The College of Law Alliance

Becoming an English Solicitor - The Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test

Today's lawyers increasingly find that being qualified across several jurisdictions enhances both their own practice, enabling them to offer a more competitive and useful service to clients, as well as their own  international marketability. The Qualified Lawyers' Transfer Test (QLTT) enables eligible foreign lawyers to practice as solicitors in England and Wales

The College of Law Alliance offers both the QLTT exams, and a distance learning course to help you to prepare.

To request a brochure and QLTT Kit, please contact:

The College of Law Alliance
2 Chandos Street
St Leonards NSW 1590
Australia
Tel: +61 2 9965 7084
Fax: +61 2 9436 1265
Email: qltt@collaw.edu.au

What is the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test?

• Are you eligible to take the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test?
• Test Dates and Locations

How to qualify as an English solicitor

• Certificate of Eligibility
• Applying to undertake the Test
• The Distance Learning Course
• The Test
• Applying for admission
• Application Form
• Terms and Conditions

What is the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test?

The QLTT is a conversion Test enabling lawyers qualified in certain countries (jurisdictions) outside England & Wales to qualify as solicitors. The QLTT covers four subjects, known as Heads:

The exams are based on the Test Specification

Are you eligible to take the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test?

Eligibility is governed by The Qualified Lawyers Transfer Regulations 1990 (currently as at October 2004) and depends mainly upon the jurisdiction in which you are primarily qualified as a lawyer. How many of the four QLTT heads (exams) you will need to take depends on your eligibility. There is also usually a 2-year experience requirement.

A detailed list of the requirements for different jurisdictions is found at the end of the Solicitors Regulation Authority information brochure

For lawyers qualified in the Asia Pacific region the usual requirements are as follows:

Certificate of Eligibility: The first step for any lawyer who wishes to qualify via the QLTT is to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility, by application to the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Advice on how to complete the Application is in the information brochure.

Test Dates and Locations

*Indicates exams held only in London on this date.

• 27 February 08*
• 23 April 08
• 25 June 08*
• 28 August 08*
• 29 October 08
• 10 December 08*
• 25 February 2009*
• 29 April 2009
• 24th June 2009*

You can undertake the examination for Head III of the QLTT in either Sydney or Hong Kong, and you can undertake the distance learning course anywhere you choose. Examinations for the Test can also be undertaken in London or India, should that be more convenient for you at the time. The various examinations are generally held simultaneously at all four venues.

The same fee applies wherever you choose to sit the examination, subject only to exchange rate variations.

Please note: Eligibility requirements for the QLTT are currently under review by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). This review may affect those applying for the QLTT program. For further information, please click here. As of 8 February 2008, the SRA has advised that, while the QLTT review is ongoing, the March 1 2008 deadline has been removed. For further information, please read the SRA QLTT Review - 8 February 2008.

How to qualify as an English solicitor

You will need to take the following steps in order to qualify as an English solicitor (each step is explained in more detail below) :

* The Test Registration fee allows you to sit at two sittings over a one-year period. After that a further registration fee is necessary. The test sitting fee must be paid each time.

Step 1: The Certificate of Eligibility from the Law Society of England & Wales

The first step for any lawyer who wishes to qualify via the QLTT is to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility, by application to the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Advice on how to complete the Application is in the information brochure.

Note that one of the prerequisites for eligibility is at least two years of legal experience in the last five years. However, the Law Society may issue a certificate with conditions in some circumstances if you have a lesser period of experience.

Download the Solicitors Regulation Authority's application form or apply directly to:
The Finance Department, The Solicitor's Regulation Authority
Ipsley Court, Redditch, Worcestershire B98 0TD
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 152 750 4450
Email: info.services@ sra.org.uk

The Solicitors Regulation Authority will require you to lodge supporting documents with your application form, such as evidence of your academic and professional qualifications, a certificate of good standing, and details of your experience. There is detailed guidance in the Information Brochure. The Certificate of Eligibility is valid for three years from the date of issue.

You should submit your application form, together with all the required documents and the fee at an early stage, as the issuing process can take approximately 10 - 12 weeks.

