Nadia Szumilo
A Final Seat Trainee at Vardags who smashed SQE1, first quintile, in 2024
Published: 11 June 2025
Find and connect on LinkedInDon’t miss this #1 piece of advice for anyone taking the SQE
Every SQE story is a reminder that the path to qualification isn’t linear. It’s personal, challenging, squiggly and full of growth.
What’s your background, and why did you decide to do the SQE?
Nadia is a Final Seat Trainee at Vardags, one of the UK’s leading family law firms. She took the SQE route as part of her qualification journey.
How did you prepare, and what made the biggest difference in your success?
Through dedicated preparation and consistent practice, Nadia achieved first quintile results in SQE1, demonstrating mastery across all tested areas.
What was the hardest part, and how did you push through it?
Like many candidates, balancing the demands of work and study required careful time management and dedication. Maintaining focus on the end goal helped push through challenging moments.
If you had to do it again, what would you do differently?
Nadia’s approach clearly worked well given her exceptional results. Her journey demonstrates that finding what works for you personally is key.
Final advice
Remember that every SQE journey is unique. What matters is finding your own path and staying committed to your goals, even when the road gets difficult.
Every SQE story is a reminder that the path to qualification isn't linear. It's personal, challenging, squiggly and full of growth.
If you're on this journey too, take heart: you're part of a new generation reshaping what it means to become a solicitor.
Want to share your own SQE story? We'd love to feature it.
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