SQE

Hi all,

I am going to be applying for the LLM (legal practice SQE) course soon. I am fortunate enough to have a firms backing so they are paying the fees and also offering a maintenance grant. I was wondering If I will still be eligible for a post graduate loan from the Government to further assist as I will be doing it in London and while the firms grant is good, its not likely to be enough after accommodation is paid for etc.

Hi,
I am thinking of doing SQE 1 and 2 however I am unclear on how much it will cost if I self fund it.
I have seen on the SRA site that the assessment cost for both exams totals to 4k. I have also seen distant learning courses costing 5k. Would this include the assessment cost or would I have to pay 9k in total for the distant learning and assessment?

Thanks

Hi guys,

I’m fortunate enough to be starting my SQE in September sponsored by a firm. I’m pretty stressed in advance because I can see that a lot of the course is self study. It’s been years since I did my law degree and I honestly couldn’t really recite much from what I studied. This coupled with being out of education and worrying that I don’t know how to study anymore means I’m becoming increasingly concerned about starting. Since I’ve got a month before I start can anyone provide some advice?

Hi guys,

I wanted to get your thoughts regarding working part times whilst doing full-time SQE. I have a few bills to pay and want to remain financially independent and would be grateful if someone could share their experience or tips in relation to this.

Even if you have done a LPC instead of the SQE, I would be grateful if you can share your experiences and tips please?

Many thanks

Hi all

I am due to start the SQE next year with Ulaw, sponsored by a Firm amd had a few questions. has anyone had any experiemce of studying the SQE with Ulaw?

How difficult did you find the SQE in general? are there any tips on preparing in advance? as its been a while since my law degree.

Is it feasible to work part time and study comfortably? I am to receive a grant but i havent not worked since I was 18 and I find the idea of not having a job difficult if i was to just commit to studying the SQE

Many thanks

Hi all,

I've got the SQE coming up and I feel like I should use the time now to do something. What are you all doing to prepare ahead of time? I am a non-law graduate and have completed the GDL. I have been refreshing my knowledge of Contract Law but I am not sure what else I should be doing to prepare.

Thanks.

Hi everyone! I received 2 TC offers, and both firms have differing SQE providers.

One is doing solely online through Barbri over a year, and the other doing it through BPP. Which is the better option in terms of SQE provider? Will I be missing out if I do an online-only SQE?

I am planning on self studying the SQE and I was wondering if anyone had experiences with Barbri as a provider? I have heard that they’re spaced repetition model is a good way to learn but I don't know how well it replicates the structure of the actual SQE exam?

HI all

Thanks for the help with the last question. I’m now trying to understand the SQE apprentice route - I've heard that there are relatively fewer people taking this route, and I'm curious to know about its specifications and duration.

I already have a law degree and I'm wondering if applying for the apprenticeship would lead to a shorter experience compared to other paths?

Would pursuing the SQE Apprenticeship be a more viable option for someone like me rather than obtaining a TC first and then taking the SQE? I'm interested to know if the work experience gained through the Apprenticeship is considered more legitimate or valuable than the experience gained during a TC.

Any insights into these aspects would be greatly appreciated.

As a law graduate I'm curious to know whether its required to pass the SQE before commencing a training contract with a law firm?

Also, I would like to understand if certain law firms sponsor candidates for the SQE, and whether possessing the SQE qualification enhances one's chances of securing a training contract compared to having just a law degree?

Wishing best of luck for those of you who have your SQE1 exams tomorrow.

If anyone wants to share how they are feeling, please feel free to comment here.

All of us at TCLA are rooting for you

Hey, im doing LLM SQE1&SQE2. Does anyone know when it finishes? Is it August? I was hoping for a bit of a summer before my TC, but maybe not?!

The SQE 1 July 2023 sittings are coming up next week...Looking for some reassurance that ULaw has prepared us well for the exam. I attempted the QLTS mock today and was shocked at how many questions are just simply not in the SQE 1 syllabus (and also many poorly structured questions).

