Important News

I have a bad news for all my followers. I am moving to my home country and dont have any plans to return to the UK. This qualification has a little use in my country and as such I will not pursue OSCE and TLST. I will also not be updating this blog any longer. Sorry!!!

Exemption from MCQ

Here is the amendment to the QLTS Regulations which grants exemption from the MCQ for applicants who have passed the Legal Practice Course. Applicants who have passed the Graduate Diploma in Law are not eligible for this exemeption. hmmmm:(((

Another QLTS Blog

Hey...there is another blogger writing on QLTS! Check out: http://lextoast.blogspot.com/

QLTS - MCQ Results

I passed...!!!

(I am not supposed to discuss anything more about the exam. So sorry...)

Which edition of the book to buy?

I got few queries on this issue, and so thought I should write.

It is well known that the previous labour government passed many statutes in their period; some codifying statutes, some consolidating ones and some brand new. Just to mention a few, Companies Act 2006, Consumer Credit Act 2006, Fraud Act 2006, Serious Crime Act 2007, Coroners and Justice Act 2009, Corporation Tax Act 2009, 2010 etc.

Hence, it is ideal to have 2010/11 version for the substantive law components. 2009 edition should do. Anything before 2009 is risky...

Surge in the QLTS applications

Here is a news item which says there is 1800% increase in the applications from the Irish solicitors to practice in Britain.... after introduction of the QLTS ! hmmmmm....!!

Next QLTS Assessment Dates

I was informed that the dates for the third round of QLTS assessment would be as under:

MCT - January 2012 (exact date to be confirmed)

OSCE - April 2012 (exact date to be confirmed)

TLST - April 2012 (exact date to be confirmed)

Isn't it too long a gap between the second and third round? I thought they would maintain the same cycle as it was in QLTT. I think I should write to the SRA on this....

Sample questions for OSCE and TLST

Kaplan has now published a set of sample questions for OSCE and TLST assessments which is available here:))))

Those preparing for these assessments to be held in June and September 2011, ALL THE BEST!!!

QLTS Asseement Dates

You may be aware of the forthcoming QLTS assessments scheduled as under:

1) MCT stage - 6th July 2011 (the first one was conducted in February 2011)
2) OSCE stage - 14-16 June 2011 and 7- 9 September 2011
3) TLST stage - 17 - 18 June 2011 and 10 - 11 September 2011

Click here for more details.

Is anyone out there appearing for the assessments on these dates??? This is the place to leave your comments and network with others who are in the same boat...

Exam to get examined !

You may already be aware that you will have to take exam to get examined (really??!!) under the QLTS regime. I thought this required a specific mention in my blog and so here it is.

If you are an international applicant, you should have command over the English language equivalent to atleast 7.5 score on the IELTS (International English Language Testing Scheme) scale in order to be eligible to take QLTS assessment. Click here for more details. If you have not given the IELTS as yet, please do so. All the best!!

MCQs and Day-1 Outcomes

Some of you must have already read and re-read (and pulled your hair!!) the Day-1 Outcomes trying to decipher the topics prescribed by the SRA for MCQs (Click here if you have not read it already :(((

Here is my version of the subject covered under Part A of Day 1 Outcomes:

A1 - English Legal System
A2 - Constitutional & Administrative Law
A3 - Solicitors' Accounts and Professional Conduct
A4 - Business, Tax and Financial Services Law
A5 - Contract law
A6 - Tort Law
A7 - Criminal law
A8 - Land law
A9 - Equity and Trust Law
A10 - Human Rights Law
A11 - Company Law

Isn't it simple and straight forward??? The books I have bought (which you can find in the Resource page) indeed cover all these areas.

