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Is this true? Would one have to spend money for the first two years? Not asking about the general difference between what one's peers would be earning in India- just whether a Vac Scheme Holder would have to spend his own money initially to sustain comfortably. Thanks!
A training contract is two years long and you would have to do a GDL + LPC (as per the old system, to be replaced by the SQE soon) to qualify as a solicitor. Depending on the firm, your continuing education will be fully or partly funded. You will be paid a salary during your training contract.
So yes, you will have to pay from your own pocket (or part-time employment) before you become a trainee solicitor.
You will have to check the respective firm’s website for that. Assuming that the SQE is a replacement for the GDL and LPC, you might have to do SQE exams before you commence your training contract. The Qualifying Work Experience part of the SQE would be your training contract seats.
HSF has clearly mentioned on their website that they pay 10k pounds as a support grant for PGDL/SQE. Similar is the case for Links
The two years qualifying work experience can be taken at any point throughout the SQE, but the SRA expect that the majority of graduates will pass SQE1 before embarking on their main period of work experience.
So it isnt like you have to complete both th SQE
The LINKLATERS website says that
In response to the SRA’s move to replace the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS) with the SQE, Linklaters sought to appoint a training provider for lawyers qualified in another jurisdiction who are required to requalify in England and Wales. These lawyers will study for and sit the SQE 1 and SQE 2 exams concurrently with working at the firm’s London office.
Similarly, firms like Links and HSF have mentioned on their website that you have to do an 11 month (SQE course) plus 8 months of PGDL. Including vacations and breaks, it will ends up taking close to 22 months before you commence your training contract.
Since, this is offline studies at BPP school of law, you will have to stay in London for these 2 years and basically manage your own living (firm will provide you a living stipend)
"In response to the SRA’s move to replace the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS) with the SQE, Linklaters sought to appoint a training provider for lawyers qualified in another jurisdiction who are required to requalify in England and Wales. These lawyers will study for and sit the SQE 1 and SQE 2 exams concurrently with working at the firm’s London office."
PGDL is solely for non law graduates and international law degrees not recognized as an England And Wales qualifying degree.
For a fact, An INdian law degree certified by the BCI is a recognized law degree in the UK.
The TC may start after qualifying the SQE1
However, this page is a Scholarship announcement for Refugee lawyers in England and not for regular trainees of Linklaters. For trainees, all city law firms have partnered with BPP law school and it requires you to study PGDL as well as SQE both before Training contract begins.
Here is an excerpt from A&O website-
Those who have completed a law degree in an international jurisdiction that is not recognised as a qualifying law degree by the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority will also need to complete some or all of the PGDL (although no longer a regulatory requirement, this also applies for those qualifying via SQE). This includes those who studied a law degree in Scotland and Ireland and did not study the necessary modules as part of their degree.
If law degree of Ireland is not a recognized law degree in England, how is Indian law degree recognised? It is actually not.
This is all after getting a Training contract.
The vacation scheme is a one month internship for which they book your flights, accommodation and give your 450 pounds a week.
All in all, no, you do not have to spend your own money for the first two years. 40000+ should be enough to live in London.
Open the PDF attached with this link and you will get a fair idea that it will take 8 months (PGDL) + 11 months (SQE) before Training contract (QWE) and not during training contract. Stop spreading lies.
Please see it for yourself. I have attached my email communication with an MC firm stating that Indian students need to complete both PGDL and SQE that too before joining the firm i.e. Starting the Training Contract.
Correct me if I'm wrong, I'm a novice to this world