By Jasmine Gratton, Associate Attorney at Whitmyer IP Group.
When I first heard of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE), I was both confused and intrigued. I was in my second year of law school at the University of Bristol in England, and there were murmurs of this new, stream-lined process to legal qualification in England & Wales.
I had heard of the former system – either the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and training contract route or the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS), and found both overly complicated and unappealing. Now, the SQE is administered by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and is one exam format for all aspiring solicitors.
Make yourself more competitive in a challenging legal market
It’s no secret that it’s difficult to even get an interview at a top firm. Everyone has moot courts, clinics, and law review on their resume, as well as top grades.
Having dual qualification makes your application stand out, and it demonstrates your drive, motivation, and time-management skills. Independently learning for a foreign exam shows you are a self-starter, and that you can bring further value to your current role, or are an excellent candidate for a new one.
Expand your worldview and become a better legal thinker
Having a broader knowledge base makes you a better lawyer and legal thinker. The legal system of England & Wales was the foundation of the American system of common law, so as an U.S.-qualified attorney you have a distinct advantage with knowledge of the common law system.
As a dual qualified attorney, you can provide better legal advice and offer wider expertise to clients. With the increase of globalisation, clients have more cross-jurisdictional needs, especially between the legal markets of the U.S. and the UK. With the SQE you can gain a better understanding of one of the world’s largest legal markets.
I currently work in intellectual property law, specifically trademarks, so being dual-qualified means that I have a better understanding of two very IP-intensive legal industries.
Stream-lined process to qualifying in England & Wales
When I first heard of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE), I was both confused and intrigued. I was in my second year of law school at the University of Bristol in England, and there were murmurs of this new, stream-lined process to legal qualification in England & Wales.
I had heard of the former system – either the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and training contract route or the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS), and found both overly complicated and unappealing. Now, the SQE is administered by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and is one exam format for all aspiring solicitors.
Make yourself more competitive in a challenging legal market
It’s no secret that it’s difficult to even get an interview at a top firm. Everyone has moot courts, clinics, and law review on their resume, as well as top grades.
Having dual qualification makes your application stand out, and it demonstrates your drive, motivation, and time-management skills. Independently learning for a foreign exam shows you are a self-starter, and that you can bring further value to your current role, or are an excellent candidate for a new one.
Expand your worldview and become a better legal thinker
Having a broader knowledge base makes you a better lawyer and legal thinker. The legal system of England & Wales was the foundation of the American system of common law, so as an U.S.-qualified attorney you have a distinct advantage with knowledge of the common law system.
As a dual qualified attorney, you can provide better legal advice and offer wider expertise to clients. With the increase of globalisation, clients have more cross-jurisdictional needs, especially between the legal markets of the U.S. and the UK. With the SQE you can gain a better understanding of one of the world’s largest legal markets.
I currently work in intellectual property law, specifically trademarks, so being dual-qualified means that I have a better understanding of two very IP-intensive legal industries.
It has never been simpler to become qualified in England & Wales
Now that the process has been clarified, it has never been simpler to become qualified in England & Wales as a U.S. attorney.
I was excited to start the BARBRI course because I knew I was familiar with the format. I passed the February 2021 New York Bar Exam after preparing with BARBRI for six months. The learning interface is the same as that of the Bar prep course, and I knew this was the perfect opportunity to gain an exciting new qualification.
Jasmine is an intellectual property lawyer. Jasmine studied Law at the University of Bristol and then did a Master of Laws at Fordham University School of Law before beginning her career as a Legal Intern. Now, Jasmine is an Associate Attorney at Whitmyer IP Group.