QLTS Blog

The Value-Creating Potential of Junior Solicitors

QLTS School — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 13:57:28 +0100

The Value-Creating Potential of Junior Solicitors

While it may be easy for junior solicitors to be overlooked, especially in the larger firms, companies do so at their peril.

According to The Law Gazette, law firms stand to gain much from paying attention to the more junior solicitors in the firm – and stand to lose a great deal from not doing so.

Identifying the challenges that face trainees and junior solicitors means faster progression and increased resilience – and helps to contribute toward the success of a legal firm, as a result of increased commitment from the solicitors.

However, a lack of attention can be costly. “Poorly received feedback could be costing a firm £135,000 per trainee”, The Law Gazette states. If trainees are not properly managed, feedback can lead to a fear of making another mistake: “Losing just an hour a day of a solicitor’s time at only £150 per hour for four years costs approximately £135,000”, and – “this is in addition to the time and money you have already invested in them”.

By encouraging junior solicitors to do well, law firms generate a happier working environment which leads to a reduced risk of poor performance and boosted profitability for the company.

A key part of legal training is handling feedback. It needs to be delivered in such a way as to be viewed as such, rather than criticism. Understanding is important, as is empathy of the time management pressures junior lawyers are under.

Talking to junior lawyers and appreciating their concerns will help communications to remain open. This will help relieve some of the stress faced by solicitors in the early part of their careers, and in turn boost concentration, motivation and work quality.

Do you agree with these views? And do you think this advice can help international lawyers who want to train to become English solicitors?

Many of the pressures and time management issues are relevant for those studying the QLTS too. Also, when newly qualified in English law, candidates may need to or choose to start at a relatively junior level in a UK firm in order to expand their hands-on experience, and awareness of the associated issues can only be positive.

You can find out more about the value-adding nature of junior lawyers on The Law Gazette’s website. And further details on the benefits of becoming an English solicitor, can be found on our website, www.qlts.co.uk.

Co-op Becomes First High Street Bank to Offer Legal Services

QLTS School — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:28:03 +0100

The Co-op has launched a legal services pilot scheme in the UK, aimed at changing the way legal advice is provided and accessed in this country.

This scheme comes ahead of the deregulation of the UK’s legal system in October, when the Legal Services Act changes come into force. The changes will allow companies other than law firms to provide legal services, with the aim of making legal advice, and English solicitors in general, more accessible.

Initiated by the Co-operative Legal Services (CLS) in conjunction with its sister firm the Co-operative Financial Services (CFS), the pilot scheme will run for the next fortnight at three Co-op bank branches in Bristol.

The pilot scheme will entail free legal advice being offered to customers, either on a drop-in basis or via an appointment. Depending on the results of the scheme, a decision will be made for the longer-term plan to make this service work across all of Co-op’s UK branches.

Eddie Ryan, Managing Director of CLS, said: “Later this year the Legal Services Act will radically change the way in which solicitor services are delivered in England and Wales. The shake-up that the new Act offers is absolutely necessary if legal services are to become more accessible to customers. Many people feel that solicitors communicate with them poorly, use jargon that is confusing and don’t understand how services are priced.”

With legal advice soon to be available in new high street locations as well as the traditional places, namely law firms, many more opportunities for work may arise – meaning good news for international lawyers currently studying for the QLTS qualification.

Do you view the approaching changes of the Legal Services Act as positive for the legal community and UK law firms? We welcome your opinions on this topic, and whether or not this will encourage you to qualify as an English lawyer via the QLTS route.

You can find out more about the Co-op’s legal services pilot scheme on the company’s website. And further details on the benefits of becoming an English solicitor and on the QLTS School’s course, can be found on our website, www.qlts.co.uk.

Diversity of London Law

QLTS School — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:32:06 +0100

A little over six months since the qualified lawyers transfer scheme (QLTS) came into effect, replacing the QLTT, and London is most definitely a legal centre on the international stage.

The new scheme has been designed so the public can place confidence in the ability of practising English lawyers, regardless of their background. The QLTS enables lawyers from overseas to practise in England and Wales – as well as solicitors who qualified in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and barristers.

