| message | Dear Sir/Madam
I am writing to you to verify if I am eligible to apply for SQE exam to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales.
I am a practicing Russian lawyer. I have been working in the corporate practice of the Moscow office of the international law firm – Hogan Lovells. My current job position is a senior associate / https://www.hoganlovells.com/en/ilya-skalkov/. I also worked in the Moscow office of another international law firm – DLA Piper. My total work experience is more than 10 years and includes advising clients on various aspects of mergers and acquisitions, creation of joint ventures, signing of the shareholders' agreements, etc. I have a lot of experience in drafting agreements governed by Russian law and English law (in the latter case I always receive a sign-off of English solicitors working in the Moscow office of our firm).
I received a law degree in the Moscow state institute for international relations (MGIMO-University) which is a reputable Russian university.
I have never received and I not planning to receive a status of an advocate in Russia as this status is not required in Russia to practice corporate law. Most Russian lawyers do not have a status of an advocate. In particular, the status of an advocate complicates the employment matters of the corporate lawyers as in accordance with Russian law an advocate cannot have an employment agreement with his/her employer. Instead, an advocate must be a member of a bar association such as attorneys-at-law, etc. In practical terms, the status of an advocate is needed only to those lawyers in Russia who practice criminal law (which is not my case).
I have recently learnt that SRA updated the rules of eligibility criteria which included the introduction of the SQE-route and termination of the QLTS-route. Accordingly, I would like to clarify if I am eligible to apply if:
1. I have no status of an advocate in Russia and I am not planning to receive it (because it is not mandatory to be an advocate to practice law in Russia);
2. I have experience of over 10 years as a corporate lawyer in the international law firms and currently have a job position of a senior associate;
3. I received a law degree from a reputable Russian university over 10 years ago (I can provide a copy of my diploma upon request).
I appreciate that before I start any preparations for SQE exams I need to ensure that I properly understand the rules. Accordingly, your replies/ comments on the above are very necessary to me.
Thank you in advance.
Best
Ilya Skalkov |