Foreign Lawyer in the UK? SQE vs the CLC Overseas Graduate Exemption Compared
If you are a foreign lawyer or overseas law graduate who wants to work in property or probate law in England and Wales, the CLC Overseas Graduate Exemption is usually the faster, cheaper route. With a law degree from an English common law jurisdiction you go straight to the CLC Level 6 Diploma; from any other legal system you complete one Level 4 unit (Land Law) first. Tuition at Access Law Online is £1,920 or £2,475, plus 1,200 hours of supervised experience. The SRA route to becoming a solicitor gives you a wider licence, but it involves SQE assessments costing up to £5,092 and, for many applicants, two years' qualifying work experience.
How do the SQE and the CLC Overseas Graduate Exemption compare?
| CLC Overseas Graduate Exemption | SRA route to solicitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it suits | Overseas law graduates and qualified lawyers who want to specialise in property or probate | Overseas lawyers who want to practise across English law |
| Academic route | Common law degree: straight to Level 6. Other legal systems: Level 4 Land Law, then Level 6 | SQE1 and SQE2; qualified lawyers can apply for exemptions |
| Fees | £1,920 (common law) or £2,475 (other systems) tuition at ALO | SQE1 £2,006 and SQE2 £3,086; exemption application £265 |
| Work experience | At least 1,200 hours of supervised legal work, with a Statement of Practical Experience | Two years' qualifying work experience on the standard SQE route; check the SRA's rules for qualified lawyers |
| Masters in law (LLM) | Not normally accepted | Exemptions are based on a full legal qualification route, not an LLM alone |
| Qualifies you as | Licensed Conveyancer or Licensed Probate Practitioner | Solicitor of England and Wales |
SQE fees are the SRA's figures for sittings booked from October 2026.
How does the CLC Overseas Graduate Exemption work?
The CLC Overseas Graduate Exemption turns on one question: was your law degree based on English common law?
- Yes: you qualify for the Law Graduate Fast Track Exemption and go straight to the Level 6 Diploma in Conveyancing or Probate Law and Practice.
- No: you complete the Level 4 Land Law unit, certificated as a standalone unit, and then progress to Level 6. This is a recent change: previously you had to complete the full CLC route.
It is your responsibility to show your degree was based on English common law, so ask your university for written confirmation. Land Law cannot be replaced by prior learning or experience. In some cases we may also recommend supplementary reading in the Level 4 Law of Contract unit before Level 6, decided case by case. The same rules apply whether you are new to law or a qualified lawyer cross-qualifying.
Land Law (Level 4)
The one Level 4 unit the CLC requires before Level 6.
How does the SRA route work for overseas lawyers?
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) qualifies solicitors through the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). If you qualified as a lawyer through your jurisdiction's full legal qualification route, you can apply for an agreed exemption from SQE2, and you can ask for an individual exemption from SQE1 at the same time. You will also need to show competence in English or Welsh, and the application fee is £265. The SRA aims to decide within 180 days.
If you hold an overseas law degree but are not qualified as a lawyer, the SRA's qualified-lawyer exemptions don't apply. You would normally take the standard route: SQE1, SQE2 and two years' full-time (or equivalent) qualifying work experience.
Check the SRA's current rules. SQE exemptions are decided by the SRA case by case. This article summarises its published guidance and is not a substitute for it.
Which route costs less?
A qualified lawyer who secures an SQE2 exemption still pays £2,006 for SQE1 unless that is exempted too, plus the £265 application fee and any preparation course. CLC tuition at Access Law Online includes your assessments and tutor support, with interest-free instalments available. The CLC charges its own licence fees when you apply.
What can you do with each licence?
A solicitor can practise across the whole of English law. A Licensed Conveyancer is a fully regulated specialist property lawyer who can carry out reserved conveyancing work and handle client money, and a Licensed Probate Practitioner does the same for probate and estates. If your goal is property or probate work, the CLC licence gives you full professional standing in that field. If you want litigation, corporate or family work, the SRA route is the one to take.
Level 6 Diploma in Conveyancing or Probate
The qualification that leads to your CLC licence.
Which should you choose?
The CLC route makes sense if you:
- want to work in residential or commercial property, or probate and estates;
- hold a law degree but are not a qualified lawyer, so SRA exemptions would not help;
- want a shorter, cheaper route with a smaller work experience requirement.
The SRA route makes sense if you:
- are already a qualified lawyer and likely to secure SQE exemptions;
- want the freedom to practise in any area of English law.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreign lawyer become a conveyancer in the UK?
Yes, in England and Wales. Through the CLC Overseas Graduate Exemption, a law degree from an English common law jurisdiction takes you straight to the Level 6 Diploma, and a degree from another legal system needs the Level 4 Land Law unit first. You also need at least 1,200 hours of supervised practical experience.
Do I need to take the SQE to work in conveyancing?
No. Licensed Conveyancers qualify through the CLC Diplomas, not the SQE. The SQE is the route to becoming a solicitor.
Does my LLM count?
Not normally for the CLC route, because the subjects studied do not usually match the CLC's specialist topics and learning outcomes.
Do qualified lawyers still need practical experience for the CLC licence?
Yes. The CLC requires at least 1,200 hours of relevant legal work in a suitable legal workplace, whether you are new to the profession or cross-qualifying.
Related reading: Can I work as a conveyancer in the UK with a foreign law degree?
Use your law degree in England and Wales
See which CLC route applies to your degree, then start with the right course.
Read the full guide Speak to an adviserSources: CLC, Overseas Graduate Exemptions; SRA, Apply for an SQE agreed exemption, SQE update, April 2026 and qualifying work experience.