Students and alumni of The University of Law share their personal experiences
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is the assessment that all aspiring solicitors in England and Wales must pass before they qualify for practice – unless they are still eligible to study the LPC, in which case they have a choice between the old and new pathways.
The SQE is designed to make sure that all trainee solicitors sit the same qualifying exam, no matter which route they take – whether that’s a law degree, a non-law degree or a legal apprenticeship.
It was established in November 2021, making it a relatively new route to qualification. This means that there isn’t a great deal of collective experience to draw on for prospective students to get an idea of what they can expect. We spoke to alumni and current students who’ve experienced the SQE, to get the inside track on what it’s really like.
Expectations vs. reality
After graduating with an English Literature degree in 2022, Leo Chan enrolled in the Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) at The University of Law and is currently taking the SQE.
Prior to studying for the SQE, Leo shares that he “had a few friends who’d completed it before me, so they gave me good advice before starting.”
“I knew it would be intellectually challenging, but also very rewarding. To be honest, it is not any harder than the PGDL as I already have acquired a year’s worth of legal knowledge; however, it does require more preparation time,” Leo says.
And if you’re wondering how the academic side of things stacks up against more practical exercises, Leo shares that “it is a lot more practical rather than academic – and I prefer that!”
Taking a new route
Shireen Balouch is currently taking the MA Law SQE1 Course at The University of Law, after completing a history undergraduate degree. She aims to sit the SQE1 in January 2024 and SQE2 later in 2024.
Shireen has some thoughts on what it’s like to go through a process that’s fairly newly established.
“The SQE is relatively new and can feel quite daunting. However, The University of Law has a lot of resources to help you obtain the knowledge, get a feel for the question styles and monitor your progress. Now that I am on the course, outside of the sheer volume of content, it hasn’t felt too difficult,” Shireen says.
Preparing for the exams
Leo has an idea of how he’ll make sure he’s ready to sit the SQE – with revision techniques that may be familiar to current students.
“The last time I sat closed book exams was for my A-levels back in 2019. I am resorting back to my old method of memorisation, colour-coding and extrapolating only the key information needed. In due course, I will start memorising and testing through flash cards” Leo explains.
It’s also worth making sure you’re using all the resources available to you so you can really nail your answers: the specifications for the exams are a really useful place to look.
“I am closely following the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) SQE specification so I can hone in on the specific details of what they require us to know,” Leo says.
Shireen shares her methods for keeping on top of her studies: “Firstly, keep a log or diary of what you are studying and for how long. The SQE covers a vast range of topics and it’s easy to spend too much time on one topic. Keeping a record makes it obvious if you are over-prioritising a particular subject”
Next, Shireen decides how much time to spend studying, and which areas to focus on.
“I prefer not to have a rigid timetable as I do not follow them. Instead, I set aside a number of hours each week for studying,” Shireen says.
“I then allocate these hours between the tasks each week, including attending workshops, consolidation tasks and time to review and revise previous subjects and units. I find this allows me the flexibility to work around life outside of university but ensure that I am spending enough time studying. Studying full time is like a full-time job, and you should be allocating enough hours to reflect this to be able to keep up with the demands of the course,” comments Shireen.
Shireen also has a system for deciding which topics need the most attention.
“In terms of deciding the subjects and units that I will review and reflect on, this is where a log or a diary become useful. I try to rotate through the different subjects, taking a unit or two at a time. The revision single best answer questions on The University of Law app are very helpful. The progress tracking on the app helps highlight areas I may need to revisit later. I also find that learning through application helps me to remember what I have been taught,” says Shireen.
Juggling work with studies
It’s not uncommon for SQE students to work alongside their studies – especially since one of the requirements of passing the SQE is that students complete two years of qualifying work experience.
Leo shares his experience of working part-time as a law student.
“Last year during the PGDL, I had a part-time job working 10 hours a week in hospitality – it helped, and I found it quite manageable. In fact, having a job helped me organise my routine a lot stricter. If I had a shift, I knew I had to study in advance,” Leo shares.
“Though this year, I opted to focus more on my studies, so I am not working,” Leo adds.
The University of Law alumni – and SQE graduate – Valeria Vaszicskin works as a paralegal contract consultant, and had a slightly different experience of juggling work and study.
“I work full time and it was difficult to juggle my career and my studies and I should have set my education as a priority. At the end of the day, my qualification will always be with me regardless of what happens with my current firm,” Valeria comments.
If you are struggling, Valeria advises reaching out and asking for help.
“Eventually, I talked to my employer about what I was going through. I set clear expectations during the last few months of preparation, and I wish I did this sooner,” Valeria says.
“I explained that education is my priority, how this will benefit the firm and this being the reason I will have to work within my contractual hours for a while. I was granted two weeks’ paid study leave, and I would have been supported more if I let him know earlier,” shares Valeria.
“So my advice is do not think that prioritising your studies is somehow selfish or will put you behind within your practice. Set your priorities and do not apologise for it.” Valeria comments.
Shireen shares that “when I first started studying the SQE, I was working two days a week as a post-completion assistant. I recently came to the decision to leave my employment to further focus on my studies.”
“It’s a hard decision and I am fortunate to be in the position to be able to make this decision. For those who do need to work, there are part-time options available. However, I would not recommend working over a handful of hours a week if you intend to study full time,” Shireen says.
Final words of advice
The current SQE students have a couple of tips for prospective solicitors who are planning to embark on this route.
“My advice is – be headstrong and embrace the new challenge ahead,” Leo says.
And Shireen shares that you should “be realistic as to what your needs are and the state of your legal knowledge. There are different courses available, and you should pick the one best suited to your needs.”
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