Please note that eligibility to sit the Test, and exemptions from any part of the Test, are matters dealt with solely by The Solicitors Regulation Authority. The Certificate of Eligibility will confirm which Heads of the Test you must pass, together with any requirement for further training or work experience.

Step 2: Applying to undertake the QLTT and the distance learning course

Complete the QLTT Application Form.

If you have not obtained your Certificate of Eligibility from The Solicitors Regulation Authority but wish to undertake the distance learning course now, you can do so, however you will need to make another application to undertake the examination when you have received your Certificate, using the same application form.

Read the next section on the course before lodging the application form.

You will need to devote considerable time to preparing for the Test. We recommend you allow at least two months prior to the Test to prepare on a part-time basis.

Step 3: The Distance Learning Course

The Distance Learning Course prepares you for the examination in Professional Conduct & Accounts, which is Head III of the Test. You can study at home or wherever best suits you, at your own pace and at a convenient time. It is not compulsory to undertake this course in order to sit for the Test, but it is highly recommended. You do not need to have your Certificate of Eligibility from The Law Society before you commence the distance learning course, but the course fee is non-refundable.

You are able to prepare by using our paper-based correspondence course, which includes:

• a study manual, which emphasises the most important topics and provides a structured framework for learning, and 'test your knowledge' questions
• one specimen test paper (but not suggested answers)
• a direct email link to a tutor who is available to review work that you do and answer your queries
• assignments, which are marked and returned with feedback and model answers

Candidates should be able to demonstrate an understanding of:

• the fundamental principles of professional conduct, as set out in the Solicitors' Code of Conduct, with particular emphasis on the professional duties set out in rules 1-11 of the Code
• the purpose and scope of the financial services regulatory framework in general and its application in particular to solicitors' firms, including the role of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and The Solicitors Regulation Authority and the requirements relating to financial matters
• the broad principles of the legislation designed to counter money laundering and the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 (MLR), and the relevance of the money laundering regime for solicitors' firms
• the Solicitors' Accounts Rules

A reading list is available.

Please ensure you are familiar with the Conditions applying to the Distance Learning Course

Step 4: The Test

The examination is of three hours duration, with no additional reading time, and is one of aptitude rather than memory. You can take in any book, document or written material. Guidance on what you can, or should, take into the examination will be provided to you with the course materials.

The examination is based on the Prescribed Syllabus

Special needs
If you require special examination arrangements, please enclose full details of your needs, together with any supporting medical or other evidence, with your Application Form.

Pass mark
To pass the examination for Head III you must obtain not less than 50% of the available marks. You must also obtain at least 60% of the marks attributable to the Professional Conduct, Financial Services and Money Laundering half of the paper and at least 40% of the marks attributable to the Accounts part of the paper.

Conditions applying to the Test
Please ensure you are familiar with the Conditions applying to the Test.

Results will be posted out to candidates six to eight weeks after the examination. A list of successful candidates will also be posted on The College of Law England & Wales website www.college-of-law.co.uk/qltt

Step 5: Applying for Admission to the Roll of Solicitors

As soon as you have passed all of your required head(s) of the QLTT and satisfied any work experience imposed, you will be eligible to apply for admission to the roll of solicitors of England & Wales.

You do not need to send in your Certificate of Eligibility. However, if your Certificate of Eligibility required you to do further work experience then you will need to provide that information. You will then need to send in one or more letters from employers, confirming dates of employment and duties undertaken.

As part of its quality programme and to aid consumer protection, the SRA has introduced a compulsory requirement for all individuals to obtain a satisfactory Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. Therefore to ensure that your admission to the roll of solicitors may proceed you must complete and return a CRB Disclosure Application Form to us, failure to do so will prevent your admission from proceeding.

The SRA will make use of the CRB checks in other jurisdictions where these are available. Further details on how you can obtain this can be found on the CRB website www.crb.gov.uk/overseas. Once we have received a satisfactory result from these checks we will be able to grant your admission to the roll of solicitors.

If you are intending to practise as a solicitor upon your admission to the roll of solicitors you will need to apply for a practising certificate (PC). You can request both the application form for admission (AD1) and for a practising certificate (RF3) and the CRB Disclosure Application Form from Information Services - telephone +44 1527 504 433. See www.sra.org.uk

Please note that you will be required to produce another certificate of good standing from your primary (first) jurisdiction when you apply for admission to the roll of solicitors.

