At BARBRI, we understand that the path to a successful legal career is not always linear. The BARBRI Employability Service can help you make informed decisions about how to best progress your career. Whether it's finding the right job or internship for you, building your CV, or improving interview skills, we'll be there every step of the way.
We help you identify what areas of law, practice and environment are most suited to your interests and experience, develop an effective marketing strategy for yourself, and provide guidance on building strong relationships with future employers. We also offer advice on how to write an effective CV and cover letter, prepare for interviews, and negotiate salaries.
Our CareerHub offers a wide variety of resources, including an AI-based CV checker, interview simulator/coach and a catalogue of careers focused content. It also includes a job board with a dynamic job search engine, which lists a range of vacancies across the legal sector and additional practice areas.
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If you're not a BARBRI student yet, you can sign up to BARBRI HeadStart to get a sneak preview of CareerHub and use some of our career resources!
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This free resource provides students with all the guidance they need, including expert advice on securing Qualifying Work Experience (QWE), as well as tailored information and strategies to equip them to enter the legal sector.
At BARBRI, we are committed to opening opportunities to all and understand that navigating your journey through the SQE and obtaining Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) can be challenging. We have partnered with several industry-leading organisations to help you understand and secure QWE, including Sequentus, Accutrainee, Berry Mentor, STRIVE, Taylor Root, MLA Global, and Elevate Legal amongst others, along with a job search engine powered by Indeed through the CareerHub.
For more on QWE, please visit our FAQ page.
Applications for QWE Bridge to Practice are now open.
We have signed an agreement with National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP) to help prospective, current and alumni students to access the opportunities offered in the paralegal profession.
If you're a NALP member, you will be given a 10% discount towards your SQE1 at BARBRI. And if you complete our SQE1 Prep course and pass the exam, you will be given Associate Membership status with NALP, along with their careers-focused webinars and support services.
Our new professional development short courses and masterclasses, Legal Life Skills, have also been endorsed by NALP. These courses aren't just suitable for paralegals, but to all aspiring solicitors and young legal professionals.
At BARBRI, we offer a range of mentoring initiatives throughout the year designed to support your professional development alongside SQE preparation and early career progression. Our programmes connect students and alumni with experienced legal professionals who provide guidance, practical insight, and confidence-building support.
Recent initiatives have included the BARBRI Mentoring Academy and the BARBRI Disability Mentoring Programme, each tailored to help candidates gain personalised career advice, expand professional networks, and navigate the transition into legal practice.
Mentoring opportunities vary across the year and places are often limited. To learn more about current or upcoming programmes, please contact us at SQEfuturelawyers@barbri.com.
The BARBRI Mentoring Academy has been a valuable experience. It gave me the opportunity to connect with an experienced legal professional, receive practical and personalised career advice and gain a better understanding of the UK legal profession. The mentoring sessions helped me improve my confidence, reflect on my career goals and strengthen my approach to applications and professional development. I would recommend the programme to other BARBRI students looking for guidance, support and mentorship.
I left the BARBRI Mentoring Academy 2026 programme feeling uplifted, encouraged and with a new set of tools to propel me forward. I am grateful to the programme for inspiring me to think in a more well-rounded way and advising me on how to build on my existing skills and network.
Having someone like me in the industry made me feel not alone and that becoming a successful lawyer is possible as a disable person.
This was one of the most valuable mentoring sessions I have participated in. The mentors helped me see the bigger picture and refine my personal pitch, enabling me to present myself more effectively. I also received practical and insightful advice on navigating the professional world, which I found incredibly helpful.
Applying for jobs can be stressful and time-consuming, so we want to help you make the most of your time by offering tailored support that will boost your employability with our employability clinic. We'll work with you in dedicated 30-minute sessions designed to help you perfect your applications and CV writing skills, as well as interview skills.
Take advantage of our free events covering every aspect of career development. You'll get the opportunity to hear directly from BARBRI students, interact with your peers, ask questions, and even take part in online bootcamps led by industry experts. Get advice on QWE, CV writing, interview practice and much more.
We've partnered with several highly respected legal organisations, to bring you great advice and useful resources. Our partners include Taylor Root, Flex Legal, Sequentus and Accutrainee.
We have partnered once again with Sequentus to sponsor ten fully-funded places for our SQE students, on a career-enhancing QWE programme starting this summer. The successful applicants will receive six weeks of skills training, followed by part-time, virtual work experience over six months. The programme is available to all our BARBRI SQE1 Prep students currently preparing for the July 2026 exam, and SQE1 Prep alumni who haven't yet enrolled in our SQE2 course. 2026 applications are now closed.
Power up your legal career with our short courses and masterclasses, which help build the essential soft skills legal professionals need to thrive. Each expert-led, on-demand course in advocacy, business, communication and management are practical, interactive, and will fit into your busy schedule.