Just like one of the main updates in the QLTS – the removal of experience as part of the selection criteria, replaced by practical exercises to test a potential English lawyer’s aptitude – the London legal scene has recently shown itself to be flexible and adaptive.

Allen & Overy (A&O) recently became the first law firm to sign up to the Government’s new social mobility initiative, and as a result will offer internships to young people from underprivileged backgrounds. The firm already runs a number of social mobility schemes, including Smart Start, a summer programme for 100 16/17 year-olds from deprived London boroughs who spend one week within the firm learning about the different legal routes.

A&O partner and social investment head Susan Hazledine told Legal Week: “The reason why the lack of social mobility is a concern is because it means a loss of talent for the profession. We have been passionate about broadening access to the legal industry for some time and there is a lot that can be done at various stages. I expect more firms will get involved in this important project”.

Similarly, the new QLTS scheme places overseas lawyers on a par with domestic lawyers, making for a fairer playing field. The testing is more rigorous, resulting in employers and clients alike having more confidence in successful candidates.

Another example of the diversity of the London legal market has been recently illustrated by the deal signed this month between QualitySolicitors and WHSmith. This deal will see a QS member of staff in 150 branches of the retailer this summer, before being rolled out to 500 branches.

QS chief executive Craig Holt said: “This move represents the future of legal services. It is a game changer, providing both the key elements required for market dominance – accessibility and visibility”.
Both the social mobility and WHSmith deal should be viewed as positive, especially for those currently studying, or seeking to study, to become English solicitors. With an adaptive and accessible London market, job prospects for qualified English solicitors should remain steady.

If you are studying for your QLTS, you can access advice on our website, www.QLTS.co.uk, which provides information about every stage to help you prepare for your QLTS assessments.

You can read more on the A&L story on Legal Week’s website, and on the QS deal with WHSmith on the Law Society Gazette’s website.

Global Law and Diversification High on the Agenda

QLTS School — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 22:21:15 +0100

Social mobility and diversification is currently high on the agenda of the Legal Services Board (LSB), who will shortly be asking all English law practitioners detailed questions about their socio economic situation, religion and disability, in an attempt to paint a realistic picture of those working in the legal sector.

The forthcoming April Equality Act will seek to ensure a fairer and equal aspect to all areas of society and with this in mind, many English law firms are seeking to proactively implement a programme of diversity.

It is not currently thought that subsequent diversity guidelines will be introduced into the HR department of law firms on the back of this Act. However, these programmes are simply designed to ensure that groups of law professionals in a perceived minority are not inadvertently overlooked during the recruitment process.

Many large legal services organisations including Baker & McKenzie and Weightmans have taken the drive for diversity to their heart, with the opinion that an enhanced amalgamation of backgrounds, skills, experience and nationalities will only serve to strengthen the key strengths of their departments, and the organisation as a whole.

It appears that many English law firms are increasingly selecting to introduce an international law client offering, as well as expanding their geographical coverage. This could well coincide with and support the drive for diversity, encouraging professionals of varying nationalities and with specific legal knowledge of their individual country to join together as a team and effectively service the needs of their clients.

Of course by studying to qualify as an English solicitor, international QLTS students will become more marketable not only in their own jurisdiction, but globally.

Excluded Jurisdictions from QLTS Scheme Urged To Complete SRA Survey

QLTS School — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 14:41:02 +0100

The new fast-track scheme for international lawyers to practise law in England and Wales launched on 1 September 2010.

Since its launch, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has been criticised for excluding from the new legal scheme a number of countries previously eligible under the old QLTT tests. Lawyers from various countries including Canada, South Africa, Pakistan and India are currently not able to apply to study the QLTS and become English solicitors.

However, this is not as worrying as it may seem for qualified overseas lawyers who are unable to sit the QLTS at present. The reason certain countries have not made it onto the list of recognised jurisdictions is simply because the particular jurisdiction’s Law Societies and Bars did not respond to the survey sent out by the International Division of the Law Society of England and Wales. This survey enables the SRA to assess whether the individual country meets the criteria or not – which is why a country cannot be considered for the QLTS until this survey is completed and returned.

