The short answer: no, not as a solicitor, until you requalify. Scotland has its own legal system, so a solicitor qualified in England and Wales cannot call themselves a solicitor in Scotland or carry out reserved Scottish legal work without being admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Scotland. The good news is that requalifying is well trodden. English and Welsh solicitors apply to the Law Society of Scotland for a Certificate of Eligibility, sit the Qualified Lawyers Assessment (QLA) in the subjects they are not exempt from, and then apply for admission and a practising certificate.
Here we answer the most common questions from lawyers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland who are thinking about a move north.
Can an English solicitor work in Scotland without requalifying?
You can work in Scotland, but not as a Scottish solicitor. Only a person admitted as a solicitor in Scotland and holding a current practising certificate may describe themselves as a solicitor there, and doing so without being qualified is a criminal offence. Many English qualified lawyers work in Scottish firms advising on English law, UK-wide matters or cross-border transactions, often while they study for the QLA. What you cannot do is advise on Scots law as a Scottish solicitor or sign off work reserved to Scottish solicitors, such as most conveyancing.
How do you requalify as a solicitor in Scotland?
The Law Society of Scotland's requalifying route has four main stages:
- Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility. You show that you are a fit and proper person to be a solicitor. This includes a Certificate of Good Standing from your current regulator (the SRA for English solicitors) and a Level 2 Disclosure Scotland check. The Society aims to issue certificates within about six weeks.
- Sit the Qualified Lawyers Assessment. You must sit your first QLA exam within one year of the date your Certificate of Eligibility is issued.
- Apply for admission. Once you have passed every required exam, you apply to be admitted and entered on the Roll of Solicitors. This must be done within five years of passing the assessment, under the Admission as Solicitor (Scotland) Regulations 2019.
- Apply for a practising certificate. You then hold a Scottish practising certificate and can work as a solicitor in Scotland.
Fees apply at the eligibility, exam and admission stages. Check the current fees directly with the Law Society of Scotland, as they are reviewed regularly.
Which QLA exams do English solicitors need to sit?
The full Qualified Lawyers Assessment covers eleven subjects. Solicitors and barristers from England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are exempt by right from four of them: public law, obligations, European law and institutions, and professional conduct. That leaves seven exams:
- Legal system and legal method
- Criminal law
- Evidence
- Procedure
- Conveyancing
- Trusts and succession
- The Accounts Rules
There is no compulsory course. Candidates prepare by self-study using the published syllabus, reading list and past papers. There is no English language test for this route.
Where and when are the QLA exams held?
The Law Society of Scotland runs exam diets during the year. From the November 2026 diet, the QLA exams are being held in person, with venues expected in Edinburgh and Aberdeen and possibly Glasgow. Plan your study and travel around the published diet dates and remember the one year deadline for sitting your first exam.
Will my PQE count if I move to a Scottish firm?
Usually your English PQE is recognised as relevant experience, but Scottish firms tend to measure seniority by experience of Scots law. A 6 year PQE English property lawyer, for example, may be offered a role and salary that reflects a mix of their overall experience and their Scottish experience. This often evens out quickly once you are admitted. Our Scottish solicitor salary guide shows typical pay at each level.
Can I set up my own firm straight away?
Not immediately. Under the Law Society of Scotland practice rules (rule D2.1.3), a solicitor needs three years of employed experience after admission, with at least one of those years immediately before setting up as a principal. Requalified lawyers who want to run their own practice should plan for a period working within an established Scottish firm or in-house team first.
Can a Scottish solicitor practise in England?
The reverse route runs through the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Scottish solicitors qualify in England and Wales through the SQE route, sitting SQE1 and typically claiming exemptions from SQE2, and providing a certificate of good standing that is less than three months old. Check the current SRA requirements before you start.
Frequently asked questions
Can an English solicitor practise in Scotland?
Not as a solicitor without requalifying. An English solicitor must obtain a Certificate of Eligibility, pass the required QLA exams, be admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Scotland and hold a Scottish practising certificate.
How many QLA exams does an English solicitor need to sit?
Usually seven. English and Welsh solicitors are exempt from public law, obligations, European law and institutions, and professional conduct.
How long does it take to requalify in Scotland?
It depends on how quickly you sit and pass the exams. The Certificate of Eligibility takes around six weeks, you must sit your first exam within one year of it being issued, and you have five years from passing to apply for admission.
Is there a course for the Qualified Lawyers Assessment?
No. The QLA is self-study, supported by the Law Society of Scotland's syllabus, reading list and past papers.
Thinking about moving to Scotland?
We regularly place English qualified lawyers with Scottish firms that will support them through the QLA. If you would like a confidential conversation about firms open to requalifying lawyers, get in touch with Legal Recruitment Scotland or browse our current legal jobs in Scotland.