Any other July SQE1 warriors out there? How are we feeling?

Hey everyone,

I recently completed my LLB at a university that's not part of the Russell Group, and unfortunately, I haven't secured a training contract. However, I'm determined to kickstart my preparation for the SQE early next year.

• I've been looking into the College Legal Practice as a potential option, but I haven't been able to find any feedback from students beyond what's on their website. If anyone here has taken their SQE prep courses, I'd love to hear about your experiences!
• On a related note, I'm also considering the BPP, SQE/LLM preparation course. Has anyone here attended their online or in-person classes? I'm particularly curious whether attending the course online would make me miss out on any important interactions or resources compared to in-person instruction. I'd also appreciate any comments or insights you can provide about the Sqe prep course or the provider.

Thank you

Are you feeling a little lost when it comes to the SQE? Don't worry, you're not alone! I know that understanding what it is, why it's being introduced, and how it affects you can be quite daunting. That's why we've got an event specifically designed to unravel the mysteries of the SQE!

Introducing the SQE Explained Simply by TCLA

Whether you're just starting your legal journey and want to get a head start on what to expect, or you're planning to take the SQE in the future and struggling to grasp its implications, this event is tailor-made for you. Even if you're currently completing the SQE but crave a simple breakdown of what you need to know, we've got you covered. And hey, if you're a seasoned legal professional eager to stay updated on the latest changes, this event is an absolute must!

Our experts will dive into its structure, explain how it applies to you, and ensure that you leave with the confidence and knowledge you need to navigate this exciting transformation in the legal profession. We’ll be joined by Jessica Booker, TCLA’s graduate recruitment expert, to discuss what you need to know about the SQE.

Event Details

Date: Jul 20, 2023
Time: 18:00
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/4316890674972/WN_YRlughHJSxyLDYIwBLWn5Q


But hurry! We have limited availability with only 100 spots up for grabs, and they'll be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. So don't delay, register now to secure your place at this must-attend event!

And the best part? This event is completely FREE! We're thrilled to partner with The College of Legal Practice, who will have a representative joining us to break down the details of the SQE programme.

Ready to embark on your SQE journey with confidence? Register now to secure your place, and let's unlock the potential of the SQE together!

Register Now!

I am planning to prepare the SQE by myself.

Does this make any difference to Law firms or do they expect us to have done it through a particular provider?

I think it shouldn't but I would like to be reassured if it is correct.

Thank you.

Hey all - for those thinking of completing the SQE, I could use your help. I'm going to run a series of virtual events over the next few month for members of this community.

To kick off, I'd love to know: what would be the most useful virtual event for you right now?

If none of the above, please reply below with your suggestions!

Where and how can I work as a paralegal or legal assistant volunteer in law firm?

Hi everyone!

Does anyone know when the deadline for the SQE is for September start? I've tried contacting ULaw but haven't gotten a response.

Kind regards,

MB

Hey everyone,

Welcome to our new SQE forum!

We decided to create this forum following our conversations with prospective SQE candidates. I know there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding what to expect from the SQE, how you should prepare, and how to pass the exam. The goal of this forum is to increase the transparency on discussions related to the SQE, provide a space to connect with other prospective students and access support from those who have completed the SQE.

If you are thinking of completing the SQE or are due to begin your programme soon, feel free to introduce yourself below, including your:

- Stage
- When you will be starting the SQE (if applicable)
- What support you are looking for

This will help to connect you with other students going through a similar journey, as well as give us a better understanding of what support to provide you with. We'll be working on free content in this space over the next year that we hope will be useful to all of you.

Thanks,
Jaysen

Hi,

I would appreciate some questions answered by anyone who has done the sqe!

I understand on the sqe you are taught the core modules of the lpc for 3-4 months, but you are not taught the core legal knowledge modules. To what extent are you meant to know all the detail in the core legal knowledge modules?

