Updated May 2024
Contrary to what legal publishers (and certain course providers) might have you believe, there is no one set of special books necessary for mastering SQE material. There are a number of different options which can do the trick. You can use a newer “SQE-specific” publication, LPC guides, and even library books (yes, these too can suffice).
As mentioned earlier, I undertook the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS), rather than the Solicitors Qualifying Exam, and I studied solo. Part 1 of the QLTS was a multiple-choice test known as the MCT (akin to the multiple-choice assessment that now makes up SQE1). To prepare I used a combination of library books, Law Express books and certain manuals from a well-known course provider (loaned to me by an acquaintance). To prepare for Part 2 (a skills test similar to SQE2) I used the “LPC Manuals” from Oxford University Press. I’ve listed most of these options below, along with many new ones.
Whatever materials (or combination of materials) you choose, be sure to stay well acquainted with the SRA’s SQE1 Assessment Specification and SQE2 Assessment Specification. Use each as a syllabus to guide your SQE studying.
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Core SQE Textbooks
I. SQE Study Manuals from the University of Law (UOL)
Prior to the introduction of the SQE, law grads were required to complete a vocational course, consisting of lectures, tutorials and exams, in order to qualify as a solicitor. The UOL is one UK-based institution that provided this course – known as the Legal Practice Course or LPC – for many years. They, and most other LPC providers, have now transitioned to provide prep courses for the new SQE instead.
Along with its new SQE prep courses, the UOL has also developed a set of SQE-specific study manuals covering all SQE subject areas. The manuals are available as books, eBooks and on Kindle. They can be purchased through Amazon or eBay.
- Constitutional and Administrative Law and EU Law (3rd ed. 2023) – Tayleur / Available here* on Amazon and here* on eBay
- Legal System of England and Wales (3rd ed. 2023) – Price / Available here* on Amazon and here* on eBay
- Ethics and Professional Conduct (3rd ed. 2023) – Kempton / Available here* on Amazon and here* on eBay
- Wills and the Administration of Estates (3rd ed. 2023) – Kempton and Williams / Available here* on Amazon and here* on eBay
It may be possible to save a bit of money if you purchase these books as a bundle. A bundle of all 15 UOL manuals for FLK1&2 (3rd ed. 2023) can be found here* on Amazon. Separate bundles for FLK1 & 2 can be found here* & here* on eBay.
II. Revise SQE Series from Fink Publishing Ltd. (FPL)
Revise SQE is a newer series from a smaller UK publisher. Now that the series has been fully released, it’s a good option for self-guided study. Revise SQE covers each exam topic and contains a number of SQE-style questions and answers.
Most of the books are written by university lecturers who are current and former barristers or solicitors. You can see a sample book chapter here.
- Business Law and Practice (2e. 2023) – Jones / Available here* on Amazon
- Constitutional and Administrative Law (2e. 2023) – Clements / Available here* on Amazon
- Contract Law (2e. 2023) – Pugh / Available here* on Amazon
- Criminal Law (2e. 2023) – Thomas & Pegg / Available here* on Amazon
- Criminal Practice (2e. 2023) – Thomas & Ball / Available here* on Amazon
- Dispute Resolution (2e. 2023) – Sixsmith / Available here* on Amazon
- Ethics and Professional Conduct (2e. 2023) – Thomas / Available here* on Amazon
- Property Law and Practice (2e. 2023) – Jones / Available here* on Amazon
- Land Law (2e. 2023) – Spencer / Available here* on Amazon
- Solicitors’ Accounts (2e. 2023) – McKee / Available here* on Amazon
- The Legal System and Services of England and Wales (2e. 2023) – Sixsmith / Available here* on Amazon
- Tort Law (2e. 2023) – Chadderton / Available here* on Amazon
- Trusts Law (2e. 2023) – Liew Mouawad / Available here* on Amazon
- Wills and the Administration of Estates (2e. 2023) – Hamilton MacDonald / Available here* on Amazon
III. Essential Law for SQE1 from Routledge
Essential Law is a developing series of texts covering the SQE1 curriculum. The books contain bullet-point summaries and short revisions at the end of each chapter. There are multiple choice Q&As in the texts themselves and on Routledge’s companion website.
As of spring 2024, only the following titles have been released (others TBC). They’re available in hard & soft copy and as eBooks.
- Essential Business Law and Practice for SQE1 (1st ed. 2023) – Davies / Available here* on Amazon
- Essential Land Law for SQE1 (1st ed. 2023) – Sabuj / Available here* on Amazon
- Essential Dispute Resolution for SQE1 (1st ed. 2022) – Waters / Available here* on Amazon
- Essential Tort Law for SQE1 (1st ed. 2021) – Laws / Available here* on Amazon
- Essential Legal System and Legal Services for SQE1 (1st ed. 2024) – Bowden & Kala / Available here* on Amazon
- Essential Criminal Law and Criminal Practice for SQE1 (1st ed. 2024) – Thornton, Parker & Slattery – / Available here* on Amazon
IV. Legal Practice Guides from the College of Legal Practice (CLP)
The CLP is another UK-based institution that has provided the LPC for many years. They now provide SQE prep courses as well, and publish a set of texts for both.
