Pakistan-qualified candidates
Qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales, from Pakistan
Pakistan-qualified lawyers are among the candidates who prepare for and sit the SQE1. This page sets out, plainly, what the assessment route involves and where to check the parts that change.
QLTS is closed. The SQE is the route now
The former Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme closed to new registrations in September 2021. Its last multiple choice test sat in 2021, and its last OSCE sat in 2022. It is no longer a live pathway. The current route for a foreign-qualified lawyer, including one qualified in Pakistan, is the SQE, generally alongside an application for qualified lawyer exemptions where they apply.
Most foreign-qualified lawyers still sit SQE1
An exemption from SQE2 does not, on its own, remove the need to sit SQE1. Whether any particular jurisdiction sits on the SRA's list of agreed exemptions changes over time, and it should always be checked directly on the SRA's own website atsra.org.ukbefore you rely on it. We do not repeat a jurisdiction list here, because it is exactly the kind of detail that goes out of date. What is consistent is that candidates from a wide range of jurisdictions, including Pakistan, prepare for and sit SQE1 regardless of their SQE2 position.
The exemption application sits separately from SQE1
Qualified lawyers can apply to the SRA for exemptions from parts of the assessment, and separately from the Qualifying Work Experience requirement, on the strength of their existing qualification and experience. That is a distinct application with its own fee, decision timeline and evidence requirements, all set by the SRA. Check the SRA's current guidance for qualified lawyers before applying, since fees and timelines are updated from time to time. If you want help assessing whether an application is realistic, we advise on that separately throughSQE2 exemption advice. The decision itself is always the SRA's.
What we do not claim
We do not publish a figure for how many Pakistani lawyers sit the SQE1, because no regulator or professional body currently publishes one. The SRA's own published research breaks candidates down by several demographic categories, but not by country of qualification. Any number you see quoted elsewhere for this specific figure is not sourced from the regulator.
This page is about the assessment route and nothing else. It is not legal advice, and LexVerity Academy is not affiliated with or endorsed by the SRA.
Preparing for SQE1 from Pakistan
The course is online and self-paced, so time zone is not a constraint. All thirteen FLK1 and FLK2 subjects sit in one account, with a cited question bank behind each. Start withthe thirteen modules, see whatFLK1 and FLK2each cover, or tryfive free sample questionsbefore creating anything.
Cost matters more when you are paying from abroad, so it is set out openly: plans lists what each tier includes, and theSQE1 course comparisonputs those figures next to what the larger providers charge.
Questions from Pakistan-qualified candidates
- Is QLTS still a route to qualifying from Pakistan?
- No. The Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme closed to new registrations in September 2021. Its last multiple choice test sat in 2021 and its last OSCE sat in 2022. It is no longer a live pathway. The SQE is the current route for a foreign-qualified lawyer.
- If I get an SQE2 exemption, do I still need to sit SQE1?
- In most cases, yes. An exemption from SQE2 does not, on its own, remove the need to sit SQE1. Candidates from a wide range of jurisdictions, including Pakistan, prepare for and sit SQE1 regardless of their SQE2 position.
- Is Pakistan on the SRA’s agreed-exemption jurisdiction list?
- That changes over time and should always be checked directly on the SRA’s website before you rely on it. We do not repeat a jurisdiction list here, because it is exactly the kind of detail that goes out of date.
- Can I see the price in Pakistani rupees?
- Yes. Pakistan-based candidates can view Standard and Premium pricing in rupees rather than pounds when they subscribe in the app.
- How do I pay from Pakistan?
- By card, in rupees, on the same recurring monthly or three-month billing as everywhere else. There is no separate bank-transfer process, and a subscription can be cancelled at any time from account settings.
- How many Pakistani lawyers sit the SQE1?
- We do not publish a figure, because no regulator or professional body currently publishes one. Any number quoted elsewhere for this specific figure is not sourced from the regulator.