About us

Study with those who know how!

Academy of Smart Lawyers (also known as OSCEsmart®) – we are a cohort of dedicated legal practitioners united since 2018 to revolutionise legal education, aiming for it to be (Our mission):

A. Superior: practice-based and results-driven
B. Accessible: affordable, flexible, and globally available
C. Sustainable: life-long and future-focused

Our comprehensive SQE Smart Prep programme is designed to empower aspiring solicitors like you to excel in the Solicitors Qualifying Examination and launch a successful legal career. Having qualified through the same route, we are well-equipped to support you on your educational journey.

Our vision: By immersing you in a highly qualified and supportive professional environment, we aim to help you achieve the highest grades and pass the qualification with confidence!

6+ years of exam preparation experience

330+ inspiring success stories

30+ tutoring solicitors

Our story

The Academy was initially formed by foreign-qualified lawyers who successfully passed the solicitors’ examination. At that time, the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) was known as the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS) and was only available to qualified lawyers.


1
February 2018
Started as OSCEsmart tutoring and development of our original methodology
2
April 2020
Launched a tailor-made SUPERexam platform designed to host SQE prep courses
3
July 2021
Our pass rate reached 97.43% with average pass mark 74.58%
4
November 2022
Introduced a new SQE1 programme with pre-recorded videos, live law update lectures and MCQ analysis
Academy of Smart Lawyers
5
May 2024
Extended our services beyond the SQE and rebranded to the Academy of Smart Lawyers

Recognising a lack of quality training for the 2nd part of the exam (the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) – now SQE2), we decided to take action. With first-hand experience of the exam, we came together to assist other aspiring solicitors, focusing not only on legal knowledge, but also on essential skills and exam techniques. We invested considerable effort in developing a pragmatic approach to SQE preparation and helping candidates master exam methodology. Our original 1-to-1 training approach has helped hundreds of resitters achieve their goals, and provided visible support to the most disadvantaged candidates. Those were the first steps we made as OSCEsmart.

Today, we have grown into an international community of over 300 solicitors. This collective expertise has driven our rebranding to the Academy of Smart Lawyers, with the shared goal of revolutionising legal education.

Experienced barristers and educators have joined us, broadening our services beyond the SQE. We are now training solicitors for the Higher Rights of Audience exam, preparing bar students for the UK bar exams, and providing legal skills training to legal practitioners within the framework of continuing professional development. To make learning convenient for our students, we utilise the SUPERexam platform, specifically developed for skills training.

Our values

Quality Over Quantity

We believe in mistake-driven learning & active tutoring carried out primarily through 1-to-1 sessions. Challenging your assumptions, our tutors may knock you down to build you back up – sometimes a stressful experience that can however help you grow.

Respect and Diversity

We are a global community of like-minded legal professionals from different backgrounds joined together to bring change to the future of legal education. Joining us as a student, you become our colleague and a member of the Smart team.

Smart Technology

We endorse online education, digitalisation, and EduTech utilisation. It’s a cost-effective, flexible model best-suited for individualised learning and available to Smart users through our SUPERexam e-learning and training platform.

Meet our team

Meet the experts driving our students’ success.

Oliver

Solicitor (England and Wales).
Leading SQE training for LPC grads and UK aspirants.
SQE Senior lecturer, author, tutor-coach specialising in Business, Corporate and Commercial Law, Property Practice, and Investments.

Olga

Dual-qualified solicitor (England and Wales, Ukraine) with a PhD.
Leading SQE training for foreign solicitors.
SQE Senior lecturer, author, tutor-coach specialising in Litigation, Business & Corporate Law and Private Clients.

Steve Johnson

Barrister (non-practising) with 25 years’ experience of trials advocacy.
Legal Course Designer, Bar Course and Higher Rights Oral Skills Trainer.
Senior lecturer and tutor-coach specialising in Evidence and Criminal Litigation, Witness Handling and Submissions Advocacy. Presenter, coach and designer of Witness Familiarisation courses.

Mathieu

Mathieu Quenin

Solicitor-Advocate (England and Wales) with Higher Rights of Audience, French Avocat.
SQE mentor and coach for French study groups.
SQE Senior Lecturer, author, tutor-coach specialising in Litigation, Commercial Property and Construction.

Rosanna

Rosanna Morello Carrieri

Dual-qualified solicitor (England and Wales, Germany). Member of the INTA Trademark Office Practices Committee.
SQE Senior lecturer, author, tutor-coach specialising in Business & Commercial Law, Trademarks, Domains, Unfair Competition, Piracy, and Designs.

Arun

Arun Gunasekaran

Dual-qualified solicitor (England and Wales, India).
SQE Senior Lecturer, specialising in Litigation, Commercial, and Maritime Law.

Marinel

Marinel Bandonell

Dual-qualified lawyer (England & Wales and Philippines).
SQE Senior Lecturer, tutor-coach specialising in Business and Corporate Law, Regulatory and Compliance.

Lindsey

Lindsey Ashton

Non-practising solicitor (England and Wales).
SQE Lecturer, tutor-coach specialising in Business and Corporate Law, Ethics, Regulatory and Compliance, Law Tech.

Jeny

Jeny Shaw

Dual-qualified solicitor (England & Wales and India). SQE Lecturer, mentor, and tutor-coach for India study groups. Specialising in Conveyancing and Property Law.

Nila

Nila Gibb

Dual-qualified lawyer (England & Wales and Indonesia).
SQE Lecturer, tutor-coach specialising in Business and Corporate Law, Energy and Renewables.

Catherine

Catherine Mathieu

Dual-qualified lawyer (France & England and Wales). SQE mentor and coach for French study groups. Expert in Human Resources Management and the legal and administrative landscapes on a global scale, spanning diverse sectors including Retail, Engineering, Automotive, Fashion, and Sports.

Ammara

Ammara Kotia

Dual-qualified lawyer (India & England and Wales). SQE Lecturer, tutor-coach specialising in Litigation, PI(RTA), Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Commercial Property.

Amaka Onuoha

Amaka Onuoha

Dual-qualified solicitor (England & Wales and Nigeria). SQE mentor and coach for Africa study groups. Specialising in Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Immigration.

Aastha Gopikrishna

Aastha Gopikrishna

Dual-qualified solicitor (England & Wales and India). SQE mentor and coach for India study groups. Specialising in Data Privacy Laws and Tech Law, Regulatory and Compliance.

Ishita Luthra

Ishita Luthra

Dual-qualified solicitor (England & Wales and India), serving as an SQE mentor and coach for India study groups. Specialises in corporate and commercial law, with a specific focus on private M&A, early-stage and growth startups, and SMEs across a broad range of business and commercial matters.

Irene

Irene Rudique

Experienced educator with a PhD in Linguistics.
Head of the Legal English Division.
Senior SQE interviewer, lecturer, and tutor-coach.

Roman

Roman Kontsydailos

SUPERexam Account Manager and Web Administrator.
SQE Senior Interviewer, tutor, and coach.

Juanelle

Juanelle Holl

Actor and life coach.
SQE Senior Interviewer, tutor and coach.

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