How I Did It: Advice from People Who’ve Passed SQE1 [UPDATED]

Updated August 2024

As time rolls on – and more SQEs are conducted – more and more people emerge with knowledge on what it takes to be successful.

So in this post, I thought I’d share stories from candidates who have recently passed SQE1.  

Below you’ll find reflections from test-takers who have written publicly about their experiences.  They’ve shared their thoughts on study materials, study schedules and the exams themselves. 

Tips for Passing SQE1

• Reflections from an Israeli-qualified advocate

“Depending on your circumstances, you will need to dedicate sufficient time to study; remember – SQE1 examines around 20 topics – there is a lot to cover! I [revised] for almost 7 months (around 2-3 hours per day) as I was working full time.”

• SQE1 Tips from a Solicitor Apprentice

Be realistic, not pessimistic. The exams are hard and the [SQE1] pass rates are scary to look at… However, [this] doesn’t mean that you will not be in the percentage of people that do pass and ultimately you will not know the outcome until results are published… 

• SQE Advice from a candidate with English and Russian degrees

“My key pieces of advice for future candidates are: (1) prepare good revision notes for each subject; and (2) do as many practice tests as possible…”

• The perspective of a Chartered Legal Executive who used the SQE to cross-qualify as a solicitor

Don’t be hard on yourself. This tough exam requires a huge amount of time… [and] life sometimes gets in the way.

• Tips from a Scots Law grad

“…it is not a good strategy to memorise everything.”

• Seven in-depth posts from an American graduate (with no law-degree or formal legal training)

“My intention… is to clarify some common myths and misconceptions surrounding SQE1, among them that one needs a test prep course (or even legal study/work experience) to pass.”

• SQE1 reflections from a candidate with an English degree and paralegal experience

“Take your time… there are 12 core subjects on the exam [and] it will take you a few months at least to get a solid understanding of each subject…”

• Advice from an English LLB and Solicitor Apprentice

“…it is highly unlikely that you will get every answer correct (the pass mark for the first sitting was 56/57%), so don’t get caught up on perfection!”

• SQE tips from an English career-changer, without a law degree

“It is entirely possible to do well in this exam without mastering everything on the vast syllabus.”

• Article from a career-changer with an English legal degree and work experience in the Middle East

“There will be bad days. You may do a practice exam and fail, or you may feel like you really haven’t grasped a particular topic. The SQE [is dense], and the pressure of a few bad days can easily get to you!”

• SQE1 reflections from a Trainee Solicitor in an English law firm

“…the preparation course was useful for the bank of practice questions but, beyond this, I do believe the material can be self-taught.”

• Advice from a paralegal working in the UK

“…a number of the answers were correct, but you have to choose the best answer based on the facts provided….I found this very difficult.  It’s easy to trip up… “

• SQE1 Advice from an Indian career-changer with an engineering degree and IT background (He also wrote a second article about his experiences)

“…I was confident I answered quite a few questions right, but on many others, I exercised judgment after ruling out the obviously wrong options. I don’t think it is realistically possible to walk out of these exams being supremely confident that you have done well.”

• A long-form SQE1 explanation video from an English law grad who recently passed

“In terms of things I would have done differently…I would have started reviewing my flashcards earlier [as well as] starting my mock exams…”

• Brief SQE1&2 thoughts from numerous candidates with varying levels of legal experience

“You don’t need to know everything (it’s impossible) – just enough to pass. Remember, they’re testing your competency as a “day one solicitor” only.”

• SQE1&2 reflections from a fee earner with English legal experience

“[It would be a mistake] to think that because it is multiple choice [exam] it is easy to pass. Be warned: The answer choices are sometimes as nuanced as shades of the right answer and only one is correct. 

• SQE1 and SQE2 recollections from a candidate with a background in legal administration who did a part-time law degree in the UK

“My advice is to cover the exam content first and then try a mock exam later. This way you can focus on any gaps or weaknesses, making further revision more purposeful.

• SQE1 and SQE2 reflections from an English law grad and newly qualified Solicitor

“My top tip would be to just keep practicing. Do as many practice questions as you can.”

• SQE recollections from a newly qualified solicitor (who was part of the first cohorts to sit both SQE1 & 2)

“I would give two key pieces of advice to new and current students: (1) split up the work into small, manageable chunks and (2) complete a number of practice tests.”

• Advice from a foreign-qualified lawyer with a common law background

“My study journey spanned a six months, dedicating a full morning or afternoon (4-5 hours) per week. The intensity increased during the final week, where I took one-week leave and studied from 9 am to 9 pm”

• A short, practical SQE1 Youtube Video from a law student who’s passed the SQE

“Definitely do some practice questions, but do be careful not to overdo it…”

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I’ll include more stories to the above list in time…

Speaking of stories, want to share your own SQE1 experience on this Site? If so, please contact me and let me know if I may publish your reflections. You can write about anything you’d like (and remain anonymous, if you so choose), but here are some things that may be helpful to touch on in a write-up:

• Your years of practice experience (if applicable)
• Your home jurisdiction or legal tradition (ie. country or civil vs. common law background)
• What study materials you relied upon (which were particularly helpful? less helpful?)
• What your study schedule looked like (people often ask me this!). How many weeks did you spend on preparation and, on average, how many hours a day did you spend revising? How did you balance this with work / family commitments etc.?

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Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. Also check out our next article on the practical skills exams: Advice from People Who’ve Passed the SQE2.