For example, i spent a year learning the core modules on the GDL, which took me like 30-40 hours a week. How are we expected to do this again, but in 3 months and alongside the core modules of the lpc? And, do it via self study? Maybe I have a bad memory but I can’t remember specifics to answer MCQs of my core modules, and I’m panicking a bit thinking I have to re revise an entire years worth of knowledge in 3 months, alongside 3 months of additional teaching?

When did you start and complete SQE1?​

I started SQE1 in July 2022 and completed in January 2023

Who was your SQE provider?​

BARBRI

Why did you choose the provider you did?​

My friend suggested me the same. Also, I had chosen QLTS school to take last MCT. Unfortunately, I couldn't sit MCT due to closure of exam centre because of Covid-19.

This time for SQE, I thought to go with a different provider and BARBRI was talk of the town as per their passing rate. Apart from this, BARBRI was providing only 2 books for FLK1 and FLK2 which was comparatively easier than the books provided by QLTS School for each subject.

What kind of support did your provider offer during the SQE?​

Tutor Support and personalized study plan

Please explain the structure of the SQE programme in your own words​

SQE1 was a whole different experience. Having studied and qualified in a different jurisdiction, it was very challenging. This exam requires attention to details and preparation is quite demanding in terms of dedication, hardwork, logic, consistency, and patience. As per my experience, one needs to really know how to read in between the lines to understand the questions in the exam.

How did you study for SQE1?​

1. It was all about time management. I had to cut on my personal things as my whole focus before and after job was to prepare for the exam and get through it anyhow. I knew that it is going to be challenging but my eagerness to clear the exam, family support and a good study material really helped me a lot to prepare well for the exam.

2. I completely rely upon the study material provided by BARBRI. Many a times I discussed this with my personal tutor if I should look at some external resources to gain more knowledge and it was a BIG NO by her. I feel I took the right decision by following her advice. Also, I made a study group with another aspiring Solicitor which helped us to discuss and resolve our queries before approaching the provider to get a clear answer on the topic. Having a study buddy really helps you to get that kick, motivation, confidence and what not.

3. I only used my course provider's platform and study material to prepare for the exam. I think the study material in itself was sufficient enough to prepare you well for the exam.

Now that you have completed SQE1, what advice would you have for passing the exam?​

To pass SQE1, my first and foremost advice would be to skim through the material once so that you know what is in there going forward. If someone is going with BARBRI, they provide overview of every chapter and start with videos where you just need to listen to the Professor properly. Once you've done it, then it comes reading of the textbook based on the lectures covered in the videos you have already watched. This is a great method to put some pressure on your mind to think what you studied earlier and help you memorize the concepts.

As per my experience, we know that we learn from mistakes. If you are making a mistake in any question while attempting practice questions or mocks, please please go through the concept and read the explanation provider for that answer carefully. In case you have done a question correctly, it is always better to go through all the choices again once you are revising the questions because it is quite possible that you would have thought in a different way to reach to the correct answer but explanation says something else.

One strategy while attempting questions is to first read the question what is asked for and then the statement provided for that question, before looking at any of the options, it is good to think in your mind what the answer could be and try to find that answer in the 5 choices given for that question. This is an extremely useful technique. It helped me a lot and improved my thinking process to learn the concepts. With regards to time management, I simply followed what was coming in my personal study plan and I mostly made sure that I was completing everyday tasks as mentioned. If anyhow there was a lag, I tried to cover it up on weekends due to more time availability. As mentioned earlier, I did not look at any of the external resources.

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently to study or revise for the exam?​

I would say yes. I should have looked at the explanation of other choices much earlier as I realized this later that it is going to help me understand the concepts in a much better way. Also, reading in between the lines and noting down very small details is very important. In exam, choices look very similar as there is a minor difference in between two choices. For ex: one answer choice mentions "or" and another answer choice mentions "and". In exam, it is imaginable that we can easily get confused. Therefore, it is much helpful to read carefully and make a point of it either by using flash cards or bullet points.

When it comes to revision, I would say one needs to keep on revising the old chapters so that nothing goes out of the place moving forward to the new subjects.

