7 minute read
Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE)
Suzanne Reece, Senior and Lead Tutor-SQE Course at Barbri, talks to Legal Women about Work and Study on SQE Prep Courses from a Tutor’s viewpoint
The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) is a fantastic opportunity for people working in the legal profession as non-qualified staff to gain that coveted qualification as a solicitor of England and Wales. The SQE route allows students to work and study as they prepare for their SQE 1 & 2 exams and then to qualify as soon as they satisfy the qualifying work experience and fitness to practise requirements. This has the advantage that students do not have to choose between qualifying and giving up a lucrative job or a position in a firm or organisation where they are valued.
The profession is better for SQE as it now means the profession is a viable option for many more people. This includes people who could not afford to give up work to study or could not secure a training contract but none the less are brilliant at their jobs. The diversity in routes to qualifying through SQE and the SQE apprenticeship means the profession should begin to reflect the diverse background and interests of those seeking this qualification who do not come from a traditional legal background.
This is not a course for the faint-hearted but many of the qualities that students require to complete these courses will be those they have already established in the working environment. This includes the ability to multi-task, read quickly and efficiently and to think on your feet. The SQE prep courses will test student’s physical stamina, resilience, and their ability to adapt and learn. Students who have experience of working for a law firm, in-house or within the charity or voluntary sectors will recognise these qualities.
Many employers also recognise the value of having experienced non legal staff qualify as a solicitor in their organisation and are extremely supportive of their employees. Work can be unpredictable, clients demanding and sometimes the nature of the business means that deadlines are tight for meeting court and commercial expectations. These challenges can sometimes leave employees at a disadvantage. This is because “legal potential” and “opportunity” do not replace the benefits of regular study time. Too often students are left with challenging workloads and the time for study is restricted. There must be enough time to study to give students a chance of being successful.
This is why it is important, before embarking on the SQE Prep courses to consider three important questions that cover the duration of the course and exams:
1. How do I feel and do I have the drive and determination to sustain me?
2. What are my work commitments likely to be?
3. What are or anticipated family commitments?
The first question requires an honest discussion with yourself. If the answer is “not at the moment ” then have a break and plan to come back to this topic when you feel ready to move on to questions 2 & 3. When the time is right, the answers to questions 2 & 3 are best considered and discussed with supervisors, family, and friends. You support network will be vital as your work and study without this support will make the journey even harder.
My advice:
• Speak to your supervisor before you sign up for the course – get their support and plan for how you can study and work.
• Plan ahead- when is the best time for you to combine work and study – choose your preparation course dates carefully with when you know that work will not be so busy.
• Try to establish a routine as soon as possible – so that you get into the rhythm of study.
• Take those small pockets of time before work, at lunch and immediately after work, or on the commute to and from work to catch up on your studies.
• Plan for the unexpected – life, family, and the inconvenient illness – however minor, will come along to throw you off schedule from time to time. If you build some flexibility into your plan, you can get back on track.
• Take some days off to study during the course, not just at the end of the course to revise. This will help you stay on track and help you to feel in control of your study despite the workload.
• Plan time to revise. You can never start too early so do not leave it too late, have a deadline to start and then go.
Once you are on a SQE prep course students may think it is half the battle done. However with online learning, there is still the need for regular study and progress. The SQE is not an easier journey than its predecessor. It is different and more flexible but just as demanding in terms of fundamental legal knowledge and skills. On every course I see students that work hard to come to grips with applying the wide legal syllabus and at the same time demonstrate the skills that are required within a very tight timetable for each assessment. On the type of online preparation course run by Barbri, this can conveniently be done anywhere with an internet connection and headphones. At Barbri, we encourage students to find small pockets of time every day to study and not to assume that they will have the luxury of several hours uninterrupted study during the day.
These courses do not lend themselves to last minute cramming. In addition, if a student is working, this is extra pressure that must be factored into your study schedule. Planning and focused study are recurring themes at Barbri, and as a student these will be your best friends. I like to compare it to a long swim. There is the fun of deciding to jump into the pool, then the slow and regular pace of those laps in the pool where you just get your head down and keep going with no idea how much further there is to go. Then exams dates start to appear in the distance and it is the gradual increase in speed and sprint to the final line.
Revision is often underestimated. Students may be great at the day job but it is the final push of exam revision to refresh the law for a closed book exam and practice that will improve the test scores for SQE 1, multiple choice questions or legal skills for SQE 2. Some students take the long view – they knock out at least a month before the exams and focus full time on their revision. Others must fit revision around work and family life snatching those “small pockets of time.” Both approaches will require extra work for simulated mocks and a final push through to the end of the exams.
The reward for people who did not think they could qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales is evident from the Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook posts that announce they have passed SQE and been admitted. It may be a hard journey which requires focus, planning and resilience but with the support of many good people it is an achievement that once gained will be one of the best milestones in any career.
