Introduction

What would it take for me to qualify for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE)? Do I have to go to the United Kingdom and start figuring this out from scratch?

I have a degree and license to practice from India. I do not think I am eligible for the SQE.  It is only for lawyers who are based out of England & Wales.

I am a first-generation lawyer and have practised in various courts within India. I’ve hit a plateau and do not know how to grow my practice further.

I think the SQE requires a superior degree of knowledge and acumen and it is not my cup of tea.

I want to set up a base in the UK and look forward to practising in the UK. But I do not know how to do it.

I think I am too young to start preparing for the SQE.

I have a license to practice law in India and I want to certainly clear the SQE in my first attempt. I have heard that it is a very difficult examination for a lawyer who has not practised in England & Wales.

I think clearing the SQE will help me with my clientele even if I want to continue practising in India.

I have clients who are based out of the UK. I want to be able to file cases for them.

If these questions come to your mind or resonate with you, you are at the right place.

We have solutions to all these questions. This is India’s one and only course where we prepare lawyers for the SQE.

The best part about our course is that you get an entire team to work with you for your success.

You get to put to use all your strengths only if you know how and where to use them. 

Even if you have never read laws pertaining to the UK, our experts will guide you through it and provide an anecdotal experience of the exam itself.

We will ensure that you are equipped with enough skills through regular mocks, essay writing and other sessions to appear for the examination. 

Things you would want to learn before attempting the exam

• How to fulfil eligibility conditions for SQE?
• How to approach the examination and balance time between your practice and examination?
• Sound knowledge of what works and what does not
• Ability to analyse the past year question papers and do a trend analysis
• Ability to write clear and concise analytical answers
• Ability to pass the simulation and practical examination aspects of the exam

Who should take this course?

• Anybody who has (or is currently studying) an undergraduate degree or graduate diploma in any subject (not necessarily a law degree) or equivalent degree, and wishes to qualify as a solicitor of England & Wales is allowed to sit for the SQE exam. 
• Qualified professionals with work experience as a legal practitioner in their home jurisdiction.

How is this course different from other test prep courses?

About the Examination & Examination Pattern

Overview

In early 2021, the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) of the UK decided to completely change the assessment pattern for aspiring lawyers who wished to qualify as a solicitor in England & Wales. All aspiring applicants after September 2021, will sit for the same examination.

Previously, the qualification route to becoming a solicitor in England & Wales was different for UK lawyers and foreign lawyers. With the introduction of SQE, all lawyers irrespective of jurisdiction, background and designation will only be giving one exam, i.e. the SQE. This means all aspiring solicitors, including UK university law graduates, non-graduates, apprentices, legal executives, paralegals, and qualified foreign lawyers, will sit the SQE exam.

This change to the qualification route has been introduced by the SRA so that all solicitors of England & Wales meet the same high standards in a consistent way.
 
Exam Format 

The SQE will be divided into 2 stages, the first stage must be passed before moving on to the second stage.

SQE 1 - Functioning Legal Knowledge assessment. Functioning Legal Knowledge is further divided into two exams - FLK 1 and FLK 2, which takes place over 2 days.

FLK includes the subject areas listed below. It is assessed by single best answer multiple-choice questions over a two-day period. Ethics and Professional Conduct will be examined across FLK1 and FLK2.
 
FLK1 broadly covers:

• Business Law and Practice
• Dispute Resolution
• Contract
• Tort
• Legal System of England and Wales
• Constitutional and Administrative Law and EU Law and Legal Services

FLK2 broadly covers:

• Property Practice
• Wills and the Administration of Estates
• Solicitors Accounts
• Land Law
• Trusts
• Criminal Law and Practice

Principles of taxation will be examined only in the context of:

• Business Law and Practice
• Property Law and Practice
• Wills and the Administration of Estates

In order to pass SQE1, you must achieve the overall pass mark for both FLK1 and FLK2. You will not pass SQE1 if you fail either FLK1 or FLK2.

