Looking back, preparing for the SQE2 felt like climbing a mountain I wasn’t sure I could conquer. I spent countless hours buried in notes, obsessing over practice questions, and wondering if I was doing enough. Now that I’ve been through it, I can clearly see the things I wish I’d known from the start—things that would have made my SQE2 preparation so much smarter, calmer, and more focused.
If I could travel back in time, here’s exactly what I’d tell my past self before sitting the SQE2 exam.
1. Stop Winging It — Start With Structure
The SQE2 isn’t an exam you can freestyle. Every assessment type—advocacy, interviews/attendance note, legal writing, drafting, research, case and matter analysis—has a logical structure that examiners expect. I used to dive into answers without a plan, and it showed in my early mocks.
What I’d tell myself:
“Memorise the core frameworks and use them every time.”
For example:
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Advocacy: Introduction – Facts – Law – Application – Conclusion.
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Interview: Intro – Open questions – Issue-by-issue – Summary – Next steps.
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Legal writing: Introduction – Go through each Question/Topic – Conclusion
Once I got the structures down, everything felt easier—and I picked up way more marks.
2. Active Recall Beats Endless Rereading
In my early SQE2 prep, I wasted so much time passively reading outlines or highlighting notes. Spoiler alert: it didn’t stick. The breakthrough came when I switched to active recall, which basically means testing yourself rather than just rereading.
What I’d tell myself:
“Talk through your notes out loud. Cover the page and see if you can explain the law to a client who knows nothing about it. Check what you got wrong, then repeat.”
Practising like this saved me hours and built my confidence faster than anything else.
3. The Oral Assessments Aren’t As Scary As They Seem
The thought of advocacy and client interviews terrified me at first. I imagined being judged on every word I said. In reality, the examiners just want to see if you can communicate clearly and logically—like a solicitor would.
What I’d tell myself:
“Focus on listening, asking good questions, and being structured. Don’t overcomplicate it.”
Recording myself doing mock interviews and advocacy sessions was game-changing. I could hear where I rambled, where my tone was off, and where my structure broke down. After a few rounds, I felt way less nervous.
4. Time Management Will Save You
Early on, I would run out of time during mocks because I wasn’t watching the clock. In SQE2, this is a dealbreaker—especially in legal writing, research, or attendance notes.
What I’d tell myself:
“Break each task into chunks and stick to them.”
For example, in legal writing:
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5 mins: Plan and template
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6 mins per issue (assuming 3 issues): (law, application, advice)
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5 mins: Proofread
Practising under timed conditions made a huge difference—I learned to be concise without cutting corners.
5. Stop Over-Studying the Easy Topics
It’s tempting to keep revising what you’re already good at because it feels comfortable. I wasted time perfecting property law while ignoring tricky areas like criminal procedure.
What I’d tell myself:
“Identify your weak spots and hit them hard. That’s where you’ll pick up marks on exam day.”
I started keeping a “weakness log,” writing down every question or topic I messed up in a mock. Reviewing that list each week gave me a much sharper focus.
Final Thoughts: Future Me Knows You’ve Got This
If I could sum up all my advice into one sentence, it would be this:
“Work smarter, not harder—and trust that consistent, focused effort will pay off.”
The SQE2 is tough, but it’s designed to test the skills you’ll use every day as a solicitor. Focus on structure, practise under time pressure, and stay calm during the oral assessments.
And remember: nobody feels 100% ready. But with a solid plan, you will pass—and future you will be so glad you didn’t give up.
For additional resources to help with your SQE2 preparation, see here.