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Levelling the playing field

01 April 2010 / Clare Gilligan
Issue: 7411 & 7412 / Categories: Features , Profession
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The clock is counting down to the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) new Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS) which will replace the transfer system first introduced 20 years ago.

The clock is counting down to the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) new Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS) which will replace the transfer system first introduced 20 years ago.

Now approved by the Legal Services Board, the QLTS will apply to
internationally qualified lawyers and lawyers qualified in the UK applying for
admission as solicitors in England and Wales. In 2008–09, 26% of admissions to the roll (around 2,000 lawyers) came through the QLTR route. Many of these have been as a result of City firmslooking to attract talent from overseas to complement their home grown solicitors.

QLTS will be effective from this September with the first assessments
available in January 2011.

What prompted the change?

Clients, big or small, need to be confident that wherever their solicitor has qualified that they are competent to do the work that they have been instructed to do.

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