21 year old becomes one of the youngest solicitors in England & Wales

Krishangi Meshram qualifies at 21, marking a rare achievement in England and Wales.

A 21-year-old law graduate has become one of the youngest ever solicitors in England and Wales, after an extraordinary academic journey that began when most of her peers were still preparing for their GCSEs.

Krishangi Meshram, raised in India and now based in the United Arab Emirates, qualified this summer at just 21 years and four months old, after passing the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) in 2024 and completing her two years of qualifying work experience (QWE) at a Singapore law firm.

Her path into the profession has been nothing short of remarkable. At just 15, she enrolled in the Open University to begin her law degree. By the age of 18, she had graduated with first-class honours, placing her years ahead of the traditional schedule. From there, she continued her studies at The University of Law, completing both the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and a master’s degree, achieving distinctions in each.

Reflecting on her journey, Meshram credited the opportunities provided by the Open University. “I’m incredibly thankful that The Open University gave me the opportunity to begin my LLB studies at the age of 15,” she said. “It was during my studies that I not only laid the academic foundation for my legal career but also discovered a deep and lasting passion for the law.”

Her swift progress through legal education culminated in her successful completion of the SQE in November 2024. Shortly afterwards, she finished her QWE at a firm in Singapore, which formally paved the way for her admission to the solicitors’ roll earlier this year.

While Meshram is certainly among the youngest ever to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales, she may not hold the record outright. The Law Society does not maintain complete historical records, but it is understood that some solicitors were admitted at the same age before the age of majority was raised from 21 in 1970.

Nonetheless, Meshram’s achievement remains an exceptional milestone, highlighting the evolving routes into the legal profession and the growing global connections that shape modern legal careers.

Looking ahead, she has set her sights on one of the fastest-growing areas of the industry. Meshram says she intends to explore the legal dimensions of emerging digital technologies, including fintech, blockchain, and artificial intelligence. With ambitions to work at leading firms in the UK or UAE, she hopes to be at the forefront of shaping the legal frameworks that govern innovation in the years to come.

Her success adds to a string of high-profile stories of young achievers in the legal profession. Recent years have seen a 21-year-old pass the New York Bar, a 29-year-old appointed as a judge, and an 18-year-old complete the bar course. Each case underlines the trend of exceptional young lawyers accelerating into professional ranks earlier than ever before.

For Meshram, the achievement marks the culmination of years of dedication, discipline, and passion for the law. Her story stands as both an inspiration for aspiring lawyers and a reminder that the traditional timelines of professional qualification are no longer the only path to success.