How I Passed SQE1 as a Self-Studying Student Without a Law Background
- Alex Ferra
- Mar 14
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 12
How I Passed SQE1 as a Self-Studying Student Without a Law Background
Passing the SQE1 without a legal background can feel intimidating at first. When I began preparing for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination, I did not have a traditional law degree and was studying independently. However, with the right strategy, discipline, and consistent practice, it is absolutely achievable.
Practice Questions here: FLK1 https://amzn.eu/d/07iVRup0 and https://amzn.eu/d/064LrKbA
FLK2 Practice Questions: https://amzn.eu/d/0fwHiHTE
Plan your study https://amzn.eu/d/0eIwUq4u and https://amzn.eu/d/05K21los
Review notes available here: https://amzn.eu/d/0hefvrir and https://amzn.eu/d/0aqz3cUP
SQE1 MCQ Strategy: https://amzn.eu/d/04jafgSK
In this post, I want to share the study approach that helped me pass SQE1 as a self-studying student.
Study Consistency Is Key
Preparing for SQE1 requires a serious commitment. Personally, I recommend studying around 8 hours per day. This might sound intense, but the SQE syllabus is very broad and requires time to properly understand and memorise key legal concepts.
At the same time, rest is important. I strongly recommend taking one full day off per week. Having a break helps prevent burnout and allows you to come back to your studies with better focus and energy.
The Last Three Months Before the Exam
The final three months before the exam should focus primarily on:
Reviewing your notes
Completing a large number of practice questions
Taking regular mock exams
At this stage, the goal is no longer to learn entirely new material but to reinforce what you already know and identify weaknesses.
Weekly Mock Exam Strategy
During the final stage of preparation, I recommend completing mock exams twice per week.
My approach looked like this:
Day 1 – FLK1 practice
Complete two full mock exams under timed conditions, similar to the real exam.
Day 2 – FLK2 practice
Complete two full mock exams under exam conditions.
Day 3/4/5/6 - 4 subjects per day:
2 FLK1 subjects
2 FLK2 subjects
This helps simulate the pressure and stamina required for the real SQE1 assessment.
However, if completing two mocks per day feels overwhelming at first, prioritise one mock exam and focus on reviewing it properly.
Reviewing Your Mock Exams
One of the most important parts of SQE preparation is reviewing your answers carefully.
When completing a mock exam, I recommend the following process:
Complete the mock under timed conditions.
Submit the mock without reviewing the answers first.
Once you receive your result, go through every question carefully.
For each question, ask yourself:
1) Why was the correct answer correct?
2) Why was my answer wrong?
3) What legal rule or principle did I misunderstand?
At the beginning of your preparation, this review process is critical. You should add important points from these questions to your notes so you can revise them later.
Over time, you will start recognising patterns in the questions and understanding how the examiners test certain topics.
Focus on Learning From Mistakes
It is normal to get many questions wrong at the beginning. The key is not the score itself but what you learn from reviewing your mistakes.
Each incorrect answer is an opportunity to improve your understanding. By analysing your mistakes and updating your notes, you gradually strengthen your knowledge across all subjects.
Final Thoughts
Passing SQE1 without a law background is challenging, but it is definitely possible with the right approach. The most important factors are discipline, consistent study, and regular practice with mock exams.
If I had to summarise my strategy, it would be:
Study consistently (around 8 hours per day)
Take one rest day per week
Focus heavily on practice questions
Complete regular mock exams
Carefully review every answer and learn from mistakes
This process requires time and perseverance, but with commitment, it can result in success.
Comments