Aside from being stressful, studying for the SQE can be isolating. You’re up to your eyeballs in subject material, and it can sometimes be tough to find support…
You likely have some questions. You likely have some complaints.
So where should you go for SQE help?
Today I wanted to talk about online SQE communities. That is, places to connect with other candidates, get your questions answered and, critically, to find moral support!
Top Places for SQE Study Support: In Depth
Pros and Cons of the SQE Communities Online
Below I’ve suggested some places to look online, if you’re seeking SQE input from other test takers. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it does capture what I believe are the most useful online SQE spaces.
“Useful” is the key word here. There are lots of SQE groups on social media, but many are full of “fluff” rather than substance. i.e. full of sales pitches, spam or worse! (See “Facebook” section below). As an example, I’ve been a member of the LinkedIn group run by the QLTS School. Back in the days of the QLTS exam (that is, the ‘Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme’, which I wrote) – this LinkedIn group was a pretty good resource for finding tips and connecting with other candidates. However, these days it is filled with “I passed!” posts from students of the QLTS School… and not much else. There doesn’t seem to be any real dialogue there anymore. Therefore, I cannot recommend it.
Here are some better places to look:
1. Reddit
- What it is: Reddit is a news aggregation and discussion website where users post text, links, and videos – which are up or down-voted by other members. Content is organised into user-created communities called “subreddits” – a few of which discuss the SQE and have a lot of engagement.
- Pros: Anything goes! Reddit allows for “real” conversations on any SQE topic. Many candidates share candid and thoughtful posts about their exam and prep experiences.
- Cons: Anything goes! Moderation (to the extent it even exists) is very light and users of the site are mostly anonymous. This means that:
- You’re more likely to find snark, and flippant remarks, than you are on other platforms. While people are generally helpful, the anonymity means you will also see a fair amount of sarcasm in response to genuine questions. This can become exhausting, and sometimes unnerving, in the lead up to an exam sitting – so you may wish to steer clear of Reddit at those times.
- Along with actual students, there are a number of smaller SQE providers active on the SQE subreddits. They mostly use pseudonyms and they don’t always identify themselves as providers of test materials. This kind of thing is unfortunate and can be hard to detect. (Though, sometimes, it is easy to detect too. Pro tip: If a Reddit user set up their account less than a week ago and they’ve only posted once – to plug some resource you’ve never heard of – they are probably the person or biz behind that resource)!
- Where to Find SQE Support on Reddit: The SQE_Prep subreddit or the one for UK Law.
2. Solicitors Qualifying Examination – A new approach to solicitor qualification (a LinkedIn group)
- What it is: An SRA-run group on LinkedIn, sharing updates about the SQE.
- Pros: Members get timely SQE updates right from the horse’s mouth (so to speak)! The SRA’s comms team uses the group to share SQE-related information including newsletters, surveys and upcoming webinars.
- Cons: Save for certain marketing posts, the group can be fairly quiet.
- While the group has ~5000 members (as of November 2025), it is not very interactive. Most of its content is strictly related to formal SQE announcements as mentioned above. While participants can post in the group, member comments are few and far between (and some questions seem to go unanswered).
- Moreover, when I checked the group most recently, it had become peppered with marketing posts from certain SQE-providers. Commercial posts are a violation of the group rules but, curiously, they seem to be proliferating freely!
- Where to find the SRA’s LinkedIn Group: Find the SRA’s SQE group here on LinkedIn
3. The SQE Success Hub (a WhatsApp group)
- What it is: a peer-to-peer, support community on WhatsApp. It was founded by an English solicitor, during her own SQE days.
- Pros: This is a well moderated, well-liked, space with a lot of SQE-specific subgroups and a lot of members. Candidates are sure to get questions answered here – without the spam that clogs some other spaces.
- Cons: The only con is that it can be tricky to actually join! Admission is tightly controlled and you may have to reach out to founder/moderator for an up-to-date access link.
- How to Find and Join the SQE Success Hub: Visit The SQE Success Hub’s LinkedIn page for information on accessing the WhatsApp group.
4. The Corporate Law Academy (an online forum)
- What it is: An online forum devoted to helping UK law graduates secure training contracts and vacation schemes. There are a number of forum threads designed to help aspiring lawyers with interviews, applications and the SQE.
