Preparing for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) can feel overwhelming. The volume of law, the unfamiliar exam format, and the pressure to perform well can make revision difficult to organise and even harder to sustain.
This is where SQE law revision classes can play an important role. Rather than replacing independent study, well-designed revision classes help candidates structure their learning, focus on examinable issues, and develop the skills needed for SQE1 and SQE2.
This article explains what SQE law revision involves, why SQE live classes can be effective, the common challenges candidates face, and how structured revision supports exam performance. It also introduces the Academy of Smart Lawyers’ learning-focused approach in a clear, non-salesy way.
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What SQE Law Revision Involves
QE law revision is not simply about re-reading textbooks or memorising notes. It involves:
- understanding how the SQE tests legal knowledge and skills
- identifying high-yield topics and common areas of confusion
- learning how to apply law under exam conditions
- practising recall, analysis, and decision-making
For SQE1 candidates, revision focuses on functional legal knowledge, multiple-choice exam technique, and accurate application of law across a wide syllabus.
For SQE2 candidates, revision goes further. It involves practising legal skills such as advocacy, legal writing, drafting, research, and client interviewing, all while applying the law accurately and professionally.
Effective SQE law revision therefore combines knowledge, structure, and method, rather than passive reading.
Why Live SQE Classes Can Be Effective
Many candidates rely heavily on self-study. While independent learning is essential, it has limitations — especially when preparing for a professional exam like the SQE.
A well-run SQE live class can help by:
- breaking complex topics into manageable parts
- explaining why certain answers are correct, not just what they are
- highlighting common exam traps and misunderstandings
- modelling exam-focused thinking and legal reasoning
Live classes also introduce pace and accountability, which many candidates struggle to maintain alone. Being guided through difficult topics in real time helps students identify gaps earlier, rather than discovering them too late.
Importantly, live SQE classes are not meant to replace self-study. Their value lies in supporting and structuring independent revision, not doing the work for the candidate.
Common Challenges Faced by SQE Candidates
Across SQE1 and SQE2, candidates often face similar difficulties:
- Information overload
The SQE syllabus is broad. Without structure, candidates may spend too much time on low-yield topics while missing examinable issues.
- Passive revision
Reading summaries or watching recordings can feel productive, but without active processing, little is retained.
- Uncertainty about exam standards
Many candidates do not fully understand what the examiners are looking for, especially in SQE2 skills assessments.
- Lack of feedback
Self-study rarely provides reliable feedback. Without it, candidates may repeat the same mistakes.
- Isolation
Preparing alone for a high-stakes exam can affect motivation and confidence.
SQE law revision classes, when structured properly, are designed to address these challenges.
How Structured Revision Supports Exam Performance
Structured revision means that learning follows a deliberate sequence, rather than being random or reactive.
This includes:
- introducing legal concepts before testing them
- revisiting difficult areas multiple times in different formats
- linking law to exam tasks and scenarios
- gradually increasing complexity
At the Academy of Smart Lawyers, structured revision is built around the idea that learning must be cognitively active. Students are encouraged not just to read, but to analyse, question, and apply.
For example, condensed visual materials such as charts and mind maps require more effort at first. However, that effort leads to deeper understanding and better long-term recall than simple text summaries.
The same principle applies to SQE2 skills. Practising without guidance or feedback can lead candidates off track. Structured revision ensures that practice is aligned with assessment criteria, not guesswork.
The Value of SQE Free Materials When Used Properly
Many candidates search for SQE free materials, and these can be helpful — if used carefully.
Free materials work best when they:
- supplement structured learning
- clarify specific issues
- provide additional perspectives
However, relying solely on unstructured free resources can be risky. Without context or guidance, candidates may misunderstand the level of detail required or focus on the wrong issues.
Structured SQE law revision classes help candidates use free materials effectively, rather than replacing thoughtful study with random consumption.
The Academy of Smart Lawyers’ Teaching Philosophy
The Academy’s approach to SQE preparation is learning-focused, practical, and exam-aware.
Key principles include:
- clarity over volume
- active learning over passive reading
- structure over shortcuts
- understanding over memorisation
Live SQE classes are used to:
- explain difficult topics clearly
- demonstrate exam-focused thinking
- connect law to practical application
Students are encouraged to engage actively, reflect on feedback, and build confidence gradually.