You need to give The Law Society at least 28 days' notice in your request for admission. There are generally two admission dates each month on the 1st and 15th days of the month. If you apply for admission for a specific date and The Law Society does not receive the documentation in time for that admission date, your application will automatically be put forward to the next admission date (you will not need to reapply).

If resident in the United Kingdom, you will be invited to attend an admission ceremony which will take place some months after your admission. Attendance is optional.

Following admission to the Roll of Solicitors of England & Wales, you will be subject to the normal Continuing Professional Development requirements for all newly admitted English solicitors. Details regarding the requirements are available from the Legal Education Information Services Team of The Law Society - legaled@lawsociety.org.uk

QLTT Application Form

Click here for a copy of this form.

Terms and Conditions

General
Enrolment for a distance learning tuition does not constitute enrolment for the examination itself.

Fees must be paid in full upon enrolment and are non-refundable. A booking can only be made when payment is received.

The copyright of all course materials remains that of the College of Law. Such materials may not be produced either in whole or in part, by any method whatsoever, without prior permission having been given in writing by the College of Law. Once supplied, course materials become the personal property of the student to whom they are issued and may not be used by any other person.

The dates, times and venues of the exam are provisional. Whilst the College will try to adhere to the published programme, we reserve the right to make changes if this becomes necessary. Any changes will be notified in advance.

Prices are correct as at the time of last update of this website. Prices are only valid for the sittings of the QLTT until June 2008.

All places offered on the tuition and Test are subject to availability and demand. Please ensure you have read the Test Regulations prior to signing below.

You will receive written confirmation of your booking. Joining instructions will be forwarded approximately 2 weeks prior to the start of the tuition or Test.

Early Booking
Tuition and Test: Places are limited and early booking is recommended. Once the maximum number of candidates is reached, we will not be able to accept any further bookings.

Test Entry
Any legal proceedings, whether in contract or otherwise, arising out of, or in connection with an application to sit the Test shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England.

Any contract between you and The College of Law of England and Wales shall be governed by the law of England.

Any examination paper written by the candidate shall be the property of The College of Law of England and Wales and by signing this booking form, you waive any intellectual property right in such.

The College of Law will discharge its obligations in relation to the provision of any advance information or materials relating to the Test by sending the relevant information or materials to the candidate by first class mail/airmail at the address specified by the candidate on their application form. No appeal against a decision of the Enrolment Board will lie on the grounds that the information or materials was/were not received by the candidate.

Applicable Law: You will be examined on the law as it is in force on the day of the examination. It is your responsibility to make sure your knowledge and study materials are up-to-date.

Registration Fee: The registration fee allows you to sit your paper over two consecutive sittings. Thereafter, a further registration fee is payable. The test sitting fee is payable.

Cancellation
By the candidate: All fees are non-refundable. If you fail to attend a Test for which an enrolment has been made, the full fee will be charged.

By the College: In the unlikely event that we have to cancel, the course fee will be reimbursed (less the cost of the distance learning materials if applicable), but the College shall incur no further liability.

Deferral
To postpone one or more Heads of the Test, the College of Law must be notified in writing at least 10 working days before the date of the examination. An administration charge of $100 (+ GST if applicable) will be charged.

A partial credit reflecting the difference between the fees paid and the fees due for any Heads taken in that sitting will be carried over against an enrolment by the same candidate for the next Test sitting. The fee to be carried forward will be confirmed in writing. A new application for the next Test to be entered must be submitted, together with the balance of the fee before the Test deadline.

Data Protection
The College of Law needs to hold certain personal information about its candidates. Information will be held in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and the College's Data Protection Policy. Further details of the Data Protection policy and Data Protection declaration on The College of Law's website: www.college-of-law.co.uk Agreement to the processing of personal data is a condition of acceptance onto any course. By enrolling on an examination or tuition course you signify your agreement to this processing.

Acceptance of terms and conditions
Your booking cannot be accepted if you have not signed the application form.