Also, please revise practice questions as many times as possible because every time I revised them, I learnt something different even if my answer choice was the correct one. The only mantra is Practice, practice and only Practice...

Were you employed alongside the SQE?​

I was doing a full-time job alongside the SQE preparation. I completely depends upon the person to study along with having a full/part time job. If one can commit a few hours of study along with the job, nothing can be much better than this. It is all about time management but I has to be very attentive while reading textbooks, listening to videos, reading overview or attempting practice questions. Because preparation is really very demanding.

Is there anything else you feel that future SQE students should know?​

Most of the things I have already explained above. My top tip would be to choose your provider very carefully because it makes a lot of difference in your preparation. Give as much time as you can for preparation. One has to be really determined to get through this exam and prepare accordingly. Again, Practice is the key.

When did you start and complete SQE1?​

January - July 2022

Who was your SQE provider?​

College of Legal Practice

Why did you choose the provider you did?​

The main factors were the following:

1. Cost - this was by far one of the cheapest providers and this was a big factor for me as I needed to self-fund my course.

2. Flexibility - this course was incredibly flexible in the sense that I could study whenever I wanted and did not need to be available at specific times (out of choice). I studied while also working full-time, so having this flexibility was crucial for me. The biggest downside of this is obviously that you are more reliant on pre-recorded seminars and the course becomes mainly self-taught, which may not be suitable for someone who learns better with direct and regular contact with teachers. As a caveat, there were weekly seminars available which you could join in a group setting and get more direct learning, however I was unable to attend these due to work commitments.

3. Recommendation - the course was also recommended by my QWE provider, so I trusted that there had been some sort of screening process to ensure that the content was up to a suitable standard.

What kind of support did your provider offer during the SQE?​

The course provided weekly seminars to discuss particular topics in-depth, monthly 1-1 catch ups with your designated supervisor to discuss the course/general feelings or concerns, discussion boards to pose subject-specific questions and pastoral/mental health support.

Please explain the structure of the SQE programme in your own words​

In terms of structure the course was purely online and covered all the modules assessed in the SQE1 exam (Criminal law and practice, Business law, Conduct and Ethics, Contract Law, Tort, Disputes, Land Law, Legal Services, EU and Public Law, Property Law, Trusts and Wills).

Each module would be split into sub-categories, i.e for Contract Law there would be 'Formation' and then "Terms" etc. The course has a built-in calendar on the online dashboard which sets out which module and sub-category you need to study for that week. You would then be required to read the materials provided for that sub-category and then complete 10 multiple choice questions (in the style of the SQE 1 exam) based on what you have just read. This was the main 'learning' element of the course and is primarily self-taught and required about 10-15 hours of work per week. In addition, there was a weekly seminar on a specific topic where you could directly ask a tutor question and they would go over areas that the students had scored the lowest on the multiple choice questions.

Throughout the course there were also 3 mini exam weeks, in which you would be required to complete a mock multiple-choice exam under timed conditions (25 questions/ 50 questions). I found this one of the most beneficial parts of the course, as it allowed me to engage how ready I was to sit the SQE1 and track my progress throughout the course.

After the final mock-exam at the end of the course you would have a meeting with your 1-1 supervisor to discuss whether you were ready to sit the real SQE1 exam.In the buildup to the end of the course, there are seminar sessions to discuss exam technique and what to expect in the actual SQE1 exam.

How did you study for SQE1?​

In terms of studying while working full-time, I would either do a few hours before or after work depending on how busy I was that day. During the buildup to the mini-mock exam weeks I would also work on weekends to get additional revision. For the exam itself, I was fortunate enough to be given 3 weeks of study leave and revised for roughly 10 hours a day during the entire 3-week build-up.

In terms of additional resources, the example questions provided by the SRA are a must for any candidate, as this will be the closest exam you will get to the real thing. I also purchased additional multiple-choice questions from Oxford University Press, as I found answering multiple choice questions was the most effective way for me to study.