“We conducted a survey of international law societies and bars at the end of April and none of those contacted in [countries such as] India responded,” a spokesman for the SRA said, adding: “Only those jurisdictions whose regulatory bodies replied and have been assessed as meeting the SRA’s criteria have been included on the list that appears on the SRA website”.

The list of recognised jurisdictions for the QLTS assessments can be found here: http://www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/qlts/recognised-jurisdictions.page.
All qualified lawyers from the countries on this list can apply to sit the QLTS test and practise English law. If your country is not on the list, you need to contact your home bar or law society to ask them to apply to the SRA for recognition or to contact the SRA directly.

The eligibility criteria to be a recognised jurisdiction are:

professional qualification requires completion of specific education and training at a level that is at least equivalent to that of an English/Welsh Bachelor's degree
members of the profession are bound by an ethical code that requires them to act without conflicts of interest and to respect their clients' interests and confidentiality
members of the profession are subject to disciplinary sanctions for breach of their ethical code, including the removal of the right to practise

With time, more countries should be added to the QLTS recognised jurisdiction list which will be welcome news for those countries currently not eligible. The SRA states on its website: “As completed surveys are returned and jurisdictions meet our published criteria, we will regularly update the list of recognised jurisdictions”.

The QLTS offers a number of improvements and updates on the QLTT, and in fact already enables a wider range of jurisdictions to sit the fast-track assessment to become an English solicitor than previously, including many emerging markets.

You can read more on the QLTS assessments on the QLTS School’s website.

*Update 2011: Many countries were added to the list this year; including India, Korea, Canada and Pakistan.

Kaplan Selected As Sole QLTS Assessment Provider by SRA

QLTS School — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:20:07 +0100

The qualified lawyers transfer scheme (QLTS) which replaces the QLTT came into effect on 1 September and the SRA has selected Kaplan to be the sole examining board for the new QLTS tests.

Unlike the QLTT programme which was assessed by five different law schools, the new qualification for international lawyers to practise in England and Wales will be assessed only by Kaplan.

However, for QLTS exam preparation, candidates keen to become English solicitors will need to find a reputable training organisation as Kaplan is not allowed to offer preparatory courses.

Managing director of Kaplan Professional Peter Anderson said: “This is a very significant deal for us and it means we’ve been given a massive vote of confidence by the SRA to be the examining board for the QLTS. This means, although we won’t be able to provide any of the training for the QLTS exams, we’ll be the only organisation who can act as the examining body.”

The first QLTS assessments are due to take place early in 2011, and if you’re currently enrolled for the scheme, you should consider the QLTS School to help you prepare for the exams. Our staff have over 10 years’ experience of supporting and guiding students through the process to become English solicitors (aquired through the previous QLTT).

The programmes are all cost-effective and flexible in how you can study for them. The QLTS School offers distance learning courses to ensure location is no barrier to comprehensive training, and the courses are thorough and interactive. Study manuals are provided together with self-assessment questions, sample exam papers and suggested answers, video and audio lectures, and PowerPoint presentations. In addition is the School’s online training system which has been designed by Oxford University specifically for QLTS candidates, offering access to learning tools whenever you need them.

Advice is available on the QLTS website, www.QLTS.co.uk, and you’ll find information for every stage, from why you should gain the English solicitor qualification through to applying and onto individual concerns relating to jurisdiction/work experience etc.

The new QLTS scheme places overseas lawyers on a par with domestic lawyers, making for a fairer playing field. The testing is more rigorous on the QLTS, resulting in employers and clients alike having more confidence in successful candidates.

The improvements are beneficial for candidates, although the higher demands of the new scheme mean preparation for the QLTS assessments are all the more important.

You can read more on the QLTS assessments and the training courses provided, on the QLTSchool’s website.

