Comprehensive SQE1 Prep Course and Mentorship Programme for French-Speaking Candidates Qualifying as Solicitors of England & Wales
JULY 2025 AND JANUARY 2026 STUDY GROUPS NOW ENROLLING!
✓ SQE 1 prep course from the Academy of Smart Lawyers (also known as OSCEsmart®)
✓ Assistance with SQE2 exemption applications or further SQE 2 preparation
✓ English Language Lessons (on demand) focusing on Legal English
✓ Complete guidance and mentorship from prominent dual-qualified mentors
✓ Lifelong membership in the Global Community of Smart Lawyers
Best for candidates from: France 🇫🇷, Monaco 🇲🇨, Belgium 🇧🇪, Switzerland 🇨🇭,
Luxembourg 🇱🇺, Canada (Quebec) 🇨🇦
Why English law?
Knowledge of English law and the Solicitor’s qualification provides many advantages.
Some of them are:
Gaining Common Law Clients: English law extends beyond England, serving as the legal origin for approximately 80 other common law countries worldwide. It is also the preferred choice of law in international contracts, making it a pivotal asset in global legal practices.
Working Around the Globe: The qualification of Solicitors of England and Wales is one of the most internationally recognised, offering extensive work opportunities across the globe. This global acknowledgment opens doors to diverse legal markets and enhances career mobility.
Obtaining a Job Promotion: Many dual-qualified solicitors achieve significant career advancements post-qualification. They often rise to CEO and other managerial positions in-house or become partners in law firms, demonstrating the high value and versatility of their qualifications.
Becoming a Qualified Lawyer: The qualification can be adapted to an Irish or Swiss one with certain formalities. The Irish solicitor means to become an EU lawyer. Further, being an English solicitor simplifies qualifying in other countries, including France, English and Welsh solicitors can also register to practise UK and public international law in Luxembourg. Check your jurisdiction’s requirements.
If you’re any of the following, this opportunity is for you:
How to qualify as a solicitor in the UK?
1. Pass SQE 1 Law Exam
2. Pass the SQE2 Skills Exam or Obtain an SQE2 Exemption: Lawyers from Luxembourg, Belgium, and Switzerland (Vaud) are exempt from the SQE2. Lawyers from other Swiss regions (Zurich, Geneva, Basel-Landschaft), Canada (Quebec), and French Avocats may apply for individual exemptions from the SQE2.
3. Gain 2 Years of QWE: Qualified lawyers are not required to demonstrate 2 years of qualifying work experience (QWE).
Introducing SQE French Study Group of the Academy of Smart Lawyers!
Both Academy alumni and highly recognised professionals in England and France, Catherine and Mathieu have successfully passed the exam and now bring a wealth of experience to our SQE French Study Group at the Academy of Smart Lawyers. They create unique opportunities for aspiring solicitors from France, Monaco, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Canada (Quebec)!
Guided Progress: Catherine and Mathieu provide gentle but firm guidance to ensure candidates adhere to their chosen study plans. This support is crucial in today’s busy world, where candidates must balance their main job or studies with family and social responsibilities. Their approach not only helps maintain motivation and focus but also keeps you firmly on track, ensuring you remain aligned with your study objectives and preventing any deviation from set goals.
Cultural and Legal Bridge: As mentors who share your legal and cultural background, they can explain complex English legal concepts in familiar terms, enhancing your understanding through comparisons. This tailored approach helps clarify any confusion and deepens your comprehension.
First-Hand SQE Insights: Having successfully navigated the SQE themselves, Catherine and Mathieu offer effective exam guidance, insights, and share valuable preparation techniques and strategies. They equip you with the tools needed for success, providing a clear path through the complexities of the SQE1 exam.
Meet your mentors
The Academy tutors and mentors dedicated to teaching you how to pass SQE and open career opportunities.
Help at every stage towards qualifying as a solicitor in the UK
The Academy tutors and mentors dedicated to teaching you how to pass SQE, get better and open career opportunities.
