How to pass the SQE while working
Looking to qualify as a solicitor while working? Read the blog to hear how Emily Ross is gaining professional experience while tackling the SQE exams.
Wondering what it’s like to work while studying for the SQE?
The SQE is a highly flexible training route, allowing you to qualify in a way that suits you. Studying while working is a great way to gain practical experience and skills in order to ace the challenging SQE exams.
Working in law while completing the SQE can help you by:
Allowing you to earn money to fund your qualification
Work towards the two-year qualifying work experience (QWE) requirement
Gain valuable experience in the profession
To give you an insight into what it’s like working while preparing for the SQE, we spoke to Emily Ross, a graduate solicitor apprentice at AstraZeneca.
Read the student’s guide to the SQE.
What is a graduate solicitor apprenticeship?
A graduate solicitor apprenticeship is a new route to qualify as a solicitor for graduates. Like a traditional apprenticeship, this route combines on-the-job learning with dedicated study days. This new pathway means that candidates can avoid having to apply for a competitive training contract.
Emily started her graduate solicitor apprenticeship in September 2021 after completing a law and politics degree.
The 30-month programme involves her working four days a week at AstraZeneca, with one day allocated to complete the SQE1&2 Preparation (Diploma). At the end of the programme, Emily will have gained a Level 7 qualification, equivalent to a Master’s degree. She will also have become a fully qualified solicitor.
Emily Ross, Graduate Solicitor Apprentice at AstraZeneca
What is your day-to-day like?
It’s hugely varied, and every day is very different. But saying that, my role within the company is to help mitigate legal risk. I work for the marketing company – we market, in the UK, the pharmaceutical products that come from the pipeline. So I undertake a lot of contract review of digital campaigns, ad boards and podcasts, for instance. I’m also involved in litigation, although I can’t speak too much about ongoing court cases, of course. I set up meetings with external counsel and help review witness statements.
What are the challenges of working while studying for the SQE?
Juggling work and study was a big one. I love to give 100% to my work, so found it quite challenging to completely detach on that one study day and not get distracted by emails coming through or what was going on at work. Another challenge was trying not to burn out. In my case, I’d just moved to London, had lots of friends here, a very busy job and the SQE demands a lot. So, managing my social, work and study life was certainly a challenge.
What are the SQE1 exams like?
With the SQE1, I would say that the BPP preparation helped me massively and put me in a very good place to sit the exam. Nonetheless, there were still a few questions in there which you couldn’t have foreseen from the specification, as it’s quite broad in scope. Some of the questions were also extremely long – so when you come across that, try not to get flustered and just remind yourself that all you have to do is read it thoroughly. Most of the hard work’s already been done by the time you approach the exam, so what’s important is to keep calm and go over the things that you don’t know too well. You’ll be surprised at how much your brain can hold and recall during the exam, even if it’s been a few weeks since you last revised that topic.
What are the SQE2 exams like?
For SQE2, practise was the most important thing. With BPP, we sat a lot of mocks in the weeks leading up to the exams. The key thing on this exam is being confident in the skills tested. Even if on the day you blank on the law, having those skills down will help get your mark up. I found myself recording myself speaking and asking colleagues at work to pretend to be clients to practise the exercises in the past papers.
How did you balance studying for the SQE while working?
On study days, what I did was to try and tackle topics I struggled with early on in the day when my mind was fresh. My attention span is generally better in the morning, and it’s quite nice to be able to say that by lunchtime, you’ve done the hard work for the day. I also reached out to BPP tutors and attended any extra study sessions that were running for my problem topics.
What part of the SQE did you enjoy?
During the SQE2, I quite enjoyed being able to showcase my flair, something which you don’t get the opportunity to do with the MCQs on the SQE1. That was quite rewarding. Moreover, having done numerous interviews during my time at AstraZeneca, it was definitely the more relatable component.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to qualify through the SQE?
Practise, practise, practise. In the days before the exams, when you’re feeling tired, just remind yourself that it’s the final stretch, and push through, you’re so close!
Final thoughts
Under the new SQE route to qualification, you can tailor your pathway to qualification in a way that works for you. If you’re looking to work while studying for the SQE, you could become a solicitor by:
Applying for a graduate solicitor apprenticeship with an employer
Completing an SQE preparation course part-time while working in a relevant legal role