Experience Requirement Removal on New QLTS

QLTS School — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:56:02 +0100

Under the current QLTT scheme, any lawyer without the required experience of working in legal practice would not be admitted onto the course. This experience requirement will be removed in favour of practical assessments when the new QLTS assessments begin later this year.

This represents a big change in how overseas lawyers are admitted onto legal training courses to qualify as English solicitors. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has proposed the removal of the experience requirement to ensure the practical skills of each newly qualified English lawyer meet with the necessary standards to practise as a solicitor of England and Wales.

Under the existing QLTT exams, all English/ Welsh/ Northern-Irish barristers and non-EU lawyers, wanting to become English lawyers, have to demonstrate they’ve gained two years’ legal experience – with a minimum of one year spent practising the law of England and Wales. The new QLTS training will remove this requirement and replace it with practical assessments instead.

The SRA discovered difficulties in assessing the quality of each applicant’s experience. As the international lawyer’s experience is unlikely to have been gained in regulated conditions such as on a training contract, it is deemed hard to verify the gained competencies of the candidate. The practical abilities of the individual cannot be properly assessed as a result, potentially resulting in those without the necessary skills and experience still being admitted to the Roll of Solicitors of England and Wales.

This is why the SRA is keen to alter how the new QLTS will be assessed. Although the experience requirement will no longer be in place, creating the possibility of lawyers without experience gaining places on the course, the QLTS will be structured in such a way that only those with the right aptitudes will pass the tests.

The QLTS will consist of numerous practical tests to measure professional knowledge and skills, client understanding and ability, knowledge of ethics and behaviours, legal skills and more. Only those able to demonstrate throughout the QLTS training, the appropriate level required to practise as an English solicitor will succeed.

As international lawyers will have to take all the QLTS assessments, all applicants will be assessed to the same standard, making for a fairer system. The new structure also takes into consideration issues for ages and disabilities of candidates, and will use the OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) means of testing in order to minimise any risk of discrimination within the practical tests.

With the London legal market continuing to thrive, the demand for the QLTT is high and is likely to remain high as the QLTS comes into force. International lawyers wanting to practise as English solicitors need to first pass this conversion exam. The removal of the experience requirement in the QLTS assessments should make the process fairer for everyone. A lack of experience will no longer be a barrier to qualifying for the QLTS while practical skills will be more robustly tested on the QLTS to ensure only the most suitable candidates qualify as English solicitors.
You can read more on the QLTS assessments on QLTS School’s website.

QLTS Adds Standalone Prerequisite English Language Test

QLTS School — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:41:03 +0100

All international lawyers wishing to train for English lawyer status will need to pass an English language competency test prior to applying for the QLTS scheme.

The QLTS is the new scheme that replaces the QLTT at the end of 2010, as the means for international lawyers to qualify as practising English and Welsh solicitors.

To apply for the QLTS test, overseas lawyers (with the exception of EEA citizens looking to find work in the UK) will have to first demonstrate a sufficient grasp of the English language. This is to ensure that once qualified, candidates can perform their duties as English solicitors to the highest standard – and that includes reading and understanding legal documents written in English, receiving accurate instructions from clients and giving clear advice to clients.

This new measure will also help place the QLTS candidates on a par with the domestic applicants. Candidates who opt for the domestic course will have been assessed in English over years and already meet the level of competence needed to train, qualify and practise as English solicitors.

The QLTS is the fast-track option and there remain differences between this route and the domestic route. The main differences are the removal of the experience requirement and the addition of this standalone English language test.

On the QLTS, candidates will need to meet the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) Level 2 for English language competence before becoming eligible to apply for the QLTS assessments. This is in addition to the other prerequisites – qualified lawyer in a recognised jurisdiction and able to practise in a recognised jurisdiction, and of suitable character.

To pass the English language test, candidates must gain the CEFR Level 2 or hold a degree. This degree can be one that has been cleared by the UK NARIC as having been taught in English and is the equivalent of a UK Bachelor-level degree. Or the candidate must have a degree of Bachelor level or higher from a university that NARIC recognises in a country where NARIC has stated all higher education be conducted in English. Or the candidate must hold a Bachelors degree or higher from a recognised UK university.

