Potential changes to the rules regarding how foreign solicitors can qualify in England and Wales if there’s a no-deal Brexit have been put out for consultation. Currently, EU lawyers can apply for exemptions from the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS), which all foreign-qualified lawyers must sit to qualify here. Under World Trade Organisation rules, however, such preferential treatment would not be possible. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Consultation on Exemptions for Qualified Lawyers asks for views on offering the right to apply the exemption to all foreign-qualified lawyers. Arrangements for solicitors from Scotland and Northern Ireland will remain unchanged. The consultation ends on 10 January 2019 and will then be put to the Legal Services Board for approval. Paul Philip, SRA Chief Executive, said: ‘It is important that we are prepared.’
11 December 2018
Foreign solicitors rule change?
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Birketts—four appointments
Firm expands partnership with four lateral hires across key practice areas
Harper James—Lottie Hugo
Commercial law firm announces appointment of corporate partner
.tmb-mov69x69.jpg?sfvrsn=2c3eca9_1)
Carey Olsen—Patrick Ormond
Partner joins corporate and finance practice in British Virgin Islands
NEWS
Serial sperm donor Robert Albon has lost his bid for a declaration of paternity, ‘on the ground that to grant it would manifestly be contrary to public policy’
The government is considering wholesale reform of consumer class actions—the ‘opt-out’ collective claims certified by the Competition Appeals Tribunal (CAT)
A ‘sophisticated suspected fraud’ may have taken place at PM Law involving the improper removal and misuse of about £39.5m of client funds, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has confirmed
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) will invest in technology to catch tech-reliant fraudsters and handle voluminous case materials
Law firms enjoyed rapid
growth in 2025, according
to a Financial Benchmarking
Survey, published by the Law
Society last week
Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