- Pros: Respectful dialogue and SQE-related Q&A. Generally less boasting (à la LinkedIn / TikTok), trolling (à la Reddit) and scamming (à la Facebook) than some of the other places on this list.
- Cons: None really. However, the SQE-focussed thread is one of the smaller ones on TCLA’s forum and the site is perhaps a little less active than other platforms.
- Where to Find the SQE Support Forum: Visit The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) Forum on The Corporate Law Academy
5. Facebook Groups
- What they are: A mix of private and public SQE discussion groups for Facebook users.
- Pros: There are many SQE-specific groups. They’re ubiquitous and generally easy to access.
- Cons: Far and away the shadiest SQE space on the list.
- Scammers abound! You will frequently see posts from people offering to sell pre-owned materials – but these are sometimes materials that do not exist, or materials that should not be resold. I’ve even heard stories of scammers packaging up the SRA’s free SQE1 sample questions and then selling these on to students – pretending that they’re the scammer’s own set of “bespoke” mocks.
- Scams aside, even where there is legitimate activity in Facebook’s SQE support groups, these groups are – in my opinion – generally less useful than those in other places. You’ll find some genuine Q&A, but you are less likely to find any long-form or detailed reflections on Facebook, making the groups less helpful overall.
- Where to look for SQE Support Groups on Facebook: In light of the above, I can’t recommend any one specific SQE-focussed Facebook group. All the ones I’ve encountered seem to have a fair bit of spam and/or scam(s)! Tread carefully folks!
6. The Student Room (a website and app)
- What it is: a UK-focussed chat forum for all things education – A-levels & GCSEs, university life, careers and more. The site is not law-focussed and is aimed mostly at those in, or approaching, university – but there are a few SQE-specific threads.
- Pros: On the SQE-side at least, this is a calm, quiet, forum to take your SQE questions to – particularly if you’re a current law student.
- Cons: Most members appear to be LLB students, not SQE students.
- There does not seem to be all that much discussion on the SQE-threads, and what there is seems to come from people who haven’t yet started on the SQE journey (i.e. people who are ‘thinking about it’ rather than ‘ in the thick of it’).
- Certain universities – and their student ambassadors – also appear to frequent the forum. This is not necessarily a problem per se, but nor is it “organic” discussion. (Just something to keep in mind).
- Where to Find SQE Support on this Site: Visit The Student Room
Top SQE Support Spaces: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Platform | Type | Spam Risk | Activity Level | Best For |
| Forum | Moderate | High | Unfiltered opinions, peer insights | |
| SQE Success Hub | WhatsApp group chat | Low | High | Structured peer support, timely Q&A |
| SRA’s LinkedIn group | Social media / Official comms | Low – Moderate | Low | Official SQE updates and webinars |
| The Corporate Law Academy | Forum | Low | Low – Medium | Respectful student discussion, training contract advice |
| Facebook groups | Social media | High | Variable | N/A. Caution advised! Scams & spam throughout |
| The Student Room | Forum | Low | Low | Quiet, good for early decision-makers or LLB students |
Final Thoughts on Finding SQE Support Groups
When you’re deep in the SQE trenches, it is great to connect with others in the same position. However, do keep in mind that, while many find them helpful – these online SQE support spaces can be stress-inducing in their own way(s).
Why? While you’re online you will invariably encounter people who are (or seem to be) way ahead of you in their revision, or who appear to have a much better grasp of the material. Or you might notice that others seem to be preparing in a different way, and you might start to worry that you have constructed your revision plan all wrong!
As mentioned, when I was preparing for the multiple choice portion of the QLTS exam (in the pre-SQE days) I was part of a few LinkedIn groups. These groups were often good sources of info but… also left me second guessing my strategy! Everyone seemed to be forming study groups, or part of groups already – and I was preparing alone. Similarly, if someone asked a substantive law question – and I didn’t know the answer – it could leave me feeling rattled.
Remember! Everyone learns in different ways. We’re all preparing in our own ways and, ultimately, running our own races! Yes, you can learn from others. Certainly, you should seek support from others – but avoid the inclination to compare yourself to others. (Be sure to log off when this temptation becomes too much)!
Additional SQE Support in Our Archives
If you’re looking for more SQE help, please check out some of our earlier articles:
For SQE1
For SQE2
For SQE1 & SQE2
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What do you think is the best SQE support space online? Let me know in the comments below!
Best,
Lawyer in London