There are multiple reasons for the new English language test as part of the eligibility process for the QLTS. One of the major reasons is for the candidate’s benefit. If the candidate fails to meet this level of English, he or she would not have a strong enough command of English to be able to complete the training – testing this before the QLTS begins saves the candidate both time and money.

By passing the English language test in advance of the QLTS, candidates can then concentrate on demonstrating their knowledge and skills of law. The QLTS is an intensive course and offers no opportunity to test English skills also. When it comes to assessment, only legal experts are required as a result – otherwise you would need English language professionals too.

Once admitted to the Roll of Solicitors of England and Wales, the initial English test will help ensure future clients receive the right level of service. Just like domestic candidates have to meet a certain level of competence in English before commencing a course, this pre-QLTS test is a fair method of assessing English communication skills, so the QLTS course itself can concentrate on assessing the legal knowledge and practical skills needed to practise English law.

International Law and its Possibilities

QLTS School — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:37:01 +0100

The legal arena lawyers now operate in has changed drastically over the years and an increasing importance is placed on being able to work internationally, cross-border.

International law is a wide-ranging remit that includes business, trade and tax as well as issues such as government policies and human rights. To practise as an international lawyer, you need to be qualified for your jurisdiction – which may mean understanding the laws that govern a particular country or understanding the laws governing several countries.

International lawyers often specialise in certain areas. For example, an international lawyer who focuses on business may deal with the corporate negotiations of a business deal for a company based in different countries; or the merger of companies in countries around the world; or other business matters for globally-based companies.

The area of international trade includes understanding trading rules and the requirements of customs for cross-border operations. And international tax, for example, entails helping individuals or businesses understand the tax laws in different places.

Regardless of the type of international law pursued, it is imperative to be work on a local level even when working globally. Continual legal education will help ensure international lawyers stay current and, in turn, relevant.

If you’re a qualified solicitor looking to widen your career horizons, you may want to consider working in London or for a law firm that has offices in London. In a competitive legal market, it is crucial to master more than one legal system and studying to become an English solicitor opens opportunities for qualified solicitors in Europe or further afield in countries like Australia, America and India.

By undertaking the QLTS – formerly called the QLTT – lawyers from around the world can become English solicitors, able to work within the European Union. This qualification also enhances professional knowledge and allows solicitors to then offer this additional service.

London-based Global Law Firm Clifford Chance Increases Pay Bands

QLTS School — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 13:08:07 +0100

It seems the recession effects are easing at 'Clifford Chance'. After a pay freeze for associates at the law firm kept 2009-2010 pay levels the same as 2008-2009, employees have received an average pay band increase of 3% for this year.

From 1 May, all lawyers, employees and trainees at the firm enjoyed a 3% rise, on average.

Clifford Chance London managing partner David Bickerton said: “These salary increases demonstrate our confidence in our London business and the value we put on the contribution of all our lawyers.”

He added: “I believe that our total reward package, combining the salary band increases, the effect of progression through the PQE scale, and the significant bonus potential, will ensure we continue to attract and retain the best lawyers in the market.”

The pay increase means that the global law firm based in London can reward its English lawyers and lawyers based in its offices in 20 countries worldwide.

Newly-qualified solicitors at the company will now make an extra £2,500, increasing salaries from £59,000 to £61,500. Trainee solicitors will also see a pay rise and first years will now earn £38,000, second years £43,000.

A solicitor who has one year’s PQE (post qualification experience) will now receive £68,000, up from £66,600. And those qualified solicitors with two years’ PQE will clear £72,250, increased from £68,700; and lawyers with three years’ PQE will see salaries rise from £82,200 to £84,500.

Clifford Chance is not the only law firm to unfreeze pay either. For example, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer announced at the end of February that its lawyers could now advance through the lockstep.

All this will be viewed as good news, especially in the year that sees the QLTS replace the QLTT as the recognised training for lawyers outside of England to become qualified as English lawyers.

To find out more about the unfreezing of salaries at Clifford Chance, you can read the full article on The Lawyer.