How to prepare for SQE2

Jan 05, 2024

Written By Helena Kudiabor

If you are planning on taking SQE2, you might be unsure as to how to prepare after taking SQE1. The exam is very new, meaning you can’t rely on other people’s experiences. Despite this, there are still quite a few resources available and ways you can study.

Should I take a preparation course for SQE2?

Many law schools are offering preparation courses to help students for SQE2. While courses like the Masters in Law (LLM) provide students with general knowledge about the SQE1 and SQE2, there are also courses which exclusively teach you about the SQE. Most of these courses are SQE1 or SQE2-specific, so you will need to do both. They cost around £5,000 each, although many law schools are offering discounts given how recent the SQE’s introduction is.

Despite the high cost (£10,000 if you take two courses), there are several advantages to doing a preparation course. If you fail the SQE2 three times, you will have to wait to resit the entire exam (SQE1 and SQE2) six years after the day of your first exam. You will also have to pay the same cost everytime you retake - so it might be better not to risk going into the tests unprepared.

Furthermore, given the recency of SQE, there are fewer resources compared to other exams that have run for years - such as the LPC and GDL. Law schools will receive more details about the exam and how to prepare as opposed to the average student, so will shape their courses to advise you best. It is also important to remember that the SQE is not just about memorising information, but study skills such as time management and public speaking, all skills that preparation courses will help with.

Should I self-study?

While self-studying may be seen as the easier option, it requires a lot of discipline and focus. Without the constraints of exams or essays, it can be easy to put off your studies until the last minute. If you are interested in self-studying, think about how you have approached exams in the past, did you create and stick to a study plan or leave it all to the last minute?

It is also important to remember that the SQE2 covers a variety of different topics in great detail. If you haven’t studied law before or found it difficult, you may find it overwhelming and difficult to motivate yourself. However, if you enjoy studying law or have extensive work experience (career as a paralegal, for example) then self-studying may be right for you.

How can I self study?

Start off by creating a study plan: outlining how many hours you want to do weekly, how you will study and how you will assess your skills. You can find practice questions on the SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority) website.

While there aren’t too many resources online at the moment, there will be more as the exam date gets closer and after it is taken. In the meantime, you can use SQE-specific textbooks. To improve your motivation, why not create a study group with you and some friends who are also studying for the exam? You can share resources and help each other with confusing topics.

SQE