QLTS Preparation

I believe that the international students should first understand how students go about becoming solicitors under the domestic route before thinking of QLTS, because you are expected to have the same knowledge and skill level of a local solicitor who has just qualified (remember "Day-1 Outcomes"). Broadly, they undergo 3 stages: (a) Academic stage (b) Legal Practice Course & (c) Training contract. Click here to know more. But, like elsewhere, they acquire skills and give exams in stages but you are being assessed in all the areas in one go :(

With this understanding, you should be able to assess the difficulty level of QLTS assessments :(( While the SRA may have a case for setting such high standards, international students are bound to find this difficult. And, if you are looking for a short-cut, cake-walk, open-book style of exam like QLTT, the earlier avatar of QLTS, then think twice before you jump...! :((( Further, if you are not from a common law jurisdiction or experienced enough, then think 100 times...!! :((((((

Dont think I am scaring you, but that's how QLTS appears when compared to QLTT. Be that as it may, being an English solicitor has its own merits which may be worth all the grind (some light at the end of the tunnel ??? :) I will continue on this in my next post. Come back for updates...

QLTS and MCQ

Lawyers will know that it is just not enough reading the law but applying it in a given context is all the more important. Take, for instance, the question No.1 of the sample MCQs given by Kaplan. It seems tricky and the correct answer is E because the primary legislation can expressly disapply HRA in which case secondary legislation will become valid (That is what parliamentary supremacy is all about!).

So, I believe that one should,  in addition to plain reading of the law, keep raising and answering questions during QLTS preparation :(( But it is easier said than done and therefore there are some Q&A books available in the market :)) Click here for details.

I have not bought any because my shelves are already full (!!), but you may find them useful....

Legal Skills Book

Those of you from civil law countries planning to take QLTS may find the following book useful to kick start your learning and understanding of the English legal system. The skills you learn from this book is essential to take your studies to a higher level.

'Legal Skills' by Dr Emily Finch, Stefan Fafinski, Oxford University Publication

There are many other books falling in the same category. Click here for more details.

Online resources

Many publishers have placed a repository of resources online. For example, the Oxford University Press has a section on law where you can find audio podcasts, question and answers, updates, review topics, glossary, etc. Some of them are available only for teaching faculty but some are available for students also. Click here to know more about this. Some of you may find this useful!!!

QLTS - Impact Assessment

If you are interested in understanding the background to and transition from QLTT to the present QLTS regulations, then read this document:

http://www.legalservicesboard.org.uk/what_we_do/regulation/pdf/full_impact_assessment_30_3_10.pdf

Training Providers

Those of you who are interested in getting proper training from a school, there are a number of options. But I think QLTS School was the first one which started offering tailored preparation course for the exams. If you are interested in knowing more, click here and here. You can also watch their video presentation below:



Apart from QLTS School, you can check out BPP, CLT, etc. who are all in the same business, but may not have started tailored courses as yet.

As an alternative to QLTS training, you can also undertake training for GDL and/or LPC which achieves the same purpose. However, this is going to be a long affair, but may be useful for those from civil law background.

But, I am not taking training from any school. I am banking only on the books!!

Syllabus

The syllabus for QLTS is available here.

I think one should focus on Day-1 Outcome Part A for the purpose of 1st stage (MCQ). After passing 1st stage, then concentrate on the whole syllabus (all Outcomes) in order to tackle 2nd and 3rd stage. Accordingly, you will find my posts in the initial stages more relevant to the 1st stage rather than the 2nd and 3rd stage!

Keep checking for my posts. You may find something useful!

Books / study materials to buy

Following are the books I have bought for QLTS purpose:

1) Unlocking Criminal Law
2) Unlocking Land Law
3) Unlocking Torts
4) Unlocking Trusts
5) Unlocking Human Rights
6) Core text series on Contracts
7) Core text series on Constitutional and Administrative Law
8) Core text series on Company Law
9) St James Place Tax Guide
10) Conversion Course Companion for Law
11) Key Facts and Key Cases Series on Law
12) Law in a Nutshell series
13) Business Law by Oxford University Press
14) Foundation for Legal Practice Course by Oxford University Press
15) Accounts for Solicitors by College of Law Publishing
16) English Legal System by Ward and Akhtar

The above texts deal with the core aspects of law, accounting and professional ethics relevant for 1st stage (Click here or here to see the outcomes for this stage; Part A is relevant here).