Note that one CLP Practice Guide may cover more than one SQE topic, so be sure to double check which books you’re buying (and for what).
CLP’s Legal Practice Guides are available as paperbacks and on Kindle. They can be purchased through Amazon.
- Business Law and Practice (2023/24) – Mavrikasis, Allinson, Kempton & Hancock / Available here* on Amazon
- Property Law and Practice (2023/24) Harris & Rodell / Available here* on Amazon
- Private Client: Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning (2023) – King / Available here* on Amazon
- Criminal Litigation: Practice and Procedure (2023/24) – Sharpley / Available here* on Amazon
- Legal Foundations (2023/24) – Bamford, Browne, Embley et al. (NB: This manual covers the Legal Profession, Professional Conduct, EU Law, Human Rights, Tax & Probate and Administration) / Available here* on Amazon
- Accounts for Solicitors (2023/24) – Kempton & King / Available here* on Amazon
V. LPC Manuals from Oxford University Press (OUP)
For years OUP published the materials used by many LPC course providers and LPC students. Me and many others also used these “LPC Manuals” to prepare for certain parts of the QLTS. The most recent versions of OUP’s “LPC Manuals” remain a decent option for SQE prep. They will contain very similar information to most SQE-specific books – and you may be able to buy second-hand copies online.
The relevant “LPC Manuals” are listed below. If you find that the below do not quite cover all the SQE1 subject areas, you can fill in the gaps by picking up a couple of the Law Concentrate or Law Express books (mentioned in this post – SQE1: Supplementary Books & Materials). I know of many foreign lawyers who combined these resources in order to prepare for the QLTS.
- Business Law (30th ed. 2022) – Slorach & Ellis / Available here on Amazon
- Civil Litigation (15th ed. 2022) Macgregor, Peacey & Ridsdale / Available here* on Amazon
- Property Law (15th ed. 2022) Richards / Available here on Amazon
- Solicitors’ Accounts: A Practical Guide (2009-10) – Kay & Baker / Available here* on Amazon
- Foundations for the LPC (26th ed. 2022) – Firth, Smart, Crompton, Fox, Seabridge, & Seymour (NB: This manual covers Ethics, Professional Conduct and Regulation, Money Laundering, Taxation, Wills and Administration of Estates & Human Rights) / Available here* on Amazon
- Criminal Litigation (18th ed. 2022) Mountford / Available here* on Amazon
VI. Library Books
Finally, I should mention that it is also possible to use basic 1L textbooks for most of your SQE studying. Many introductory torts or contracts texts (for example) are likely to contain topics aligning with many of those examined on the SQE.
I understand (given there are now several SQE-specific resources) that using random textbooks may be a less appealing option – but it remains an option! There’s no need to buy any books if you don’t really want to. For example, I knew a Canadian lawyer who passed the multiple choice portion of the QLTS using nothing but library books. (Following her example, I also started my QLTS studying with a couple English law texts borrowed from the London School of Economics. I later included a few Law Express books and QLTS-specific manuals – given to me by an acquaintance).
Again, as long as you always use the SRA’s Assessment Specifications as guides (and as long as you make a reasonable effort to commit the material to memory) you should be fine.
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I hope that these lists are helpful to you. Please check out my other posts – SQE1: Supplementary Books & Materials and SQE2: Supplementary Books & Materials – where I share some additional resources.
If you know of any other useful materials, drop a note in the comments. Let me know what I’ve missed!
Best regards,
Lawyer in London
Thank you for this page. Is there by any chance someone located in Doha, Qatar, selling their bundle of books for SQE1?
Hi, I am considering studying for the sqe from a non-legal background. I have a friend’s lpc books, would they be sufficient in preparing for the sqe please?
thank you in advance.
Thanks for all the information. Does anyone know how to get the UOL books in digital format?
Hey, I just passed SQE1 (marks about 80%) and felt obliged to come here to say thank you😊. With a civil law background, I have never studied in the UK nor have any idea what SQE is until six months ago. I came across this website when researching the preparation materials for the exam, and it really helped me a lot. Based on the information you kindly provide, I bought the UOL set and did the free mocks and questions. Thank you so much for the valuable resources and information.
Thanks for the note. It’s always great to hear from people who have prepped and passed. Well done!
Hi, any chance you are selling the UOL set now that you have passed?
Is there any used SQE1 paper books available to purchase
Hi, You can often find used books on Amazon / eBay. I would also check some of the SQE groups on LinkedIn – people post about selling old books from time to time.
Hi, any success with books for SQE 1 (used)? Thanks in advance.
This is too amazing. You are very kind. I have been stranded, thinking of how to go about this.
God bless you.
Thank you Esther for the kind words:)
Hello, I have passed the MCT a few years ago and I am planning to take the SQE2. Which books do you recommend? I could not find books that cover the following
1. Criminal Litigation
2. Civil Litigation
3. Property Practice
4. Will and Instentancy
5. Buisness organizations
Hello, When I was preparing for part 2 of the QLTS (OSCE), I used the LPC Manuals from OUP. (That said, I believe any of the options above would suffice). Good Luck!