amendments to the qlts regulations
Post on 01-Jan-2017
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Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS) update
Summary of changes
The Legal Services Board has approved the SRA's proposed amendments to the QLTS
Regulations.
A summary of the amendments is as follows:
• Remove the need for QLTS candidates, other than those with exemption
from part of the exam, to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the SRA prior
to sitting the QLTS assessments
• Remove the requirement for non-EEA/EU candidates to provide separate
evidence of standards of English language skills as a condition of eligibility to
take the QLTS assessment
• Remove the requirement to complete the QLTS assessments within a 5 year
period
• Remove the maximum number of assessment attempts available to a QLTS
candidate
Registering for the assessment
If you already have a Certificate of Eligibility you should:
Register for the assessments with Kaplan QLTS in the usual way. Further
information for those with existing certificates about matters other than
registration is given below.
If you do not have a Certificate of Eligibility and you are seeking any exemptions
from assessment against the Day One Outcomes* you should:
Complete the QLTS 1 application form and submit this to the SRA with the
completed relevant assessment table and supporting evidence. A fee of £400
is payable with the application. The application form may be obtained by
emailing pre-admission@sra.org.uk. You will not be able to register with
Kaplan QLTS until this process has been completed and your exemptions
have been assessed.
* EU, EEA, Intra-UK and Swiss applicants only may apply to the SRA for exemption
from assessment against one or more of the Day One Outcomes.
If you do not have a Certificate of Eligibility and do not intend to apply for
exemption from assessment in any of the Day One Outcomes* you should:
1. Check on our website here that you are entitled to seek admission as a solicitor of
England and Wales via the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme. This means that:
• you hold the correct professional qualification in a jurisdiction that we
recognise. You can check here
• you meet our requirements as to character and suitability. You should
check these requirements here. You will be subject to a full check on
character and suitability when you apply for admission. This means that
amongst other checks we will require a certificate of good standing from
your home bar/professional/regulatory body. If you are aware of anything
which might prevent you from meeting our requirements and would like an
early check on any character and suitability issue you can apply to us.
Please contact us at pre-admission@sra.org.uk. Please note that it may
take us up to 6 months to assess your application
2. If you are an LPC graduate and are consequently claiming an exemption from the
MCT this will need to be checked by the SRA. Please contact us at
pre-admission@sra.org.uk for further information. You will not be able to register
with Kaplan QLTS until this process is complete.
3. Although we have removed the requirement for non-EU/EEA candidates to
provide separate evidence of their English language skills, you should ensure that
your standard of written, spoken, reading, and listening English is appropriate for the
assessment otherwise you are unlikely to pass it. There is more information here
Candidates should be aware that even if you pass the QLTS assessment you will not
be entitled to be admitted as a Solicitor of England and Wales unless you hold the
correct professional qualification in a recognised jurisdiction and satisfy our
requirements as to character and suitability. It is therefore in your own interests
to make these checks prior to embarking on the QLTS assessment.
Candidates who have Certificates of Eligibility including candidates with
exemptions and those who have already sat some of the QLTS assessments
1. There will no longer be any restriction on the number of permitted assessment
attempts or the time period within which the different elements of the assessment
must be passed.
2. Any exemptions granted under your certificate will remain valid.
3. The SRA will not refund fees for Certificates of Eligibility already issued.
4. You have an on-going obligation to meet the requirements of the Suitability Test.
5. If you have passed the MCT but have failed the QLTS assessment as a whole your
MCT pass will be "banked" and you will be allowed to recommence the QLTS
assessment by taking the OSCE. You will not be required to retake the MCT.
6. If you are a transitional candidate and have passed the MCT and either the old
OSCE or the old TLST but not both, you will be allowed to exhaust your entitlement
to 3 attempts during the 5 year validity period of your Certificate of Eligibility by
sitting either OSCE Part 1 or OSCE Part 2 alone, but if you are still unsuccessful
thereafter you will have to sit the OSCE as a whole. You will not be required to re-
take the MCT.
Consequential Changes to Kaplan QLTS Assessment Regulations and Policies
The changes outlined above are effective immediately. Consequential changes will
be made to Kaplan QLTS assessment regulations and policies as soon as possible.
The SRA is in the process of updating the QLTS information it has on its website to
reflect these changes. If you have any queries please contact the SRA at pre-
admission@sra.org.uk
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