I have also bought the following books in addition:

1) Civil Litigation published by Oxford University Press
2) Criminal Litigation published by Oxford University Press
3) Property Law and Practice published by College of Law Publishing
4) Lawyers' Skills published by Oxford University Press
5) Advocacy published by Oxford University Press
6) Conference Skills published by Oxford University Press
7) Drafting published by Oxford University Press
8) Opinion Writing published by Oxford University Press
9) Case Presentation published by Oxford University Press
10) Legal Practice Course Companion by Motogue and Weston

These books are relevant for 2nd and 3rd Stage (Click here to see the outcomes for these stages; Part C, D and F are relevant). But, they deal with the procedural / practical aspects of law and therefore cannot be read in isolation. They should be read along the books listed for 1st stage which deal with the substantive law :(

You dont have to be baffled by the number of books involved. You should know what to read and how much read in each book (Easier said than done!!). Some books may require in-depth study (eg Unlocking Land Law) and some only a cursory glance (eg Conference Skills). A thorough understanding of the day-1 outcomes prescribed by the SRA will guide you through this mysterious journey.

I am not recommending any book as there are many which are equally good or even better than the ones I have bought. I picked these books and will rely on them, for: (a) most of them are written for students, (b) many of them are prescribed texts for law degree / diploma, etc, (c) I got them cheap on the internet (all are used ones; I got many for a penny!). You can buy any book written for students as they all come in reasonable size which is important for focused preparation.

I will keep posting summaries, important facts, cases, my analysis etc as I keep reading these books for your benefit. If I bump into any useful reading materials on the net, I will post them here. I will also post educational videos for a change. So keep checking for my posts...

Where to start?

With regard to preparing for assessment, QLTS syllabus in my view is largely based on law graduation / diploma  + Legal Practice Course (core modules) and therefore you just need the books prescribed for these courses. In addition to your book knowledge, you need to have practice skills also to be able to get through the assessments. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) identifies this as "day-1 outcomes" (Click here for details) and a careful analysis of these outcomes reveals this fact.
One should ideally start with books relating to law degree / diploma and then move on to Legal Practice Course. This is particularly true if your basic law degree is from a civil law country as you may have to get used to the nuances of common law. However, students from common law jurisdictions like me can take the liberty to start off with all the books simultaneously. I have given the list of books that I have bought in a separate page.

Before you start, go through these websites ( SRA and Kaplan) thoroughly and understand the assessment format. In a nutshell, there are 3 stages viz:

1) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) where you need attempt 180 questions.
2) Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) where you need to take interviews of specimen clients, draft attendance notes and make presentation of your assessments.
3) Technical Legal Skill Test (TLST) where you need research on a given set of facts using Lexis / Westlaw and draft your assessments.

You will have to get through the 1st stage before moving to 2nd and 3rd stage which can be taken up simultaneously. 

Assessment and pass criteria are given in these websites. Once you know and understand the devil before you, you should be able devise your own strategy to tackle it :) What works for one may not work for the other and so rely on your instincts :))

Whenever you study, keep in mind that you should remember key legal aspects so that you get through 1st stage, be able to apply your knowledge and experience for a given set of practical scenario in order to tackle 2nd and 3rd stage :( You should also be comfortable using Lexis / Westlaw for 3rd stage :((

If you are interested in taking proper training from schools, there are a  few who are offering tailored training programs. Click here for details. But, I am not taking training from any school. I am banking only on the books :(((((!!

I have practiced law for sometime and therefore am fairly comfortable with the practice side (I am really hoping for good!). If you have not practiced earlier, then you may find 2nd and 3rd stage hard nuts to crack. You should consider getting some practical experience before giving assessments.

Best of luck and keep checking for my posts...