I used my course providers platform mainly for the multiple-choice questions provided, so that I could develop my exam technique and track what areas I had underperformed in and focus my revision on those topics. The course had lots of ways to easily view your stats for each topic, so this was easy to track. I also used the written materials provided for each core module to create revision cards, which I personally find helpful as a way to remember all the key bits of information for each topic.

Maths. A more practical tip I found for the exam itself was to leave all the math's questions for the end. This way my brain did not need to constantly switch in and out of 'math's mode' during the exam and I found I was able to answer the questions much more quickly this way.

Now that you have completed SQE1, what advice would you have for passing the exam?​

I think the following advice would be helpful for anyone planning to sit the exam:

1. Understand the exam technique from an early stage and practice it throughout the entirety of your course/build-up. The biggest thing I found out while preparing for the SQE1 is how important exam technique is for answering these type of multiple-choice questions, as often there are multiple options that are technically correct and you need to figure out what is the best possible option (all in very timed conditions). I would recommend reviewing the sample SRA questions as soon as possible to get a good idea of what the exam will actually be like.

2. Understanding the difficulty of the exam. One of the hardest and most stressful things to gauge when preparing for SQE1 is how difficult it will actually be, as no prep-course is actually endorsed by the SRA and the difficulty of your course providers multiple-choice questions may not be reflective of the actual exam. Again, the best thing here is to review the questions provided from the SRA, as this will be the closest to what the actual exam would be like. From my personal experience, I heard many candidates say that the actual SQE1 exam was significantly harder than the sample questions, but I personally found it to be quite reflective of the actual exam, albeit some questions on the real exam were significantly harder than what was provided in the sample questions. In regard to my course providers multiple choice questions, they were slightly easier than what came up in the actual exam.

3. Tracking weak areas. If your time is limited due to work commitments etc, one of the most important things you can do is to identify what are your weakest areas from an early stage and focus more/time resources covering these topics. For me, I was able to do this using the results from the multiple-choice questions provided by my course. I then input all this data into an excel spreadsheet and highlighted anything in red I scored 6/10 or less in to focus my time on.

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently to study or revise for the exam?​

I would have tracked my progress from the very beginning of my prep course, as I only started doing this about halfway through when I realized I needed to be more efficient with my time. I would also of reviewed the SRA sample questions at an earlier stage, so that I knew from the outset what to expect from the exam/what would be required from me.

Were you employed alongside the SQE?​

I did the SQE1 while working as a paralegal full-time. I balanced this by working in the mornings/after work, generally finishing by 9:00pm. I found that if I did a few hours each day this was much more manageable than leaving it all to do on Thursday night. I was also able to remain social most weekends and only needed to work on Saturdays when I was revising for mock assessments. It helped that the hours requirements from my course were on the lower side (10-15).I would recommend this option to anyone who is comfortable with predominately self-studying, as from my experience it is difficult to find a part-time course that offers a lot of direct teaching with the flexibility required to do alongside a full-time job.

When did you start and complete SQE1?​

Started ULaw course in Sept 2022, sat SQE1 in Jan 2023

Who was your SQE provider?​

The University of Law

Why did you choose the provider you did?​

The provider and course was chosen by my firm. I had the option of studying online but it was strongly encouraged to study at Moorgate with my future colleagues

What kind of support did your provider offer during the SQE?​

The support given was a bit of a mixed bag in my opinion. While during the course I felt a bit like the classes didn't add much value, the teachers didn't seem to have much knowledge of how SQE1 operated, and ultimately 0 support on booking our actual SQE1 exams (weren't warned about how hard it was to book, wasn't told about test centres filling up etc) - in comparison to stories from others online I feel like ULaw is a bit of the best of a bad bunch.

The ULaw textbooks are very thorough, maybe too much so, a lot seemed irrelevant but then it is also hard to tell when studying as it is unclear how much we needed to learn in detail. The ULaw Revision App is the saving grace for the course. There are thousands of revision questions on the app but also you should take ULaw's guidance with a grain of salt when they say to focus on their revision questions. A lot of their questions are worded the exact same and just changing a party name so you end up remembering the answer to that question rather than knowing it in detail. The ULaw questions are close but not exactly like the real thing so it can throw you off in the real thing if you've heavily prepared just with ULaw's questions.

