As of September 2010, it’s going to get a wee bit harder for overseas qualified lawyers to become English solicitors.
The days of foreign lawyers from common-law jurisdictions passing an open-book solicitor’s accounts exam and having their supervising solicitors sign-off on their English work experience are drawing to a close.
The SRA itself, rather than your amenable boss, will ascertain whether you have the requisite competency to practice in England & Wales.
And as for non-practising English barristers?