All aspects of the SQE1 assessment are compulsory.

SQE 2 - Practical legal skills assessment

The assessment topics for SQE2 are listed below. The assessment is taken over five days and involves a combination of written and oral-based tasks. Ethics and professional conduct are assessed throughout.

Please check our Landing page for further information on SQE 2.

Career options after qualifying as a solicitor in England & Wales

Once you pass the SQE and are admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales, you can work:

• As an in-house counsel in an organisation taking care of all their legal needs;
• In private practice. This would include working in private law firms also that look after the legal needs of multiple clients;
• As a sole practitioner, setting up your own practice as a principal solicitor; and
• As law professors at a law school or university. 

Areas in which we will help you to develop knowledge and skills

• Trends analysis of Past Year Paper
• Time Management
• How to approach SQE 1

Paperwork to be submitted

Complete the online registration process for SQE assessment on the Solicitors Regulatory Authority website.

Exam Fees

The total candidate fee for the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is £3,980.

• SQE1 - £1,558
• SQE2 - £2,422

All fees are VAT exempt.

Training Methodology

Online 24/7 access

Access to basic study material through an online learning management system, Android and iOS app

MonthlyTime-table for self study and Practice Test

The monthly time-table helps you in completing your syllabus in time and there will be weekly mocks on what you have learned in the week. Also there will be 5 full length mocks on each subject so that you can self-evaluate yourself after completing a subject.

Live Online Sessions/Class

Based on the divisions of the Syllabus there will be a live video based online class. You can ask questions, share your personal feedback in this class.

Convenient Class timings

Classes are held after regular working hours ​​quadraple in a week. Typically classes are kept on i.e. Thursday, Friday & Saturday after working hours and Sunday afternoon.

Live Doubt Clearing

You can ask questions, get your doubt cleared live as well as through online forums

Certification

This course is recognized by the National Skill Development Corporation, a PPP under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship of the Government of India. You will receive a certificate cobranded by NSDC and Skill India on successful completion.

This is how the certificate from NSDC and Skill India will look as per the current applicable format (may change as per the approval authorities):

Course Description

• The targeted timeline for the Course Launch is 20th July 2022. The classes will commence from 4th August 2022.
• As the design of the Course is self Paced, the enrollment will be open thrice a year. 
• Post the Launch, the Course would be granted at a one-time payment of Rs. 81,500/- (Eighty One Thousand and Five Hundred Rupees), also on instalment basis i.e. Rs. 41,500/- (Forty One Thousand and Five Hundred Rupees) for 1st instalment and 40,000/- (Forty Thousand Rupees) for 2nd instalment. 
• The duration of the course is 1 year, access extendable for 5 years.

SQE 1 Assessment Syllabus

SQE 1 

What is the purpose and intention of the first stage of assessment:? 

The questions in SQE1 are designed to test the application of fundamental legal rules and principles at the level required of a competent newly qualified solicitor. They are not designed to test specialist practice which is unlikely to be encountered at the level of a Day One Solicitor. Questions assess central areas that are clearly covered by the FLK. 

What is Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK)?

The depth and breadth of knowledge of English and Welsh law required of candidates is that of functioning legal knowledge. This means that candidates must apply their knowledge of the law to demonstrate the competencies required to the level of a newly qualified solicitor of England and Wales. The questions in the assessments are designed to test the application of fundamental legal principles which can be expected of a newly qualified solicitor of England and Wales without reference to books and notes. They are not designed to test matters of detail that a newly qualified solicitor would be expected to look up.

Candidates will be tested on the law as it stands at the date of the assessment. They will not be assessed on the development of the law. Throughout the assessment, candidates must demonstrate their ability to act honestly and with integrity and in accordance with the Statement of Solicitor Competence, the Solicitors Regulatory Authority Principles and the Code of Conduct.

