Don’t miss this #1 piece of advice for anyone taking the SQE

What’s your background, and why did you decide to do the SQE?

Nathaniel studied law at Cardiff University starting in 2021 and secured a training contract with Reed Smith during his third year. He began SQE1 preparation in September 2024 with firm funding and passed in January 2025. He sat SQE2 in May 2025 and plans to start his training contract in March 2026.

How did you prepare, and what made the biggest difference in your success?

He used the College of Legal Practice’s SQE1 course, creating notes and flashcards while practicing multiple-choice questions. The breakthrough came through peer discussion: “Being able to talk to my friends who were also studying for SQE1 made a huge difference. Talking through concepts, discussing tough topics and testing each other made my revision more varied.”

What was the hardest part, and how did you push through it?

Maintaining consistent focus over extended study periods proved most challenging. His solution involved treating revision as full-time work - going to the library without his phone and scheduling regular breaks. “I had rugby training every Wednesday evening and always kept that time free,” which provided essential balance and momentum.

If you had to do it again, what would you do differently?

He would practice MCQs earlier rather than focusing heavily on content reading first. Additionally, he’d prioritize struggling subjects from the outset instead of allocating equal time across all topics for more efficient preparation.

Final advice

Find study partners who keep you accountable. Treat your preparation like a job, but protect time for activities that keep you balanced and motivated.