Students who end up pursuing law at university often know the path they are about to embark on. This is especially true in the United Kingdom, where students begin narrowing down their career options as early as the age of sixteen. By the time they start university, many already have a clear sense of whether they want to become solicitors, barristers, or pursue an alternative legal career.

However, for international law students who are unfamiliar with the UK’s legal landscape, the experience can feel rather overwhelming, particularly when surrounded by peers who seem to have charted clear career paths. Moreover, a large proportion of the career opportunities provided by universities seem to be geared primarily towards UK-based students, rather than internationals who wish to pursue their training contract elsewhere. Firms are also perceived to be reluctant to hiring internationals due to the tedious logistics of work visa sponsorship. For these reasons, international students are often less engaged in career events and assume most opportunities provided for UK-based students are not designed for them.

The qualification routes for aspiring lawyers in the United Kingdom are unambiguous. They are taught to students in class and they are plastered on the walls of every careers event: Insight Day → Vacation Scheme → Training Contract. But what of alternate routes, particularly for those who wish to practice in both the United Kingdom and the Middle East? This article compares the qualification processes in Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom, helping students identify the route that best aligns with their professional aspirations.

Qualifying in the United Kingdom

While the English route to qualification is relatively straightforward, it is far from simple. The process is demanding, but possible. 

Solicitors in England and Wales are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (”SRA”), which sets solicitor qualification requirements and oversees the general conduct of firms and solicitors.

According to the SRA, for a law student to qualify as a solicitor through the SQE route in the United Kingdom, they must:

• Obtain a degree (or equivalent level 6) in any subject;
• Pass both stages of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (”SQE”): the SQE1 and SQE2 (written); and
• Gain two years of full-time legal work experience, often referred to as Qualifying Work Experience (“QWE”).
  • QWE can be gained across up to four different organisations, provided it involves real legal work supervised by a qualified solicitor.

Most students aim to complete their QWE through training contracts offered by law firms. These contracts are highly competitive, often requiring strong academic records, commercial awareness, and prior legal experience.

Qualifying in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, the legal profession is regulated by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) along with the Saudi Bar Association. The MoJ handles licensing and registration of Saudi and foreign lawyers respectively. 

Law Practice License for Saudi Nationals

Under the Code of Law Practice (Royal Decree No.(M/38), 28 Rajab 1422), for a Saudi student to acquire a law practice license in Saudi Arabia, they must:

• Hold a Bachelor of Law (LLB) degree;
  • Alternatively, they may be a holder of a degree from a Shariah college or equivalent.
• Have three (formerly two) years of full-time legal work experience; and
  • This period may be reduced to one year for holders of a master’s degree (LLM) or waived entirely for those with a doctorate in law or Shariah.
• Be a resident in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Registering as a Legal Consultant for Foreign Lawyers

The pathway to practicing law in Saudi Arabia as a foreign national is harder to navigate and more complex than that of Saudi nationals. 
The current laws and regulations under the Ministry of Justice do not permit foreign nationals to hold a law practice license, but only to be registered as legal consultants. This means they are not allowed to appear before the courts. 

Below are the requirements to be registered as a non-Saudi legal consultant in Saudi Arabia according to the MoJ:

• Obtain a qualifying law degree (such as an LLB);
• Have five years of law practice experience outside of Saudi Arabia; and
• Reside in the Kingdom for at least nine months per year.

It is important to note that according to Ministerial decision No. (1517) dated 5/5/1439 AH of the Implementing Regulations of Code of Law Practice, GCC citizens are exempt of these conditions and are allowed to appear before the courts if they have been licensed in their home country.

However, non-Saudis who are not citizens of any GCC country will be unable to register as legal consultants in Saudi Arabia unless they have 5 years of licensed legal practice experience outside the Kingdom. While foreign graduates may still be hired in junior or trainee roles by Saudi law firms, this experience does not normally count toward the Ministry of Justice’s 5-year requirement for consultant registration.

Joint Approach

In light of the above, it is clear that the qualification structures of both jurisdictions complement one another. There is a plethora of opportunities available in Saudi Arabia under the legal profession. UK-trained graduates are highly valued in the Kingdom’s legal market, particularly as it continues to modernise its legal infrastructure and attract international investment. Below are some of the most efficient qualification pathways for students hoping to practice across both jurisdictions.

Training Contracts — Traditional (London) Route

Most law firms in the UK offer training contracts, and they are open to applications from both domestic and international students. Candidates may apply directly for a training contract or through a vacation scheme, which often serves as a precursor to a full-time offer. Many firms now sponsor their trainees’ SQE preparation and examination fees through structured learning grants or scholarships.

Given this support, the current UK legal job market is highly competitive. Securing a training contract can take years for some, but the reward is substantial: two years of paid experience, full SQE sponsorship, and a direct route to qualification. After completing a training contract and qualifying as a solicitor of England and Wales, students can return to Saudi Arabia and apply for Associate positions in international or local firms, or remain in the UK if retained by their training firm.

Training Contracts — GCC Route

Recently, leading international firms, such as White & Case, have launched GCC-based training contracts targeted at bilingual and GCC-based law students and graduates. These programs enable trainees to qualify as solicitors of England and Wales without relocating to the UK.

This pathway is particularly advantageous for students seeking to develop their careers within the GCC while obtaining an internationally recognized qualification. Trainees benefit from the same standard of training and SQE sponsorship as their UK- based counterparts, while avoiding the logistical challenges associated with visa sponsorship. Additionally, these programs typically mirror the UK’s rotational structure, allowing trainees to gain experience across multiple practice areas, with an emphasis on the commercial priorities of the GCC region.

The eligibility requirements to obtaining training contracts of this nature are usually as follows:

• Penultimate-year law or final-year law and non-law students & graduates
• Native/Fluent Arabic speaking and writing skills are preferred
• Strong cultural and/or familial connections to the region
• Consistent 2:1 across all undergraduate degree modules.
• Academic qualifications (minimum of AAB at A levels (or equivalent) (IB minimum 38 points).
  • A levels are sometimes not required.

No Training Contract

It is also possible to qualify without a formal training contract. Students may return to Saudi Arabia directly after completing their LLB to work as Trainee Associates under the supervision of an England and Wales qualified solicitor based in the region. The SRA states that Qualifying Work Experience can simply be confirmed by a practicingsolicitor, or a Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP). As such, they can become qualified just as easily as they would have had they done a training contract. 

This route offers greater flexibility but comes with trade-offs. Without firm sponsorship, students will have to self-fund their SQE preparation and exam fees, which can exceed several thousand pounds. 

Our Recommendation

For students aspiring to build their careers in the GCC, particularly in Saudi Arabia, a GCC-based training contract is the most efficient and strategic route. It combines the advantages of local work experience with the credibility of an international qualification. Graduates get to work within their home region while still being recognised under the England and Wales system. It offers the same training, sponsorship and qualification as the traditional London route but situates the experience in an environment that aligns with the graduate’s long-term career goals.

The White & Case GCC training programme, for instance, includes sponsored SQE tuition, four seat rotations across key practice areas, and full support from both regional and London-based teams. For students interested in this route, the firm also offers a remote GCC insight day, which provides valuable information about the recruitment process and life as a trainee in the region.