SQE1 Exam Insights:
Understand the methodology, requirements and marking criteria
Personalised SQE1 Study Plan:
Customised to meet your needs and target your chosen exam sitting
Continuous Mentor Support:
Ongoing guidance and advice from experienced mentors
Flexible Resource Access:
Anytime access to recorded lectures and live session recordings
Interactive Live Sessions:
Law updates, Q&A, MCQ analysis & exploration of complex legal concepts
Enhanced Study Notes:
Focused synopsis notes with an integrated note-making tool
Realistic Practice MCQs:
Exam-like MCQs and a web interface with authentic exam features
Monthly French Mentorship:
Sessions to keep you on track, provided in French if required
Legal English Classes (on Demand):
Available as needed to improve your legal English
SQE1 preparation course
Our preparation strategy is built upon three foundational pillars designed to optimise learning and mastery of legal concepts.
Recorded lectures with Synopsis Notes
Recorded Law Lectures: Utilising team-teaching, our sessions feature at least two experienced solicitors discussing legal concepts, citing relevant cases, and sharing their practical insights. Each topic is broken down into indexed 15-minute videos for targeted and efficient learning.
Visualised Synopsis Notes: Our notes employ structured visual aids to enhance comprehension, allowing students to quickly process and retain information effectively.
Live revision sessions
Interactive Live-Group Sessions: We conduct regular live online sessions for interactive revision and discussion. These sessions focus on updating legal knowledge, addressing student queries, and tackling complex multiple-choice questions (MCQs) while sharing effective exam strategies.
Mocks
In addition to the 1,200 MCQs included in the SQE Prep & Practise Manual developed by Oxford University Press, we are continually developing MCQs that accurately reflect the style, complexity, and length of questions found in the actual SQE exam, all presented through an exam-like interface.
We offer two types of MCQ bundles:
1. Testing Format (Exam Format): Provides feedback at the end of the session, simulating the exam experience.
2. Training Format: Offers the correct answer with an explanation immediately after each question, aiding in instant learning and understanding.
Legal English Lessons (Available on demand)
Test of Legal English Skills (TOLES) — Bartosz Rogala, one of our experienced graduates and a dual-qualified solicitor and Polish advocate, is leading a TOLES course. With 8 years of experience teaching legal English, Bartosz offers an excellent foundation for your SQE journey, whether you begin before starting or during the early stages of your preparation. We provide a special integration of the TOLES course with your SQE1 prep package, granting you additional access to materials. Available for an additional fee, this combination allows you to effectively prepare for both the TOLES and SQE1 exams.
What makes Academy of Smart Lawyers different?
Our unique blend of culturally attuned mentorship, practical learning experiences tailored to each candidate, and first-hand exam success strategies, ensuring every student is equipped for success in the exam.
Price and packages
Pay for the course package only and join our French study group with all its benefits for FREE!
| SQE1 Pack FLK1 & FLK2 | Pre-recorded lectures | No of lectures | Flashcards | Interactive live-revision lectures | OUP SQE Prep & Practise (12 months) |
| Criminal Practice | ✓ | 4 | ✓ | 1 | ✓ |
| Criminal Law | ✓ | 3 | ✓ | 1 | ✓ |
| Trust | ✓ | 3 | ✓ | 1 | ✓ |
| Land Law | ✓ | 3 | ✓ | 1 | ✓ |
| Property Practice | ✓ | 4 | ✓ | 1 | ✓ |
| Wills and the Administration of Estates | ✓ | 4 | ✓ | 1 | ✓ |
| Solicitors Accounts | ✓ | 1 | ✓ | 1 | ✓ |
| Tort | ✓ | 3 | ✓ | 1 | ✓ |
| Contract | ✓ | 4 | ✓ | 1 | ✓ |
| Dispute Resolution | ✓ | 4 | ✓ | 1 | ✓ |
| Business Law and Practice | ✓ | 4 | ✓ | 1 | ✓ |
| Constitutional and Administrative Law & EU Law | ✓ | 3 | ✓ | 1 | ✓ |
| English Legal System | ✓ | 1 | ✓ | 1 | ✓ |
| Legal Services | ✓ | 1 | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Individual study plan | ✓ | ||||
| Meeting with your personal mentor |
✓ | ||||
| Price | £1435 | £325 | £450 | ||
| Total price | £2260 | ||||
| Discount | £460 |
Currently open: SQE 1 Jan’25 and July’25 French Study Groups
Our past students say
Academy of Smart Lawyers has been around since late 2016, so about eight-ish years. We’ve been lucky enough to serve over 330+ SQE candidates.