Please explain the structure of the SQE programme in your own words​

We were taught over 10 weeks, with 2 sets of mocks and a 'Prep Course' at the end which was 2 days of more structured mocks.

We studied the 'practical' subjects only in class, so Business Law & Practice, Property Law & Practice, Criminal Practice, Wills & Administration of Estates, Legal Services, Ethics, Solicitors Accounts and Dispute Resolution. Each subject ran for varying times, the main subjects being about 6 or 7 weeks of teaching, smaller subjects like Legal Services being 4 weeks, Solicitors Accounts at just 2 weeks. The 'academic law' subjects were not covered at all during the course.

We would often have 5 or 6 2-hour workshops a week. These required upwards of 5-10 hours of prep reading and tasks to be completed beforehand. This reading is essential as nothing of substance is taught in the workshop, they are just group tasks to reaffirm what you have read. You would then also have consolidation work after every workshop which can again be another 2-5 hours of work. Often you were struggling to keep up with the prep work so most of my classmates never got a chance to touch consolidation work.

We had the first set of mocks after 5 weeks of teaching, and the second set after the 10 weeks of teaching. These were online in the same format as the practice question app. These could be completed at any time during the week from anywhere.

The prep course was 2 days of mocks done in exam conditions however these were split into subjects and only 45 questions each session. So there is no structured 90 question long practice facilitated with the uni to prepare you for how long each exam session in the real thing will be. We then had about 1 month of revision time before the exam. This was a very intensive period as you were both catching up on what you hadn't done previously and trying to memorise everything. ULaw also only released class materials about 1 week before classes started so most of my classmates felt constantly behind.

How did you study for SQE1?​

I attended ULaw in Moorgate about 4 days a week. As I commuted from Kent, I would go up to London for the whole day and study in the library around my classes to complete my prep work. I would also complete a lot of my prep work on the train to and from London as this is about an hour that would be wasted otherwise. However this did make it feel relentless constantly doing work but still being behind.I worked part-time on a Saturday in retail so I would mostly do no work on those days, sometimes doing some prep reading in the evening after I had gotten home. I since started paralegalling 1.5 days a week as well while studying the SQE Plus portion of the course which was much more manageable.

Part-time work or not, there is a lot of content and work to cover and you need to find a 'work smart' method that suits you. I was making thorough notes from the textbook which in hindsight made reading so much longer. One perk was ULaw's SQE textbooks are all in PDF form so you can access any textbook chapter from your laptop. There are prep tasks and weekly tests. Most did not complete prep tasks at all but the weekly tests should be prioritised as they include some academic law questions.

Now that you have completed SQE1, what advice would you have for passing the exam?​

I think you need to have a solid set of simplified but thorough notes to memorise. ULaw emphasised practice questions from their app which is important but do not rely on them solely as they are not exactly like the real exam and often repeat themselves.

Devise a method for narrowing down answers if you do not know the answer straight away. Often look out for words like 'must', 'always', 'never'. These normally invalidate an answer as the answer is often not so clear cut. Try and look over academic law before your course starts if you can as there is no time to do it during the course and the revision period at the end is short. This is almost over half of the content of the real exam.

Try and complete a variety of mocks from different providers. QLTS are meant to be as close to the real thing as possible, although quite hard.

Personalise quizzes on the ULaw app to target specific areas. Devil's Advocate also has mock questions (need to subscribe) or post adhoc questions on their Facebook group.

Check out online resources to supplement your notes. Devil's Advocate is £15/month (less per month if you commit for longer) and contain notes, flashcards and practice questions. They also do online lectures on their Facebook group. I would definitely recommend having a look.

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently to study or revise for the exam?​

I definitely would have spent more time doing pure memorisation rather than trying to get a holistic knowledge of everything and focussing on ULaw's practice questions. Do as much memorisation as possible and try a variety of practice questions.

