Independent external solicitor verification of Qualifying Work Experience for aspiring solicitors on the SQE pathway — including non-traditional settings, overseas placements, and roles where the supervisor is not an English solicitor.
Solicitor of England & Wales
Where an employer does not have a solicitor or COLP able to confirm Qualifying Work Experience, the SRA permits an independent external solicitor to review and confirm it. QWE Confirmed provides exactly this service — external solicitor verification of QWE for aspiring solicitors on the SQE pathway.
Our confirming solicitor has genuine in-house corporate and commercial experience and understands the breadth of legal work that happens outside traditional law firm settings — in-house legal teams, compliance functions, corporate governance roles, overseas legal departments, and organisations where the day-to-day supervisor is not an English-qualified solicitor.
This makes QWE Confirmed particularly well-suited to candidates whose work experience has been gained in non-traditional settings — the kinds of placements that many other confirming solicitors may be unfamiliar with, and which are exactly the type of experience the SQE pathway was designed to recognise.
Every confirmation is a professional attestation to the SRA. QWE Confirmed follows a thorough, documented process to ensure each candidate's QWE meets the regulatory requirements and is ready for inspection. All submitted evidence is treated strictly confidentially, and the entire process is handled online — candidates can get started immediately without waiting for an appointment.
Create an account on the portal, select the competencies to be verified, and complete the application with placement details and supervisor contact information.
Complete the QWE training record, mapping work undertaken to the relevant competencies in the Statement of Solicitor Competence. Written guidance is provided on exactly what is needed.
Our solicitor reviews the submitted evidence, obtains feedback from the workplace supervisor, and verifies the placement details. If the initial evidence does not meet the SRA requirements, guidance is provided and a re-review is included at no additional cost.
The candidate submits their QWE through mySRA using the confirming solicitor's details. The SRA contacts our solicitor directly to confirm. Typically completed within a few days of submission.
Every tier includes the same thorough process: full evidence review, supervisor verification, competence mapping guidance, SRA confirmation coordination, and documented records. The fee is determined solely by the number of competencies being verified — regardless of how many placements the experience spans.
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 & Wales to review and confirm it externally. QWE Confirmed provides this service.
Pricing is based solely on the number of competencies being verified — not the number of placements, hours worked, or consultation calls. Candidates select their competencies in the portal and see their price immediately before paying. No hidden fees, no surprises.
The fee includes a re-review. If the initially submitted evidence does not meet the SRA's criteria, our solicitor will provide written guidance on what additional evidence is needed, and will re-review once it has been submitted — at no extra cost.
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.
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 & Wales.
All submitted evidence is treated strictly confidentially and is securely deleted once the review is complete. Candidates are encouraged to redact any sensitive information from documents before uploading. Where required — for example, by an employer — QWE Confirmed is happy to sign a non-disclosure agreement before any evidence is submitted.
No. Unlike other providers, the entire process at QWE Confirmed is handled online. Candidates submit their details through the portal and receive written guidance to get started straight away. There are no consultation calls, video meetings, or appointments to schedule.
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.
Every candidate has their own secure portal account. After submitting evidence, candidates can log in at any time to see the current status of their application, view any messages or feedback from the confirming solicitor, and upload additional documents if requested.
Have a question not covered here? Email contact@qweconfirmed.co.uk
Submit your details online and get started straight away. Transparent pricing. No consultation calls. No waiting.
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