The SQE for arbitrators: Qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales

For arbitrators and for lawyers representing clients in arbitrations, expertise and qualification in English and Welsh Law is both a career asset and a mark of global excellence. International interest in the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) from legal professionals working in the field of arbitration has been very high, owing to the position of English and Welsh Law as the dominant framework for international commerce.

For this reason, the UK Ministry of Justice, together with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), invites you to register for our webinar, The SQE for arbitrators: Qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales. This free session will introduce attendees to the technical aspects of the SQE and its benefits and practical applications for arbitrators and lawyers representing clients in arbitrations, and will answer any questions you may have about qualifying in English and Welsh Law. Participants will hear from the Director-General of CIArb, have the opportunity to ask the SRA questions about the SQE, and attend a panel discussion of leading practitioners who will discuss the place of the SQE in the toolkit of the modern arbitrator.

The SQE

In 2021, the UK Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) launched the Solicitors’ Qualifying Examination (SQE).

This is the assessment for qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales. It is open to international candidates from all jurisdictions. The written components of the assessment can be taken abroad, existing lawyers are exempted from the work experience element, and candidates do not require a degree in English and Welsh Law to sit the SQE.

Event schedule (GMT)

09:00 – 09:15: Opening remarks from Catherine Dixon, Director General of CIArb

09:15 – 09:45: An introduction to the SQE and Q&A with the SRA

09:45 – 10:30: Panel discussion: The benefits of dual qualification for arbitrators