Ever wondered what doors becoming a Solicitor of England and Wales might open for you? Discover how you can take your career global, and become even more employable through the Law Training Centre and STADIO Higher Education SQE Partnership programme.
Law Training Centre are delighted to have launched a ground-breaking new international partnership with STADIO Higher Education, an accredited South African private higher education institution – with over 35,000 students across nine campuses in several countries.
This partnership, which is the first of its kind, unlocks the door for South African legal professionals to offer a truly global approach to their clients, by providing South African law graduates, qualified attorneys, and advocates with the opportunity to qualify or dual qualify as a Solicitor of England and Wales through the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).
Law Training Centre’s bespoke SQE1 and SQE2 Prep course tuition will be made available through STADIO to all law graduates in South Africa, as well as to attorneys and advocates already practicing in South Africa.
Law Training Centre’s Partnerships Manager, Suellen Glazer, says: “ This new international partnership unlocks the door for South African legal professionals to offer a truly global approach to their clients. “The fact that South African law has facets of English common law means that law graduates and other legal professionals will already have a solid foundation from which to successfully study the SQE.
So, why is Dual Qualifying such an attractive prospect?
In short, dual qualifying gives a huge boost to your employability! Not only are you able to consider a wider range of employment opportunities, but dual qualified Lawyers are being positioned at the very centre of worldwide operations and are a particularly essential part of the operations of businesses with a global focus.
There is an ever-increasing demand for internationally qualified, capable Lawyers/Attorneys, who are able to operate across multiple jurisdictions, understanding the unique cultural elements of laws pertaining to trade and competition between different nations. Such lawyers therefore stand out and are more competitive than singularly qualified Lawyers when it comes to attracting clients.
Prof Philip Stoop, Head of the School of Law at STADIO says; “In a global world it becomes increasingly important to specialise in more than one legal system. We are delighted to unlock the door, through this partnership, for South Africans to take the first steps to becoming a solicitor of England and Wales”.
A business in the United Kingdom looking to purchase a new base in South Africa, for example, will seek to obtain the services of a single individual who is qualified and able to manage and complete the work within both countries. In contrast, without a dual qualified Lawyer, the company would need to involve multiple Lawyers to achieve the same task!
The increased speed of our international communications, both personal and professional, has also led consumers to become accustomed to a swift and seamless service, and clients have come to expect the same from their legal services. Having to deal with multiple parties is not an attractive prospect, and also has a tendency to delay the process – which in business terms, can be costly.
Why choose to Dual Qualify as a Solicitor of England and Wales specifically?
The same rationale of seeking employability still stands, but there are specific benefits associated with dual qualifying and in particular being qualified within the UK specifically. English law remains the dominant choice and preferred jurisdiction for global business, and the ability to practice English law therefore unlocks the door to offering a global approach to fulfilling a client’s legal service needs.
| The UK’s status as an economic hub cannot be understated, and Lawyers practicing within the UK can expect a certain scale and standard of international client.
Home to the London Stock Exchange, the UK handles more foreign exchange ($2.73 trillion) than the next four largest centres combined ($2.41 trillion). 51% of investors in London Stock Exchange companies are international, and 12.4% of the global total of foreign listed companies are listed in London. |
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In addition, the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) has significantly changed the way that individuals can become qualified as a Solicitor of England and Wales (you can find out more in our article on the SQE https://www.ltckent.co.uk/costs-of-qualifying-solicitor/). The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have confirmed that ALL qualified Lawyers, from ALL jurisdictions, are exempt from the two years’ Qualified Work Experience (QWE) requirement. This removes one of the four steps required for qualification via the SQE pathway, as well as verifying that foreign lawyers no longer need to be within a recognised jurisdiction – unlike the legacy QLTS route to cross-qualification.
Furthermore, the requirement for individuals looking to qualify states the need to attain a degree in any subject or to attain a degree equivalent qualification in any subject. However, degree equivalent qualifications can be obtained in England OR overseas – meaning that this requirement can also be met by an overseas qualification! Therefore, if you have already achieved a degree or equivalent qualification in South Africa, qualified SA Attorneys could look to become dual qualified as a Solicitor of England and Wales by simply passing the SQE assessments and meeting the SRA’s character and suitability requirements – reducing the four-stage process down to two! Find out more here.(https://www.ltckent.co.uk/foreign-lawyers-wanting-to-qualify-as-a-solicitor-of-england-and-wales/)
To apply, or for further information contact Professor Philip Stoop, Head of the School of Law for STADIO, by emailing [email protected]
Sources:
The UK is the world’s global financial centre (theglobalcity.uk)
