The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have published an updated version of its guidance entitled “Meeting our standards for good qualifying work experience”. This offers detailed advice to aspiring solicitors, employers, and supervisors on how best to structure and verify Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) to meet the SRA’s regulatory standards for admission as a solicitor.
The guidance builds on previous statements and clarifications, in particular guidance published in December 2020, expanding on the responsibilities of host organisations and supervisors, the support needed for trainee solicitors, and the documentation requirements for sign-off. It underscores the central objective that QWE should be a high-quality learning period, ensuring a robust foundation of practical knowledge and professional competence.
A key takeaway from the new guidance is a stronger emphasis on fostering competence through clear supervision strategies and consistent engagement with real client matters. The SRA encourages supervisors to create an environment where trainees can gain exposure to a broad range of legal activities, including client interviews, drafting, legal research, and advocacy. While flexibility remains (i.e., no strict “seat” system is mandated), the guidance recommends that QWE tasks be balanced to cover essential areas of practice. There is also an enhanced focus on ensuring trainees receive regular and constructive feedback, with timely reflection on both successes and areas requiring further development.
A further point of note is the SRA’s clarification of the sign-off process, which must confirm not only that QWE was completed but that the candidate consistently conducted themselves ethically, honed their legal skills, and cultivated professional judgement. The guidance highlights the importance of accurate record-keeping, suggesting a structured log or portfolio approach to track progress and maintain evidence of fulfilling SRA expectations. The aim is to create a transparent system that benefits both the supervisor, who can better assess development needs, and the trainee, who gains a clear sense of progression.
Those interested in this area may also like to see the SRA’s guidance on “Dealing with a refusal to confirm qualifying work experience” which sets out, inter alia, what to do if a solicitor or COLP refuses to confirm QWE and which recommends the use of a “Training Template” for recording qualifying work experience.
Differences from the 10 December 2020 Guidance
Compared with the SRA’s earlier guidance published on 10 December 2020, the current document places greater emphasis on quality control and the duty of firms to provide meaningful supervision throughout the QWE. While the 2020 guidance first introduced the concept of a broad, flexible approach to training, it was relatively light on prescriptive standards for trainee support. The new edition, by contrast, provides more concrete examples of best practice, offers case studies to illustrate effective supervision, and clarifies how employers should monitor tasks to ensure they are suitably challenging.
Additionally, the 2025 guidance elaborates on the role of ethical decision-making and client-focused practice. Where the 2020 text contained high-level statements about professional values, the updated version specifically delineates how trainees should be taught and supported to handle ethical dilemmas and uphold client interests. Finally, the newer guidance reinforces the importance of robust record-keeping, replacing the older, less detailed suggestions with specific methodologies for documenting training progress and capturing evidence of competence. Overall, this shift signals the SRA’s desire to see QWE become a more standardised, accountable process, ensuring future solicitors enter the profession with demonstrable and consistently verified competence.