The aim is not to promise shortcuts or guarantees, but to support candidates through a demanding professional exam with realistic expectations and sound academic methods.
Example: What We Covered in a Recent SQE Live Revision Class (Professional Conduct)
To give a practical example of how our SQE law revision classes work, here is an overview of what was covered in a recent SQE live class on Professional Conduct — one of the most heavily tested and most misunderstood areas of the SQE.
Rather than teaching the rules in isolation, the session focused on how the SRA Principles operate in real exam scenarios.
Compliance Is Personal — You Cannot Delegate Responsibility
We began by clarifying a core exam principle that candidates often miss:
A solicitor’s duty to comply with the SRA rules is personal and non-delegable.
In the SQE, it is never a defence to say:
- “My firm did not train me,” or
- “I was only a junior,” or
- “I did not know the rule.”
Using exam-style scenarios, we explored how this applies to:
- ethics,
- anti-money laundering,
- data protection, and
- Professional Conduct in Relation to Taxation (PCRT).
Candidates were shown how examiners expect them to recognise high-risk regulatory areas and apply the correct response, even where the solicitor’s role appears limited.
The Duty to Maintain Competence (CPD) — What the SRA Really Tests
We then addressed a common misunderstanding about CPD.
Although the SRA no longer requires a fixed number of CPD hours, the obligation to remain competent still exists. In the SQE, this is tested through scenarios where a solicitor:
- drifts outside their expertise,
- fails to keep up with regulatory changes, or
- continues acting without sufficient knowledge.
The lecture focused on:
- how competence is assessed against the Statement of Legal Knowledge, and
- why failure to stay competent can itself amount to misconduct.
This helps candidates avoid answers that rely on outdated assumptions about CPD requirements.
Reporting Misconduct — When You Must Report (Even If Told Not To)
A significant part of the lecture focused on the personal duty to report serious misconduct.
Using a realistic scenario involving:
- a foreign-qualified colleague disbarred abroad, and
- a manager instructing the firm not to report,
students worked through:
- who must be reported,
- when reporting must take place, and
- why interference with reporting is itself a serious breach.
The key exam takeaway was clear:
Timely reporting is mandatory and is always treated as a mitigating factor by the SRA.
Concealment Turns Mistakes into Dishonesty
We then examined one of the most dangerous exam traps: concealment.
Candidates were shown how:
- a simple error or negligence,
- becomes dishonesty if the solicitor tries to hide it.
Examples included:
- backdating documents,
- falsifying records, or
- attempting to remove evidence of a mistake.
This section helped students understand the SRA’s “panic” red flag and why examiners treat concealment far more seriously than the original error.
Confidentiality vs Legal Professional Privilege — A Crucial Distinction
A core technical focus of the lecture was the difference between:
- Legal Professional Privilege (LPP), and
- the broader duty of confidentiality.
Students were guided through:
- why LPP is the client’s absolute right,
- when confidentiality may be overridden, and
- why public interest disclosure (including under PIDA) does not override LPP.
This is a frequent source of incorrect answers in the SQE, and the lecture focused on helping candidates identify what can never be disclosed, even where misconduct is suspected.
Free Professional Conduct Lectures (Mandatory Information)
The Academy of Smart Lawyers offers a free set of lectures on Professional Conduct, available through a free course on the SUPERexam platform.
This free course includes:
- sample SRA materials
- the Academy’s own learning resources
- additional materials kindly provided by contributors who wish to support SQE candidates
You can access these SQE free materials by registering here:
Why This Matters for SQE Revision
This lecture did not simply list rules. It showed candidates:
- how Professional Conduct issues arise in SQE exam questions,
- how duties interact and conflict,
- and how examiners expect candidates to reason through them.
This is the difference between reading ethics rules and being able to apply them under exam conditions — which is exactly what the SQE tests.
Monthly SQE Law Revision Classes – Subscription
Access our monthly SQE law revision classes for structured, exam-aware legal updates and professional discussion.
- £150 per year – standard subscription
- £100 per year – qualified solicitors who are also Academy alumni
These sessions are suitable for:
- SQE candidates,
- newly qualified solicitors, and
- practising solicitors seeking structured legal refreshers.
✔️ Proof of attendance is provided at the end of each year, which may be used to support practising certificate renewal and ongoing competence requirements.
