Updated May 2024
In SQE1 & SQE2: Key Books & Materials, I listed the main books needed to prepare for SQE1&2. Those books cover all legal topics for both exams and no further material is technically required. That said, I wanted to pull together a list of additional resources for those who’d like further information for SQE2.
As I’ve mentioned, I wrote the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS), rather than the Solicitors Qualifying Exam, and I studied alone. Part 2 of the QLTS was a multiday practical skills test known as the OSCE (akin to what is now the SQE2 assessment). To prepare for the QLTS/OSCE I used only the “LPC Manuals” from Oxford University Press (OUP) (mentioned in my previous post SQE1 & SQE2: Key Books & Materials). This series is useful, but I know that some lawyers feel the books are too long and too detailed. Some didn’t use them because they were short on time, and simply could not get through each text. Additionally, the books are not the greatest help in practicing certain skills. The information on drafting and advocacy, for example, is quite thin.
Some candidates may therefore want additional resources in order to prepare for the second part of the SQE. In this post I’ve outlined a number of supplementary resources that may be of use.
Again, whatever materials (or combination of materials) you rely on, be sure to stay well acquainted with the SRA’s SQE2 Assessment Specification, and use it as a syllabus to guide your SQE2 studying.
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Certain links in this post are affiliate links (those identified with asterisks (*)). Where a sale is made through an affiliate link, I may receive a small commission – at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support of my site.
Additional SQE Study Material
I. Legal Systems & Skills: Learn, Develop, Apply (5th ed. 2023) from Oxford University Press (OUP) – Embley, Goodchild, Shephard and Slorach
Legal Systems & Skills contains guidance on each of the skills assessed in SQE2, including case and matter analysis, oral communication, interviews, presentations, etc. There’s also additional material on professional conduct and ethics.
It is available as a paperback and also as an eBook. You can find it here* on Amazon.
II. SQE2 Outlines & SQE2 Courses from INHOUSEW (IHW)
INHOUSEW provides succinct SQE2 assistance – including videos, revision notes and practice exams – that can be purchased individually or in packages.
IHW also provides a lot of valuable SQE info, free of charge – so I’d encourage you to check out their resource library, blog, and Insta reels. Specifically, INHOUSEW offers the following for SQE2:
- SQE2 outlines – These are comprehensive note summaries covering all SRA assessment areas. ie. short-form, bullet-point notes for those who may be short on time, or who just want the key details. There are separate outlines for Business, Dispute Resolution, Wills, Property and Criminal Litigation – and you can purchase as many or as few as you want. You can find out more about the SQE2 outlines here*.
- SQE2 mini-courses – If you’re looking for more support, IHW also provides fuller SQE2 revision packages. These include the outlines mentioned above, as well as short video lectures, and mock exams (with answers). There are many different purchase options, and candidates can buy one, some, or all SQE2 subjects. Here’s a link to IHW’s SQE2 Courses*.
III. Skills for Lawyers (2023/24) from the College of Law Publishing (CLP) – Elkington, Holtam, Shield and Verlander
Skills for Lawyers covers writing and drafting, interviewing and advising, negotiation and advocacy, and legal research. It includes self-test exercises and case studies.
At the moment, it’s not available as an eBook. You can find the paperback here* on eBay.
IV (i). SQE Answered, SQE1 Core Guide, FLK1&2 (1st ed. 2023) from Law Answered (LA)
This offering is somewhat unique. It’s marketed as being an “exam-focused” set of notes, rather than a traditional legal text. I didn’t use any LA material myself, but I know of a number of lawyers that really liked their guides for QLTS prep. The reasons are that they are concise and to the point, with helpful summaries, diagrams and flowcharts. Therefore, if you are short on prep time, this may be an ideal resource for you.
You can find the printed manuals, or interactive e-books, here* on Amazon.
IV (ii). LPC Answered, Core Modules (11th ed. 2023/24) from Law Answered (LA)
Also available from LA is LPC Answered. (Again, the LPC – or Legal Practice Course – is/was a vocational course English law grads took prior to qualifying. It is being phased out now, with the introduction of the SQE). While not exactly tailored to the SQE, LPC Answered is still worth considering as it is less expensive than SQE Answered, and covers a lot of the same ground. Specifically: (for SQE1) Tax and Solicitors’ Accounts; (for SQE1&2) Civil Litigation, Criminal Litigation, Property Law and Practice, Business Law and Practice, Professional Conduct and Regulation, Wills and the Administration of Estates; and (for SQE2) Practical Skills.
You can find the coil-bound manual here* on Amazon.
V. Oral Skills for Lawyers (2nd ed. 2023) & Written Skills for Lawyers (2nd ed. 2023) from the University of Law (UOL) – Blow & Kempton
These 2 books from UOL cover advocacy, interviewing skills, attendance notes and legal analysis (in Oral Skills), as well as legal writing, drafting, research and case matter analysis (in Written Skills).
They are both available in hard-copy and as eBooks. You can find Oral Skills here* on Amazon and here* on eBay. Written Skills is available here* on Amazon and here* on eBay.
VI. Skilfully Passing the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (2nd ed. 2023) by Neeta Halai
This book provides practical guidance on how to approach both SQE1&2. There is a separate chapter devoted to each assessment in SQE2, and it also covers communication skills, qualifying work experience (QWE), writing in professional English and managing nerves.
Skilfully is available as a paperback and also on Kindle. You can find it here* on Amazon and here* on eBay.
VII. Lawyers’ Skills (2019/20) from Oxford University Press (OUP) – Webb, Maughan, Keppel-Palmer and Boon
Lawyers’ Skills is also by OUP, creator of the “LPC Manuals”. It contains guidance on key skills including legal writing and drafting, interviewing and advising, practical legal research, and advocacy. There are diagrams and self-test questions throughout.
The text is available as a paperback, but not on Kindle. You can find it here*.
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I hope that the above is helpful. If you’ve used any of these resources, or have others to add, please drop a note in the comments.
Lastly, if you’re looking for SQE2 practice questions, make sure check out my next post – SQE2: Sample Questions & Mock Exams (for Free) – where I discuss all freely available resources.
Best,
Lawyer in London
Thank you so much for this, I Have been been going around looking for how to get study materials. This is a great relief.