News

Diary of a Trainee Solicitor: December 2025, Entry 5 - Reining in the New Year, Passing SQE1 and Beginning Preparation for SQE2.

In my last entry, I had just sat my SQE1 exams and was (not so patiently) waiting for my results to be released. I am very pleased to report that I passed both exams on my first attempt. I also scored in the first quintile, something I am extremely proud of.
While I knew I had worked hard and prepared thoroughly, the exams were intense and exceptionally challenging, as I have emphasised throughout these entries. I was far from confident that I had passed; in truth, I had absolutely no idea how I had performed. Both exam days are now a blur, but the experience reinforced a well-worn cliché that genuinely rings true: you really do get out what you put in.
The difficulty of SQE1 is reflected in the stark statistics. My cohort recorded a pass rate of just 41%, the lowest ever for this sitting. The majority of candidates failed, many of whom already hold law degrees and work within the legal profession. While I would not view this as a deterrent, it should serve as a wake-up call. These exams must be approached differently to any others. They are unforgiving. There are no shortcuts and no “cheat codes.” The sooner candidates recognise this, the better their chances of success.
After receiving my results, I allowed myself a short but very welcome break from studying, and I emphasise short, as it flew by. I am reining in the New Year having well and truly began my preparation for SQE2, which feels like a natural point to explain how different this next stage is.
SQE2 is a completely different assessment. It is entirely practical and client-focused, consisting of long-form written assessments and oral examinations. In total, there are 16 assessments spread over five days. These include 12 written assessments covering Legal Writing, Legal Research, Legal Drafting, and Case and Matter Analysis, taken over three days. This is followed by four oral assessments - Interview and Attendance Note, and Advocacy - taken across two further days.
The range of legal knowledge required is narrower than SQE1, with subjects such as Constitutional Law and Solicitors’ Accounts no longer examined, which is undoubtedly a relief. Before beginning my SQE2 preparation, I was given a slight sense of false hope that this exam would be easier due to the reduced content. While that is true in one sense, the required depth of understanding is significantly greater.
Unlike SQE1, where the correct answer was always present on screen, SQE2 requires unprompted recall of the law. You must know the law well enough to ask the right questions, analyse the facts, and provide accurate and practical advice. This shift is substantial.
Another key element of SQE2 is the requirement to explain the law in a clear, client-focused manner. This means avoiding legal jargon and sophisticated language in favour of plain English. After spending over a year studying and expressing legal principles in formal terms, this adjustment is surprisingly challenging. What sounds simple in theory is far harder in practice.
Revision methods also need a complete overhaul. Passive reading simply does not work for this exam. Active recall is essential, and I am still refining what works best for me and finding my rhythm, a process that definitely takes time. 
Encouragingly, SQE2 has a much higher pass rate, typically between 70% and 80%. The grading criteria is split evenly between skills and legal knowledge. You are awarded 50% for your skills include communication, structure, logical reasoning, listening, and fact-finding, and 50% for legal knowledge focusing on accurate and comprehensive application of the law. While a solid legal foundation remains essential to showcase those skills, there appears to be more leeway for minor errors compared to SQE1. That said, this is certainly not an invitation to be complacent. The emphasis is on understanding key legal principles, identifying risks, and proposing appropriate solutions rather than recalling statute, you are being asked to apply it. 
I will be sitting SQE2 at the end of April or early May, and it genuinely feels as though the light is at the end of the tunnel. With a bit of luck, by spring I will be finished with studying altogether.
Results are not released until the end of August, so there will be another anxious wait ahead. However, I remain hopeful. I keep reminding myself: if I can do it once, I can do it twice.
Wish me luck.