Build a solicitor's mindset, judgment, and instincts before you qualify. In this self-paced, 1–2 hour simulation, you’ll complete real legal tasks, guided by expert videos and sample answers. Practice key skills like legal reasoning, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making. No grades, no pressure.
Created by Law School 2.0 in partnership with BARBRI, learn the Problem > Solution > Adoption mindset with the Legal Service Innovation (LSI) Course, and explore the business of law, legal innovation, and future-ready skills through self-paced or sprint-based formats.
Robert Dudley
Head of Employability & Engagement
Rob brings over 20 years of expertise in legal education and training. After completing university and law school, he began his career at the University of Law, focusing on international legal education strategy, business development, and global partnerships. He deepened this specialism at IE Law School in Madrid, where he served as Head of International LL.M. Programmes.
Since joining BARBRI in 2015, Rob has led the organisation’s employability and partner engagement strategy. He holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Career Development and is an active member of the Institute of Student Employers, the International Bar Association (IBA), the Career Development Institute, and serves as a representative for the European Lawyer’s Association.
Rob is passionate about shaping innovative, globally minded legal careers and building strong connections between education and the profession.
Steph Day
Careers & Employability Manager
Steph is a highly experienced and professionally trained Career Guidance Practitioner with over 25 years of expertise in supporting individuals through every stage of their employment, education, and training journeys. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Advice, Guidance and Counselling, a Diploma in Career Guidance (Parts I and II), and a Foundation Diploma in Human Resource Practice (CIPD Level 3).
Steph has a proven track record of delivering impactful one-to-one coaching and dynamic group sessions on a wide range of career-related topics. She has designed and developed engaging career resources and played a pivotal role in training, managing, and mentoring staff. Her career spans diverse educational settings and, more recently, includes supporting military personnel as they transition into civilian careers.
A dedicated member of the Career Development Institute, Steph is passionate about empowering individuals to make informed, confident career decisions - unlocking potential and shaping futures.
QWE is the ‘work experience’ part of qualifying as a solicitor. This will be introduced in September 2021 along with the launch of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). It involves at least two years’ full-time (or part-time equivalent) Qualifying Work Experience (QWE).
The competences list is extensive and includes:
Your QWE must be confirmed by a solicitor or a Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP). They will have to be either be working in the organisation where the QWE is obtained or have direct knowledge of the candidate’s work.
If you are unsure whether a role will cover all or any of these competences, you should ask your current employer, line manager or the hiring organisation for confirmation. You should also get their buy-in on confirming your experience because, without this, you will not be able to apply for admission as a solicitor.
Qualifying Work Experience can be gained in a single two-year block or in stages across a maximum of four organisations. Some of your QWE can come from prior experience, before starting an SQE Prep course. This time can be ‘banked’ or even combined with your studies. It is also possible to complete your QWE between sitting your SQE1 and SQE2 exams.
You can also obtain QWE in different roles within the same organisation. This applies when each role gives you an opportunity to develop a different competence.
QWE can be paid or unpaid work and could include time spent:
No. That is one of the main attractions of the SQE route into qualifying as a solicitor. You can split your experience across four different organisations.
The roles could include:
Splitting your QWE this way is a flexible, new approach. However, if you chose to do this across multiple organisations, please mind the chosen area of law you eventually want to specialise in. The more aligned each role is to the area of law you want to practise, the better.
Remember your end goal is to secure a newly-qualified solicitor position. On top of the competences set out by the SRA, your experience should also aim to give you exposure to the practice area(s) you are interested in.
The same also applies to the types of clients you work with, and if appropriate, the sectors and industries they operate in. For example, if you aim to become a commercial solicitor, you may choose paralegalling in a commercial law firm over volunteering in a law clinic.
The legal job market is competitive, so you would need to ease your way into a role that is the closest match to the type of solicitor you want to become.
No, but from an employability perspective, it would be sensible to avoid a lengthy gap between passing your SQE exams and your QWE. If you complete your QWE with more than one organisation, then a short gap between each role is unlikely to put you at a disadvantage. However, you must try to avoid lengthy periods away from work or studies. This is a risk as it makes you less attractive as a candidate, particularly for competitive roles with high-profile employers.
In theory, this should be possible. We recommend discussing this with your employer. Your QWE must be confirmed by a solicitor or Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (or COLP). They will have to be either be working in the organisation where the QWE is obtained or have direct knowledge of the candidate’s work. They will need to check your day-to-day responsibilities and how these have helped you to develop some or all of the SRA competences. From your perspective, you will need to keep an appropriate record of your experience.
The work carried out by paralegals can vary. Some roles involve more admin and have less exposure to the law and fewer interactions with clients. If you are currently applying for paralegal roles, pay particular attention to the job specification or description.
Consider discussing your needs with the recruiter in advance. This can help manage both of your expectations.
