A Comprehensive Guide to the SRA Equivalent Means Route

The Equivalent Means route is a pathway recognised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) that allows prospective solicitors to satisfy the Period of Recognised Training (PRT) requirement, and, in some cases, the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and Professional Skills Course (PSC) requirements too, without completing a formal, traditional training contract. Instead of undertaking a structured placement at a single firm, candidates can demonstrate that they have acquired the same competencies and practical legal experience through equivalent means: certificated learning and work based learning built up across different legal roles, paralegal positions, or self directed legal practice.

The SRA introduced this route in 2014 to widen access to the profession and recognise that high quality legal experience is not confined to the traditional training contract model. It's important to be clear about its current status: Equivalent Means now operates under the SRA's transitional arrangements for the old LPC/PRT qualification route, which is being phased out in favour of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). It is only available to candidates who meet the relevant transitional criteria (broadly, those who started a qualifying law degree, the CPE/GDL, the LPC, or a period of recognised training before the relevant 2021 cut-off dates), and all qualification under this route, including Equivalent Means, must be completed by 31 December 2032. Anyone who doesn't meet the transitional requirements must qualify via the SQE route instead.

To succeed under Equivalent Means, an applicant must compile a comprehensive portfolio of evidence demonstrating that their experience is equivalent to what a training contract would have provided. This means evidencing work across multiple practice areas, showing progression in responsibility, and providing references from supervisors or employers who can attest to the nature and quality of the legal work undertaken.

One of the most common challenges candidates face is knowing exactly what evidence the SRA expects and how to structure a submission that clearly maps experience to each required competency. The relevant benchmark is the SRA's Statement of Solicitor Competence, which, together with the Threshold Standard and the Statement of Legal Knowledge, sets out what a solicitor needs to be able to do to practise effectively. Candidates must reflect on their work against these competences, articulate the skills they've developed, and provide concrete supporting examples. A well organised portfolio that addresses each competence individually, rather than offering a general narrative, significantly improves the likelihood of a successful outcome.

The Law by Equivalent Means toolkit is designed specifically for candidates using Equivalent Means to satisfy the Period of Recognised Training requirement. It does not cover applications for LPC or PSC exemption under Equivalent Means, those are separate applications with their own evidence requirements. For PRT exemption, the toolkit breaks the process down into structured modules covering eligibility assessment (including checking transitional status), competency mapping against the Statement of Solicitor Competence, portfolio assembly, reference gathering, and final submission preparation, with practical templates and worked examples throughout, so candidates can approach the SRA with confidence and a submission that stands up to scrutiny.

Sources: SRA, "Equivalent Means" and "Becoming a solicitor with the Legal Practice Course (transitional requirements)," sra.org.uk; SRA, "Statement of solicitor competence," sra.org.uk; Law Society, "Transitional arrangements," lawsociety.org.uk.