No. The SRA recognises it is difficult to assess work experience on a consistent basis, and that much of its value comes from the range and variety of experiences that prepare a candidate for 'real-world' practice, rather than being something which can be standardised, measured and assessed.

Law firms are, therefore, not required to make any judgments about whether a candidate is competent to be a solicitor. Instead, candidates’ competence will be assessed via SQE2. Employers or the supervising solicitor where work experience was not gained in a regulated entity, however, will be expected to sign a declaration that a candidate had had the opportunity to develop some or all of the competences in the Statement of Solicitor Competence through the required period of the qualifying work experience.

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