and a training record template for you to complete, and we work through it with you. Sensitive material can be redacted or described rather than shared in full. More on the evidence you need.
All submitted evidence is treated strictly confidentially and is securely deleted once the review is complete. We encourage you to redact any sensitive information before submitting, and where required we are happy to sign a non-disclosure agreement before any evidence is shared.
You do not need to pay until we have confirmed that your experience and evidence meets the SRA's requirements. Our solicitor will review your submission and, if any additional evidence is needed, will provide written guidance - all before any payment is taken.
This depends on how quickly you can prepare your evidence, but the process typically takes between two and six weeks from start to finish. There is no fixed deadline - you work at your own pace, and we are available by email throughout to answer questions and provide guidance.
Timing & after confirmation
No. QWE can be completed before, during or after the SQE assessments, in any order. There is no requirement to sit SQE1 or SQE2 before gaining or confirming your experience, and your QWE has no expiry date. Many candidates confirm experience they already have while they prepare for the exams.
Your confirming solicitor provides the formal confirmation, and your QWE is recorded with the SRA through your mySRA account. From there, once you have also passed SQE1 and SQE2 and met the SRA's character and suitability requirements, you can apply to be admitted as a solicitor. We guide you through the confirmation step and what to expect. More on recording your QWE.
Support
We aim to respond to every email within 24 hours, including initial assessments. Although the service is handled entirely online, you'll receive personalised, detailed written guidance - not generic templates. You can email us with questions at any point in the process and we will always get back to you promptly.