Syllabus

The SQE 1 examination comprises of 360 objective based questions including FLK 1 (180 MCQs divided into 2 exams each of 90 MCQs) and FLK 2  (180 MCQs divided into 2 exams, each of 90 MCQs). The examination is conducted on two separate days. On each day, there are two sessions of 2 hours 33 minutes each with 90 multiple-choice questions, with a 60 minute break. Exam is held in a Pearson VUE test center, in India we can find these centers at: Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Calcutta, Chennain, Chandigarh, Cochin, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Mumbai, New Delhi, Patna, Pune, and Ranchi. 

SQE 2 - Legal skills assessment

SQE 2 is divided into 2 parts i.e. Writing assessment and Oral assessment. 

SQE 2 Written assessment takes place in a Pearson VUE test center, like the SQE 1. 

SQE 2 Oral assessment takes place at ‘Oral assessment center’ either in London, Manchester, or Cardiff. 

For more details check our Landing page on SQE 2.

Examination Timeline

What Is Unique About This Course

• Personal guidance: Every candidate will be given personal attention for the preparation on their examination. This is not like a coaching center with hundreds of students in a batch, where teachers don't know your name or your dreams.
• Top-notch content: Exhaustive notes will be provided to the students so that they don’t have to purchase any other book or reading material after taking this course.
• A unique presentation of the content: Content will be presented in a color-coded format to help you to figure out important keywords and sentences. While revising, it will be easier to find out case laws, maxims, and important points related to every topic.
• Speed reading friendly content: Our content is specially designed with the help of experts to help you to read it at a much faster speed as compared to any other content.
• Smart study techniques: Every candidate will be guided about how much to study on which topic according to the importance of the topic in the examination. 
• Special tools to make learning faster and easier: Flow charts, Videos Lectures, Mind Maps, and much more. All these unique techniques which help in learning things in a faster and better way.
• Live session: Live online sessions will be conducted to discuss various important concepts with the questions as per the examination question pattern. This will help you to handle the questions at the time of examination. 
• Bank of MCQs: A bank of MCQs will be provided on every topic so that you can practice and play with them as much as you can for your preparation.
• Regular tests: There will be weekly mocks provided to you for revision purpose. 
• Self-paced: You can use reference material provided by us and prepare at your speed. There is no compulsion to attend sessions on every concept to understand it.
• Solutions to queries through various platforms: You can ask your queries to our mentors, experts, evaluators, and support team on various platforms like our Learning management system (LMS), WhatsApp groups, emails, calls, and in live sessions.
• Experts: The live sessions will be conducted by the QLTS and SQE qualified experts. 
• Time management: Personalized time management sessions will be conducted to balance your work and study.
• Actionables and Deliverables will be provided so you can come prepared in the class and can and what you have to do after the class. 
• Time-Table - Monthly  schedule for assisting your preparation.

What Will You Learn

• Understand and adopt the technique of ‘Divide and Learn’ along with the skill of ‘What to Learn and What to Leave.’
• Exhaustively cover the relevant syllabus, specifically from an examination point of view. 
• Relevant and recent case laws on all subjects from the examination point. 
• To manage your time effectively during the examination.
• Techniques to teach and research for the practical implementation of theory after cracking the examination.

Course Syllabus

FLK 1

Business Law and Practice 

- Starting a new business through the vehicle of a company, partnership, LLP or as a sole trader.
- The management of a business and company decision making to ensure compliance with statutory and other legal requirements.
- The interests, rights, obligations and powers of stakeholders in a business.
- Financing a business.
- Taxation of a business and its stakeholders.
- The termination of a solvent business, corporate insolvency and personal bankruptcy.

Topic-wise assignments for this module- 100 MCQs (indicative)

Dispute Resolution 

- Analysis of merits of claim or defence.
- Arbitration, mediation and litigation as an appropriate mechanism to resolve a dispute.
- Pre-action considerations and steps.
- Commencing, responding to or progressing a claim.
- Case management and any interim applications relevant to a claim.
- The evidence needed and disclosure steps required in commencing, responding to, progressing or defending a claim.
- Preparation of a case for a trial, the trial and any post trial steps.
- Procedures and processes relevant to costs involved in dispute resolution.