I would have focussed on academic law such as contract, tort etc more. ULaw only told us a month before how much it would actually be in the exam after not being taught it at all during the course.

Try and start revising early. Little and often to build your muscle memory of these concepts. Of course easier said than done when the prep work is so heavy.

Were you employed alongside the SQE?​

I would recommend you just have a 1-day weekend job if you need to. I did find it quite nice to work in retail to get a break from SQE studies once a week. However this does limit your social plans and fully getting a break as you feel like you're constantly working.I already struggled with the workload with just one day of work so I would not recommend anymore. If you are able to read very quickly and take info in and remember it then maybe you can handle more but I honestly think a job should be avoided if possible to avoid burnout and to ensure you don't fall behind. This is however tricky as firm grants aren't very generous (although better than nothing).

Working or not, you really need to be structured in how you do your work. Make sure you don't fall behind with your work as it will have a knock on effect for your following classes. Don't make detailed notes as from my experience I really couldn't keep up.

Is there anything else you feel that future SQE students should know?​

Know the importance of being on the booking website an hour before it opens and constantly clicking to ensure you get in the virtual queue as soon as possible. We were actually not told how important it was to do this (we were sat in a course induction during the booking window opening and was not told anything about it), so many of us took weeks to get booked in. Those who click on at the opening time were still waiting 6+ hours.Try and avoid the Excel Centre for the exam. You have to be there at 7am to register for the 9am exam. There are several checkpoints and security. You are also in a room with hundreds of people. Avoid this if you can for a more calm exam experience.

When did you start and complete SQE1?​

I did the SQE 1 sitting in November 2021

Who was your SQE provider?​

I studied with Barbri

Why did you choose the provider you did?​

I wanted a provider where I could study online and at times of my choosing, so that I could fit in study with my work commitments. I sat the first ever SQE 1 exam so at that time all SQE providers were an unknown quantity, however, having researched the teaching ideology to be used and their track record of providing prep courses for other legal qualifications, I decided that Barbri would be a reasonable choice for me.

What kind of support did your provider offer during the SQE?​

Barbri offered online pre-recorded lecture modules with periodic testing to cement learning and provide regular practice for the exam. The personal study planner tracks the time spent studying, learning progress and test results, indicating if you are behind or in front of schedule, and highlighting subject areas that require more study and practice. Study books were provided in hard copy and online and you had email contact with an assigned tutor if you had any questions that you needed to ask about content. They also offered pre-booked face to face remote sessions or telephone calls with your assigned tutor, ongoing law updates as the course progressed, and assisted in setting up a wats app group for students studying with them so we could support each other through the course. The offering is very much technology based but in being so allows flexibility to a student in how and when they study, while providing a framework to ensure all required study areas and practice tests are completed in adequate time for the exam

Please explain the structure of the SQE programme in your own words​

Because the SQE tests functioning legal knowledge for SQE 1 across multiple subject areas simultaneously Barbri have set up the study programme in much the same way.

For example, if the video lecture and reading on day 1 is on The Legal system of England and Wales, on Day 2 you may be studying Constitutional, Administrative and EU Law, and Day 3 Contract Law. On Day 4 you may find that the set study module is for Tort Law and there is a also a multiple choice test set for The Legal System of England and Wales, meaning there is a gap between testing and when you last studied the subject.

This staggered recall system method of learning is effective and prepares you well for the quick fire simultaneous subject style of the exam itself. The personal study planner will track your test results, and you can easily see your own progress in the subject areas and how you compare with the rest of your SQE group.

The system allows you go back and retake practice tests as many times as you like and so you can work to improve in areas that need attention and in the final week of revision you can practice all the different subject area tests one after another giving you a rolling start into the exam itself. Video lectures and written materials centre on the elements of legal knowledge that you need to pass the exam and do not go into further depth than is needed.

