Equivalent means
Eligibility to commence CPE for non-graduates
Application for an exemption from the requirement to hold a degree before commencing the
Common Professional Examination.
Please use this form if you want us to assess your eligibility to commence the Common
Professional Examination (CPE) (sometimes also called the Graduate Diploma in Law) but
you do not have a degree.
Please do NOT use this form if you:
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hold a non-qualifying law degree from a UK/Republic of Ireland university
hold a degree in a subject other than law from a UK/Republic of Ireland university
are an overseas graduate who has studied any subject for a minimum of three years full time.
To qualify as a solicitor the SRA Training Regulations 2014 specify qualification requirements and a period
of recognised training (PRT). For more information on this please refer to Information for Students and
Information for Trainees on our website. The CPE is an intense, condensed programme of study aimed at
providing graduates with the required knowledge in the seven foundations of legal knowledge and one
other subject. However, if you do not hold a degree, and you can demonstrate equivalent experience and
ability to a graduate in the workplace we may accept you as being eligible to commence the CPE.
This form is designed to enable you to provide us with the necessary details of that experience and ability.
If successful, you will then need to complete the CPE, the Legal Practice Course, a period of recognised
training and the Professional Skills Course in order to qualify as a solicitor.
If you need any help completing this form after reading the guidance, please contact us.
PART A - Guidance on completing the form
Please read the Information on Equivalent Means on our website before you complete this form. This will
explain the key principles which we will apply in assessing your application and the fees that apply.
If you can evidence that you meet the outcomes (see above), you should include this information on the
assessment table (section 6). There are no restrictions on what evidence you can put forward towards an
assessment.
Format
 Please do not submit any of your evidence within binders, folders or plastic wallets.
 All documents must be numbered and referenced to the outcomes listed on the assessment table in
section 6 of this form.
 Please provide a certified copy of your marriage certificate, or statutory declaration if your name is
now different from that shown on any of the original documents, accompanied by an official
translation where these are not in the English language.
 Original copies of references provided by employers, lawyers or judges with certified translations into
English where these are not in the English language.
Evidence
You are strongly advised to go through each element of the indicative content listed for each outcome in
order to show us how you have achieved that outcome.
If you do not specifically claim to have achieved an outcome, then we will assume that you have not met it.
Work experience
Where you are relying on work experience to demonstrate that you satisfy outcomes, you must give details
of:
 the duration of your work experience and the number of hours worked (e.g. per week);
 the level of employment (e.g. whether employed as paralegal or as qualified lawyer) and how much
responsibility you held and whether your were supervised;
 the nature of work undertaken (this should relate to the outcomes specified in the assessment table in
section 6).
What will happen next?
 We will assess your application on the basis of the information and evidence you have provided.
 We aim to provide you with a decision within 90 days of receipt of your application.
 When we have completed the assessment, you will receive our decision and recommendations in
writing.
PART B - The application form
Section 1. Personal Details
Title
First Name
Middle Name(s)
Last Name
Date of Birth
SRA ID (if applicable)
Telephone (day)
Mobile No.
Email Address
Nationality*
Passport number/identity card number
*Please include supporting evidence of your nationality, for example a certified copy of your passport or
identity card.
Section 2. Home address (this should be your permanent address)
House number / Name
Address Line 1
Address Line 2
Address Line 3
City
County
Country
Postcode
Section 2. (continued) Correspondence address (if different to home address)
House number / Name
Address Line 1
Address Line 2
Address Line 3
City
County
Country
Postcode
Section 3. General education and diplomas
Institution
Title of qualification
Course start date
Course end date
Section 4. Professional examinations passed and courses attended
Institution
Title of qualification
Course start date
Course end date
For Section 3 and Section 4 please continue on a separate sheet if necessary.
Please note we reserve the right to request original or certified copies of certificates
Section 5. Professional experience and employment
Organisation Name
Organisation SRA ID (if applicable)
Address Line 1
Address Line 2
City
County
Country
Postcode
Dated started at organisation
Date left organisation
Organisation Name
Organisation SRA ID (if applicable)
Address Line 1
Address Line 2
City
County
Country
Postcode
Dated started at organisation
Date left organisation
Organisation Name
Organisation SRA ID (if applicable)
Address Line 1
Address Line 2
City
County
Country
Postcode
Dated started at organisation
Date left organisation
Please continue on a separate sheet if necessary.
Section 6. The assessment table
Please provide us with evidence to show us how you have met the following work-based learning outcomes. This is a critical part of your application. Please
refer to Part A for guidance on how to complete this table.
We must be satisfied that you have achieved the relevant outcomes. These are the outcomes which you should have achieved had you undertaken a formal
period of training in accordance with regulations 5 and 12 of the SRA Training Regulations 2014. We may grant eligibility to undertake the CPE if you have:
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considerable experience or have shown exceptional ability in an academic, professional, business or administrative level (for instance, several years
experience as a teacher, police officer, doctor, etc, at middle-management level or more senior), and
achieved a sufficient standard of general education (usually A-level passes sufficient to be granted admission to a full time degree programme).
Outcome to be
demonstrated
Experience
Sufficient standard
of general
education
Knowledge and skills claimed and
how achieved
Type of environment in
which outcome achieved
Evidence in support (e.g.
letter, certificate, reference,
job description)
Assessors
comments only
Section 7. Declaration
This declaration must be completed in all cases.
Knowingly or recklessly giving the SRA information which is false or misleading, or failure to inform the
SRA of materially significant information, may lead to disciplinary action by the SRA.
We may need to contact third parties, such as the organisation(s) where you gained your experience, in
order to verify the information given in this form. By completing this application you are giving us your
permission to do this. All information provided by you will be treated securely and strictly in accordance with
the Data Protection Act 1998.
The SRA will revoke any decision if it was granted as a result of error or fraud.
I confirm that:
I am the individual named on this application and have read the guidance notes.
I give permission for the SRA to make such investigations as necessary in the course of
verifying the information given in this form.
I agree to notify the SRA of any other information relevant to the application and inform the SRA
immediately of any changes to the information provided.
I declare that the information I have provided is true and correct.
Full Name
SRA ID (if applicable)
Applicant Signature
Date
If completed electronically please tick to say you confirm the declaration.
Please note if the form is not signed and the fee is not received your application will not be
processed.
Section 8. Returning the form
To help us process your application quickly, please check that:
The declaration has been signed and dated.
Any additional sheets are labelled and attached to this form.
Full payment is included. If not paying by cheque, completed method of payment form is enclosed.
Any relevant documentation is enclosed, including a copy of proof of name change, for example
deed poll or marriage certificate.
Please send the fully completed application form and £35 fee via one of the options below:
Email
cashiers@lawsociety.org.uk - This facility is only available if paying by bank transfer.
Post
Authorisation
Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
The Cube
199 Wharfside Street
Birmingham
B1 1RN
DX
DX720293 Birmingham 47
Methods of Payment form
Please complete the Methods of Payment form found on our website at www.sra.org.uk/payment/. You can
pay the full amount by cheque, postal order or bank transfer. Cheques should be made payable to the Law
Society. We do not accept payment via credit or debit card.
Please note that we will hold any payment we receive without an accompanying application form for up to
30 days before returning it to the sender.
Bank Transfer payments
If paying directly from your bank account, you must ensure you instruct your bank to pay us, as we are
unable to request the payment for you.