Breakdown of routes to admission

The number of solicitors being admitted to the roll in England and Wales has increased.

The table below provides a breakdown of those admitted in the 12 months to end of December 2024 and the 12 months to end of December 2023 by their routes to qualification.

In the 12 months to end of October 2024, 68% of new solicitors took the Legal Practice Course followed by a period of recognised training. The second most popular route is now the SQE route.

Date(s) Legal Practice Course followed by a period of recognised training Chartered Legal Executives (CiLEX) & Assistant Justices’ Clerks Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test SQE Registered European Lawyer Equivalent
Means
Republic of Ireland Exempt Northern Ireland Exempt Other/ Unknown Total
January 2024 to December 2024 6434
(68%)
180
(2%)

145
(2%)

6
(0%)
2487
(26%)
0
(0%)
111
(1%)
154
(2%)
45
(0%)
3
(0%)
9,565
January
2023 to December 2023
6674
(73%)
245
(3%)
341
(4%)
4
(0%)
1615
(18%)
2
(0%)
113
(1%)
128
(1%)
62
(1%)
1
(0%)
9,185