Topic-wise assignments for this module- 100 MCQs (indicative)
 
Contract Law

- Existence/formation of a contract.
- Contents of a contract.
- Causation and remoteness.
- Vitiating elements.
- Discharge of contract and remedies.
- Unjust enrichment.

Topic-wise assignments for this module- 100 MCQs (indicative)

Law of Tort

- Negligence.
- Remedies and defences.
- Occupiers’ liability.
- Product liability.
- Nuisance and the rule in Rylands v Fletcher.

Topic-wise assignments for this module- 100 MCQs (indicative)

Legal System in England and Wales 

- The Legal System of England and Wales and Sources of law.
- Constitutional and Administrative law and EU law.
- Legal services.

Topic-wise assignments for this module- 100 MCQs (indicative)

FLK 2

Property Practice 

- The key elements of a freehold and/or leasehold residential or commercial property transaction.
- Investigation of a registered or an unregistered freehold and/or leasehold title.
- Pre-contract searches and enquiries undertaken when acquiring a freehold and/or leasehold property.
- Steps in progressing a freehold and/or leasehold property transaction to exchange of contracts.
- Pre-completion steps relevant to a freehold and/or leasehold property transaction.
- Completion and post-completion steps relevant to a freehold and/or leasehold property transaction including remedies for delayed completion.
- The grant and the assignment of a commercial lease and/or underlease.
- The key lease covenants in a commercial lease and the law relating to their breach.
- Security of tenure under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 Part II.
- Taxation of property transactions through Stamp Duty Land Tax, Land Transaction Tax, Value Added Tax and Capital Gains Tax.

Topic-wise assignments for this module- 150 MCQs (indicative)
 
Wills and Administration of Estate

- The validity of a will and interpretation of the contents of a will. The distribution of testate, intestate and partially intestate estates.
- The law and practice in connection with an application for a grant of representation.
- The law and practice of Inheritance Tax in the context of lifetime gifts and transfers on death.
- The planning, management and progression of the administration of an estate including claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
- The law and practice relating to personal representatives and trustees in the administration of estates and consequent trusts. The rights, powers and remedies of beneficiaries of wills and consequent trusts.

Topic-wise assignments for this module- 150 MCQs (indicative)

Solicitors Accounts

- Transactions involving client money and money belonging to the authorised body.
- Operation of ledgers and bank accounts; the payment of interest.
- Breaches of the SRA Accounts Rules.
- Accounting entries required; bills; obtaining and delivery of accountants’ reports; obligations regarding record-keeping.

Topic-wise assignments for this module- 100 MCQs (indicative)

Land Laws

- ​​Registered and unregistered land.
- Freehold and leasehold estates, and legal and equitable interests in land.
- Landlord and tenant.
- Co-ownership.

Topic-wise assignments for this module- 150 MCQs (indicative)

Trusts

- Express and implied trusts.
- The fiduciary relationship.
- Trustees’ duties, powers and liability.
- Equitable remedies.

Topic-wise assignments for this module- 100 MCQs (indicative)

Criminal Law and Practice 

- The core principles of criminal liability including actus reus and mens rea, specific and general defences, and participation.
- The law, procedure and processes involved in advising a client at the police station.
- The law, procedure and processes involved in pre-trial considerations.
- The law, procedure and processes involved to meet the client’s objectives.
- The law, procedure and processes involved in magistrates’ court and Crown Court trials, including sentencing and appeals.

Topic-wise assignments for this module- 150 MCQs (indicative)

Ethics, professionalism and judgment

- The purpose, scope and content of the SRA Principles
- The purpose, scope and content of the Code of Conduct, which consists of:
      - SRA Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs and RFLs
      - SRA Code of Conduct for Firms in relation to:
           - Managers in authorised firms
           - Compliance Officers.

Topic-wise assignments for this module- 100 MCQs (indicative)

Hard copies will be provided free of charge, post October, 2022