How did you study for SQE1?​

Because my prep course was well organised by my provider, I knew that the time commitment that I would need to give in order to cover the whole course in the 20-week period before each exam was 2.5 hours per day. In this respect Barbri’s personal study planner is invaluable as a tool. As I worked full time, and have a family and household to run, I decided to allocate study time from 9pm – 11.30pm each weekday and 10am – 12.30pm at weekends. This made me somewhat of a social hermit for the 20-week period but as the afternoons and evenings at the weekend were my own, I could skip out without feeling guilty or worrying that I was not on track. Friends and family are generally supportive if you explain to them why you are not available and by allocating study time, and strictly sticking to your time plan, the free time you do have is of better quality.

I found contact with other students through the SQE wats app group comforting, as studying online, particularly if you study late at night, is a little lonely. By discussing our progress, worries, study tips and giving each other our support and encouragement, we became study group friends and those friendships have lasted far longer than the SQE prep did.

Now that you have completed SQE1, what advice would you have for passing the exam?​

I would not recommend doing the SQE without a prep course. Practice questions are key and past papers are not available and the SRA provide limited sample questions on their site. A good prep course will provide you with lots of opportunity to practice and all the resources you need to target your learning to exactly what you need to know for the exam and no more.

Do not be tempted to spend lots of time doing further textbook reading around subjects or studying an area in more depth than is needed. This is about functioning legal knowledge and so the only supporting reading I would recommend is the civil and criminal procedure rules. To pass SQE1 you must be prepared for the speed of it. There is 1.4 minutes to answer each question and so when you study try to do practice tests within the required timeframes needed for the exam from the start. This will ensure that you get through all the questions come exam day, and gradually your accuracy and grades will climb as you learn how to spot correct answers. When approaching each question look at what you are being asked to answer first, and only then look at the given scenario, as it will help you pick out the relevant information as you read first time. You should then read the suggested answers, eliminate any that are obviously wrong and then make your choice between those that are left. If you are unsure of a question do not be tempted to dwell for too long on it. If needed, mark it up so you can drop back onto it at the end, but do not let the time get away from you.

Study a different subject area each day and do more of what you are not good at. While it is reassuring to practice in areas that we are good at, your exam prep is the time to make mistakes and learn, so mistakes are not made in the exam itself . Allocate your daily study time and stick to your plan religiously. The SQE and a prep course are expensive to undertake, and so you must plan to pass it first go.

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently to study or revise for the exam?​

They say hindsight is a perfect science but looking back I would not have done my study any differently for SQE1, perhaps because I passed both FLK 1 & FLK 2 with a high marks on the first attempt, and was delighted with my results. My choice of SQE provider suited me very well and because I was able to work while studying, I avoided getting into any debt. If I was to do the SQE1 again the only thing, I would change is the amount of sleep I was able to get!

Were you employed alongside the SQE?​

While I was doing the SQE I was employed part time in a legal position for half the week and worked within my own business for the other half of the week, an average weekly full time working commitment of between 45-50 hours per week. The discipline needed to make working and studying possible is not only about strictly allocating time but allocating both work and study tasks within each block of time, so that you keep on top of workloads. Granted doing the SQE while you work will make your days long and impact your sleep and social life, but it is for a limited period and the cost of the SQE being offset by full time earnings takes the stress and debt levels down. If as a personality you are disciplined and determined, then the SQE is quite achievable while working full time, but before a student commits to doing this, they must be very honest with themselves and decide, before they commit, if they can give single-minded focus and discipline for the whole 20 weeks of prep and still have enough in the tank to give the exam their best.

Is there anything else you feel that future SQE students should know?​

When studying for SQE1 make lots of notes for yourself as you will need them for SQE2 revision to be done on top of your SQE2 prep. In this form so far we have very much focused on SQE1 and what it takes to pass that exam. SQE2 is a very different in its style and feel and the prep for SQE 2 needs to be approached differently, because in SQE2 it is also your skills that you are being examined. Both exams are uncomfortable, and, in part, it is a purpose of both exams to test how you perform under pressure, hence, no amount of study will make you feel settled and comfortable in the exam. You should instead look to build knowledge and skills to the point where you are exam confident rather than exam comfortable.