Equivalent means

Eligibility to commence CPE for non-graduates

Application for an exemption from the requirement to hold a degree before commencing the Common Professional Examination.

Please use this form if you want us to assess your eligibility to commence the Common Professional Examination (CPE) (sometimes also called the Graduate Diploma in Law) but you do not have a degree.

Please do NOT use this form if you:

  • hold a non-qualifying law degree from a UK/Republic of Ireland university
  • hold a degree in a subject other than law from a UK/Republic of Ireland university
  • are an overseas graduate who has studied any subject for a minimum of three years full time.

To qualify as a solicitor the SRA Training Regulations 2014 specify qualification requirements and a period of recognised training (PRT). For more information on this please refer to Information for Students and Information for Trainees on our website. The CPE is an intense, condensed programme of study aimed at providing graduates with the required knowledge in the seven foundations of legal knowledge and one other subject. However, if you do not hold a degree, and you can demonstrate equivalent experience and ability to a graduate in the workplace we may accept you as being eligible to commence the CPE.

This form is designed to enable you to provide us with the necessary details of that experience and ability. If successful, you will then need to complete the CPE, the Legal Practice Course, a period of recognised training and the Professional Skills Course in order to qualify as a solicitor.

If you need any help completing this form after reading the guidance, please contact us.

PART A - Guidance on completing the form

Please read the Information on Equivalent Meanson our website before you complete this form. This will explain the key principles which we will apply in assessing your application and the fees that apply.

If you can evidence that you meet the outcomes (see above), you should include this information on the assessment table (section 6). There are no restrictions on what evidence you can put forward towards an assessment.

Format

  • Please do not submit any of your evidence within binders, folders or plastic wallets.
  • All documents must be numbered and referenced to the outcomes listed on the assessment table in section 6 of this form.
  • Please provide a certified copy of your marriage certificate, or statutory declaration if your name is now different from that shown on any of the original documents, accompanied by an official translation where these are not in the English language.
  • Original copies of references provided by employers, lawyers or judges with certified translations into English where these are not in the English language.

Evidence

You are strongly advised to go through each element of the indicative content listed for each outcome in order to show us how you have achieved that outcome.

If you do not specifically claim to have achieved an outcome, then we will assume that you have not met it.

Work experience

Where you are relying on work experience to demonstrate that you satisfy outcomes, you must give details of:

  • the duration of your work experience and the number of hours worked (e.g. per week);
  • the level of employment (e.g. whether employed as paralegal or as qualified lawyer) and how much responsibility you held and whether your were supervised;
  • the nature of work undertaken (this should relate to the outcomes specified in the assessment table in section 6).

You need to submit a reference letter for each period of experience you are relying on. The letter should be on headed paper and signed by your manager or supervisor. If you do not provide references it will delay the assessment of your application.

What will happen next?

  • We will assess your application on the basis of the information and evidence you have provided.
  • We aim to provide you with a decision within 90 days of receipt of your application.
  • When we have completed the assessment, you will receive our decision and recommendations in writing.

PART B - The application form

Section 1. Personal Details

Title / First Name
professional
Middle Name(s) / Last Name
Date of Birth / SRA ID (if applicable)
Telephone (day) / Mobile No.
Email Address / Nationality*
Passport number/identity card number

*Please include supporting evidence of your nationality, for example a certified copy of your passport or identity card.

Section 2. Home address (this should be your permanent address)

House number / Name / Address Line 1
Address Line 2 / Address Line 3
City / County
Country / Postcode

Section 2.(continued)Correspondence address (if different to home address)

House number / Name / Address Line 1
Address Line 2 / Address Line 3
City / County
Country / Postcode

Section 3.General education and diplomas

Institution / Title of qualification / Course start date / Course end date

Section 4. Professional examinations passed and courses attended

Institution / Title of qualification / Course start date / Course end date

For Section 3 and Section 4 please continue on a separate sheet if necessary.

Please note we reserve the right to request original or certified copies of certificates

Section 5. Professional experience and employment

Organisation Name / Organisation SRA ID (if applicable)
Address Line 1 / Address Line 2
City / County
Country / Postcode
Dated started at organisation / Date left organisation
Organisation Name / Organisation SRA ID (if applicable)
Address Line 1 / Address Line 2
City / County
Country / Postcode
Dated started at organisation / Date left organisation
Organisation Name / Organisation SRA ID (if applicable)
Address Line 1 / Address Line 2
City / County
Country / Postcode
Dated started at organisation / Date left organisation

Please continue on a separate sheet if necessary.

V904/12/2018

Section 6.The assessment table

Please provide us with evidence to show us how you have met the following work-based learning outcomes. This is a critical part of your application. Please refer to Part A for guidance on how to complete this table.

We must be satisfied that you have achieved the relevant outcomes. These are the outcomes which you should have achieved had you undertaken a formal period of training in accordance with regulations 5 and 12 of the SRA Training Regulations 2014. We may grant eligibility to undertake the CPE if youhave:

  • considerable experience or have shown exceptional ability in an academic, professional, business or administrative level (for instance, several years experience as a teacher, police officer, doctor, etc, at middle-management level or more senior), and
  • achieved a sufficient standard of general education (usually A-level passes sufficient to be granted admission to a full time degree programme).

Outcome to be demonstrated / Knowledge and skills claimed and how achieved / Type of environment in which outcome achieved / Evidence in support (e.g. letter, certificate, reference, job description) / Assessors comments only
Experience
Sufficient standard of general education

V904/12/2018

Section 7. Declaration

This declaration must be completed in all cases.

Knowingly or recklessly giving us information which is false or misleading, or failing to inform us of materially significant information, may lead us to take disciplinary action against you.
We may need to contact third parties, such as education providers, and/or employers in order to verify the information given in this form.
We will revoke any decision if it was granted as a result of error or fraud.
I confirm that:
☐I am the individual named on this application and have read the guidance notes.
☐I understand that you will make such investigations as necessary in the course of determining my suitability and in the course of verifying the information given in this form.
☐I agree to notify you of any other information relevant to the application and inform you immediately of any changes to the information provided.
☐I declare that the information I have provided is true and correct.
Full Name / SRA ID (if applicable)
Applicant Signature / Date
☐If completed electronically please tick to say you confirm the declaration.

Please note if the form is not signed and the fee is not received your application will not be processed.

Privacy Notice

The Law Society is the data controller of the personal information we collect. We are the independent, regulatory arm of the Law Society, and operate separately from it.

For the purpose of verification, information regarding your qualifications may be shared with course providers

Further details regarding your rights under data protection legislation and how your information is used can be found here:

Section 8. Returning the form

To help us process your application quickly, please check that:
☐ The declaration has been signed and dated.
☐ Any additional sheets are labelled and attached to this form.
☐ Full payment is included. If not paying by cheque, completed method of payment form is
enclosed.
☐ Any relevant documentation is enclosed, including a copy of proof of name change, for example deed poll or marriage certificate.
Please send the fully completed application form and £35 fee via one of the options below:
Email
- This facility is only available if paying by bank transfer.
Post
Authorisation
Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
The Cube
199 Wharfside Street
Birmingham
B1 1RN
DX
DX720293 Birmingham 47
Methods of Payment form
Please complete the Methods of Payment form found on our website at You can pay the full amount by cheque, postal order or bank transfer. Cheques should be made payable to the Law Society. We do not accept payment via credit or debit card.
Please note that we will hold any payment we receive without an accompanying application form for up to 30 days before returning it to the sender.
Bank Transfer payments
If paying directly from your bank account, you must ensure you instruct your bank to pay us, as we are unable to request the payment for you.

V904/12/2018