You want to be a solicitor

In a few years, the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) will serve as the exclusive means of becoming a qualified solicitor. There are many sections to the test. Legal knowledge is the focus of SQE1, while legal skills (oral and written) are evaluated in SQE2.

The SQE1 test consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQ) and lasts for two days. Tests in FLK1 courses (Business Law and Practice, EU Law and Legal Services, Dispute Resolution, Contract, Tort, Legal System of England, and Wales) are administered on the first day. Day two involves testing FLK2 subjects, which include Criminal Law and Practice, Land Law, Trusts, Wills and the Administration of Estates, and Property Practice.

LPC or SQE

The LPC route will remain valid until 2032 for those who have already started their journey to qualification in 2021. For a full-time study in London in 2024–2025, fees may reach £14,300, although they can be much lower outside of the city. Your living expenses are additional to these payments. For a full-time course in London in 2024–2025, the LPC may cost up to £19,950; however, prices outside of London start at £15,800.

Although a lot of students opted for this new path, they are reluctant to spend up to £16k for the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and, regrettably, may not have been able to get a training contract. Thus, it can seem to be a poor investment. Students therefore are going through the SQE pathway for less than £16k while working as paralegals or legal assistants full-time.

Benefits of doing a GDL first

For students who have successfully completed the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), they are provided with a generally up-to-date understanding of the fundamental doctrines, which are the fundamental building blocks of all SQE principles. One other thing that might be helpful is getting oneself acquainted with the subject before the SQE.

Where to study the SQE

In 2024, the Basic Course offered by the QLTS School is one of the most affordable alternatives offered on the market. It costs £1,690 and contains 10 practice exams, flashcards, practice questions, and physical copies of the textbooks. Additionally, it offers downloadable review notes. This is a cost-effective option; nevertheless, it is important for you to investigate whether you feel comfortable working with them by looking at the experiences of other candidates who have used their services.

It is important that you arrange yourself and make a strategy for time that you will devote to studying for your SQE classes. You should, for instance, devote around four or five months (February through July) to reading all the SQE manuals or books that they provide you. Giving oneself the goal of studying for around ten to fifteen hours per week is a reasonable goal to set for yourself if you are currently employed.

Nowadays, all course content will be made available to students over the internet. To ensure that you can study even when you are not connected to the Internet, such as when you are travelling by aeroplane, train, or coach, you may wish to download them and sort them into folders. Even if there is a lack of internet connection, you are still able to squeeze in some studying. If you have access to more sources, use them. You are invited to return to our website and check it out, since we are going to be releasing our very own SQE guides.

Lectures or books

You have the option of watching videos on YouTube or listening to lectures or podcasts if you are a visual learner or if your vision is poor. There is a plethora of podcasts and videos that are available, and they provide content that is both thorough and simple to comprehend. Videos of lectures are included in the more costly courses offered by QLTS School and other course providers. To assist you in finding the right SQE preparation course that is most suitable for you, the following table lists all the current providers along with their prices.

How to study for the SQE

You should try as many practice questions as you can after reading about a certain topic, and you should do this both during the reading the topic and a few days after. The questions that are provided by the SRA for the mock test are available here. Keep in mind, however, that the SRA is gradually increasing the difficulty of the questions.

Difference in test questions with actual FLK1 and FLK2

It has been noted by a significant number of students that they believe the questions and mocks provided by the various providers are not comparable to the sorts of questions that would be on the actual SQE1 test. Additionally, there are cases in which questions include some incorrect answers. It is important to emphasize that you are looking for the best fit answer. Occasionally, there will be questions that were not addressed in the textbooks that were provided by SQE course providers. On the other hand, the answers received were often exhaustive, and you gain knowledge from them.

SQE Preparation 

The preparation of brief revision notes for each topic should be your primary emphasis during the months of September and October. Do you can create flowcharts that will assist you in getting ready for your SQE revision? Always try to supplement your revision notes with ones of a different kind. Students have said that the law notes that we provide have been beneficial to their comprehension of the subject.

Undertake as many practice examinations as feasible. It is not a reason to be disheartened if your scores were consistently in the 50-60% mark; some of you passed, while others did not. You are gaining knowledge via this procedure, and you are working your way up to answering 180 questions in a single day.

Full time work and study

Taking a few weeks off before your test is also recommended if you work full time. On the one hand, if you can maintain a steady pace of study and complete it successfully over the course of the five to six months, it may seem to be a complete and utter waste of your vacation budget. On the other hand, considering that you would be reviewing for seven to eight hours each day throughout the revision process, all things considered, it was advantageous.

During the last two days before each FLK1 and FLK2, you should make sure that you have reviewed all the pertinent topics from your notes. Also make it a habit to go to bed early every night to guarantee that I have had sufficient rest and that that you do not feel weary. Eat plenty of brain food to the build up to the exams like olive oil, nuts and avocado. This will leave you feeling switched.

The SQE Exam

There have been reports that going to the SQE Test Centre is a lot like going through airport security in that they check under your collar and your glasses to see if they are smart glasses.  Others say the test centre is in a very cold room where they had to wear jackets.  Different students have said that for some reason, you cannot finish the morning part early, and if you do, you'll lose time in the afternoon. Some students said that the centre staff had no idea what test we were taking and told them wrongly that lunch on the second day would only last 10 minutes, which meant they could leave the building. Take some sandwiches and snacks with you for the hour-long lunch break. 

Both days were exceedingly lengthy and exhausting, and by the time each sitting day comes to a finish, it will be difficult to maintain concentration. So be prepared for this. But there will be light at the end of the tunnel because it will be over.

SQE final remarks

Preparation will take a significant amount of time from you, but it will be worthwhile in the end. The two pieces of advice that future candidates should take away from this experience are as follows: (1) be sure to create comprehensive review notes for each topic; and (2) take as many practice exams as you can and thoroughly evaluate the reasons why a specific response is enough. If there is something you do not understand we can book a law tutoring session. 

Consequently, it is necessary to have access to a strong pool of test questions, regardless of whether you want to self-study simply using books or even if you attend a course. There have been reports from students that the sample questions for the SRA were simpler than the ones that were on the test. This demonstrates that the SRA is increasing the difficulty of the SQE with each passing year. We hope that this post will be beneficial to those who will be applying for the SQE1 in the future; nevertheless, it is important to note that every experience is unique, and various individuals will find that alternative resources and methods are more helpful. The method to pass SQE1 is to do it your way. You got this.