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The Diary of a Trainee Solicitor Entry 4 - SQE1.

I’m back - and I have a good excuse for the radio silence over the last few months: I’ve finally sat the SQE1 exams! That explains both the long gap since my last entry in February and the slightly giddy tone of this one. Relief doesn’t quite cover it.

If you’re about to start the SQE1 journey…good luck. Seriously. It’s intense. But I got through it and now begins the painful six week wait for results. Fingers firmly crossed I will be celebrating in the next entry - but let’s not tempt fate. Whatever happens, I’m proud of how hard I worked.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that discipline > motivation. Motivation comes and goes (mostly goes, if I’m honest), but discipline gets you through the 12-hour library sessions, the back-to-back mocks, and the voice notes you make to yourself at 11pm because you're convinced you’ll forget the difference between an overriding interest and an equitable interest.

Before I sat the exams, I read pretty much every SQE blog and forum post I could find, so it only feels right to add my two pence now that I’m on the other side. The first thing I’ll say is this: nothing really prepares you for it.

I didn’t study law at uni’ - I did Sociology and Criminology - so I was very aware that I might be playing catch-up. I also worked full-time while studying. (Yes, I like a challenge.) I chose BARBRI’s part-time course, which is geared towards non-law grads and people juggling work and study. It was manageable, but the workload was no joke.

The syllabus is massive - 12 subjects across two exams (FLK1 and FLK2) covering everything from Tort, Contract and Land Law to Tax (yes, all the taxes - income, CGT, inheritance, VAT…because why not). And the detail! You can spend weeks drilling the core principles only to find an exam question on something buried in one sentence of your textbook that you barely glanced at. That definitely caught me off guard.

The format itself is pretty brutal. Each exam is just over five hours long, with a one-hour break, and you do it all again the following week. You get about two minutes per question, which means no time to second-guess or catch your breath. By the end of FLK2, I could barely read the words on the screen. It’s a serious test of stamina as much as knowledge.

There’s a lot of noise around how hard the SQE is - and honestly, it’s not exaggerated. I met a few people resitting the exams, which really brought home how tough they are, even for those who know the law inside out. The multiple-choice format is designed to trip you up if you’re not laser-focused.

What helped me? Sticking to a consistent routine. I didn’t take long breaks and even on ‘days off’ I’d do something light - flashcards or a few practice questions. I built my own revision tools: lots of flashcards, mind maps, voice recordings and error logs from mocks. I tried to spend less time on topics I felt confident with and more time tackling the tricky ones (looking at you, Land Law).

Some subjects are conceptually simple but packed with fiddly detail - like all the deadlines in Dispute Resolution or Conveyancing. Others just never seem to click. I still have nightmares about Restrictive Covenants.

And let’s not forget the pressure: only three attempts allowed, and if you fail all three, you’re locked out for six years. No pressure at all.

But...I’ve done it. I’ve crossed that hurdle and whatever the outcome, I know I gave it my all. The SQE isn’t perfect - and I can see why it’s been met with mixed feelings - but at the end of the day, qualifying as a solicitor was never going to be easy.

After two weeks of study leave, it was straight back to work. Coming back to the office felt like a full-circle moment - it’s been a whole year since I joined Rundlewalker and a year since graduating from Exeter University. Time flies when you’re running on caffeine and adrenaline.

We’ve had a new addition to the team since my last entry - Seun joined the Family Law Team earlier this year, working in the childcare team alongside Sue Jury. Seun recently qualified and it’s been great working alongside her and learning from someone so sharp and driven.

Here’s hoping the next time I check in, I’ve got some good news to share. Until then - deep breaths.

Maisie Rodford, X. 

P.S. You can read my first Diary entry HERE.
And my second Diary entry HERE.
My third Diary entry is HERE.

Maisie joined the firm in July 2024 as a Trainee Solicitor after graduating from Exeter University where she studied Sociology & Criminology. She will undertake her Solicitors Qualifying Exams in July 2025 and January 2026 with the intention of becoming a fully qualified solicitor in the summer of 2026. Maisie has now embarked on her SQE studies and is eager to pursue a career specialising in Family Law once qualified.
 
Outside of the office, Maisie enjoys walking, reading, and eating out!