Here some of our students tell about us.
“What helped me a lot was going through the slides you put together. They provided a clear outline of what I would be assessed on, covering every key point in detail. This approach was incredibly beneficial for me. Your prep really focuses on exam success.”
“I owe my success to OSCEsmart (now Academy of Smart Lawyers). I passed thanks to your helpful notes, video lectures, and personalised feedback. The combination of your comprehensive materials not only helped me grasp crucial concepts but also provided valuable tips.”
“I tried to pass this exam twice… For my second preparation, I just followed the exact instructions and slides that are given on your platform. I’m very thankful to your school for all very useful suggestions that I have received from you – thank you!”
FAQs
Have any questions? We are here to answer them all.
What is the French SQE study group?
The French SQE Study Group is a dedicated programme designed for French-speaking candidates preparing for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). It offers tailored resources, mentorship, and support, all delivered in French to enhance understanding and success in the exam. This group provides a community and structured learning environment that aligns with the unique needs of French-speaking legal professionals aiming to qualify as solicitors in England and Wales.
What is the SQE 1 and TOLES course?
The SQE 1 (Solicitors Qualifying Examination Part 1) is a comprehensive assessment that tests a candidate’s legal knowledge required to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales.
The TOLES (Test of Legal English Skills) is an additional course focused on enhancing legal English proficiency. It is specifically designed for law professionals and students who need to work confidently in an English-speaking legal environment. At our Academy, we offer the TOLES as a preliminary step or concurrently with the early stages of the SQE1 preparation. This approach helps students strengthen their legal English skills, ensuring they are well-prepared to understand and tackle the complexities of law required for the SQE1.
How is the study group format different from the non-study group format?
The study group format offers a collaborative and structured approach to SQE preparation, distinguished primarily by the active role of mentors. Mentors in the study group:
- supervise participants,
- keep them on track with their studies, and
- provide crucial assistance with exam strategies and techniques.
This support is tailored to ensure all group members receive the guidance they need to navigate the SQE successfully. In contrast, the non-study group format typically provides a more self-directed learning experience without the scheduled start dates or the collaborative and guided environment of the study groups. Participants in study groups benefit from regular engagement with their mentors and peers, which enhances their learning and preparation. Study groups generally have fixed start dates, usually in December and April, to ensure a coordinated and uniform progression through the course material.
Is there an additional cost for joining the French Study Group?
Joining the French Study Group does not incur any additional costs beyond the subscription to Package A (FLK1 & FLK2), which is priced at £1800. This subscription covers a period of 13 months and includes access to the French Study Group along with other comprehensive resources and support for your SQE preparation.
Will I speak to mentors only, or will I be guided by the whole Academy of Smart Lawyers team?
All lectures, including live sessions, are delivered by the whole Academy. You are encouraged to ask questions and suggest legal concepts to be covered during these live sessions. In addition to these interactions, you will also have a dedicated mentor specifically assigned to your study group. This mentor will provide tailored study support and guide you throughout the preparation process, ensuring a comprehensive and supportive learning experience.
How is the mentorship conducted?
Mentorship is primarily provided in a group format. You will participate in monthly group sessions focused on discussing SQE1 preparation strategies, receiving tips, and obtaining tailored recommendations. Specific one-to-one mentorship sessions, particularly concerning your personalised study plan, may occasionally be arranged based on the mentor’s discretion and availability.
Get ready to qualify as Solicitors of England & Wales TODAY!
How to join the French SQE Study Group and mentorship programme of the Academy of Smart Lawyers?
1. Schedule a call with us (Optional): Arrange a time to discuss your needs and ask any questions.
2. Register: Sign up to create your account.
3. Choose ‘Groupe d’étude en français (Mentorship)
4. Purchase the “Package A FLK1 & FLK2”
5. We will contact you & assign a study plan: Once you’ve registered, we will reach out to assign you to a suitable study plan.
