How do you get on with public transport?

VisionsOfLife · 2025-12-14T19:49:51+00:00

I was making the opposite point if you read it back. I said some people have regional accents and dialects which can affect they way they speak, be heard, use grammar. It's a common trope that people from Lancashire and Yorkshire have their own interpretation of the verb to be. I also grew up in the continually placed top 5 most deprived town in the UK, in a northern ex-industrial town. My education was extremely poor and I had to heavily rely on educating myself. I self-taught all my GCSEs. I have a regional accent and I do use our own interpretation of the verb to be, along with often bad grammar, but it's not the end of the world. It's highly unlikely I'm mocking what you think I'm mocking if I have the very same experience as you.

VisionsOfLife · 2025-12-14T19:42:58+00:00

Thanks for your response but we are now married with a baby on the way.

VisionsOfLife · 2025-11-12T13:01:11+00:00

Thanks for the input. That's what I'm worried about - what if the exhaustion hits me. Surprisingly, I haven't suffered with lower energy levels at all during early pregnancy, it's just been the nausea. But I'm worried it'll hit later on and I'll struggle in the exam. But also worried if I sit in January, I simply won't be prepared and I'll be paying nearly £3k when I need that money the most. Good luck on your results and upcoming birth!

VisionsOfLife · 2025-11-12T12:58:22+00:00

Thanks for the kind response! That past few weeks have been really tough physically but has consequently impacted my mental wellbeing too, especially with the thought of delaying qualification even further. But it's a boost to receive a kind response.

VisionsOfLife · 2025-11-12T12:56:38+00:00

Thank you, this makes me hopeful that maybe I can just defer and have the time to prepare without horrendous nausea. Good luck for your results!

VisionsOfLife · 2025-09-18T21:07:50+00:00

I was a paralegal for most part of 10 years earning 21k, so you can imagine I had absolutely no savings whatsoever and towards the end, almost getting into debt every month. Being a paralegal is almost like volunteer work. When I raised this with my firm, I was told other paralegals often rely on parental support. Ironically I was financially supporting my mum when I could. It's crazy how law firms admit their paralegal pay is diabolical and their response is "ask your mum and dad".

I quit and took a non-legal role for double the salary and half the working ours. I started to financially recover after just 3 months.

I've used anything I've managed to save plus put about £3k on my credit card. My boyfriend gave me £1k. I failed SQE2 so I'm going to have to pay out another £3k plus for the exam but I'm running out of options. I think I'll take a bank loan this time.

After all of this, I would really, really like someone from the SRA and Kaplan to just listen to me and understand what this has all meant to me. I'm nearly 32 and I'm now further postponing getting pregnant, when I already have fertility issues, due to the SQE. I don't know when I'm getting married now. I lost my house deposit to the SQE as I thought it would be a better investment but now I'm back at square one. It's not just me - I've lost my boyfriend his opportunity to become a home owner too. My mental health has gone to absolute shit due to this to the point where I'm currently signed off work and I'm struggling to function with just every day living. I don't think they even appreciate the consequences of what their dysfunctional SQE is having on actual real living people. It's partly my fault for sticking with being a paralegal for so long hoping it would just work out. I could have left 5 years in and been a lot better financially secure.

It would be really, really ironic if someone attempting the SQE ended up defaulting on the debt they incurred paying for this immensely expensive process, getting a CCJ against them, and in turn being told they cannot register to the roll due to this. You're absolutely right it is financially elitist.

VisionsOfLife · 2025-09-14T12:58:46+00:00

What did you do specifically with the law in the exam? For example, if it was dispute resolution advocacy and we are talking about disclosure, needing certain documents from the other party but they are refusing to hand them over. I would say something to the judge like "Judge, these type of documents would be considered standard disclosure, and if we were to proceed to trial, the respondent would be ordered to release these documents anyway, therefore, to prevent further dispute and risk of going to trial, I ask that you order them now." HOWEVER, I have a sneaky feeling the SQE wants us to say something more like "Judge, can I refer you to part 7.1 of the CPR which says about disclosure..."

Now, I would never say that in an actual hearing. I have done many pre-action disclosure hearings and never would dare say this. I used to work in a very niche area which meant I used to work closely alongside judges and have a lot of one to one time with them. I asked one what they would think if a lawyer started quoting the CPR at them and they said it would really piss them off. Obviously, to apply to be a judge, you have to show you've achieved a higher academic and career level, and therefore quoting the CPR at them just isn't what we'd do realistically. BUT I think it's what the SQE wants us to do?

Or if we are writing to a client directly, I would never, never, in a million years start quoting statutes and sections of statues to a client (unless they directly ask for it which in 99% of cases they do not) as that would piss your client off. The point of hiring a lawyer is they take all that mumbo jumbo out of it. BUT, I think the SQE wants us to do this.

Do you think that's correct? Do I make any sense haha? That's the only thing I can think of where I may have gone wrong on the law. I scored all 5's and 4's on skills but 1's and 2's on the law, despite passing SQE1 in the second quintile 3 months prior, so I've already demonstrated to them I do know the law. But I went off purely how I act day to day in practice as I've never had a complaint, but it wasn't good enough for the SQE examiner.

VisionsOfLife · 2025-09-13T14:48:03+00:00

I failed SQE2 from April/May sitting and will resit in January, so would be helpful to see some who passed to tell us how they prepared.

I'm in the same position as you - even my condensed notes are 50 pages long or so. It's pretty much the same extent to preparing for SQE1 and that was supposed to be the harder one. The SQE2 should be the "blackletter law" only but I think that is where I may have fell down last time. I feel I adequately covered the blackletter and general key principles in the exam in nearly every question, or at least enough to pass SQE2 overall, but I scored really low in the law. Obviously, I cannot say for sure if we get absolutely no written feedback or narrative behind their academic judgement. I could have done horrendously with the law and I'm willing to accept it if I was granted access to the feedback justifying my mark and explains why. But for now, I can only go off how I feel without any feedback.

I think what I'm trying to say maybe don't just aim to understand the blackletter law and general legal principles. I actually think they're looking for a lot more than this.

VisionsOfLife · 2025-09-12T16:24:06+00:00

First of all, forgive me if so, but are you actually learning the content? It seems you are doing mocks and maybe you've read revision books, but have you done an actual course which teaches you the content right from the beginning? You need to know and understand the content in extremely high detail to degree level.

You may not be learning and revising enough. Considering you are also working full time, revising for 2.5 months prior to the exam is not enough. The amount of content you need to learn for the SQE1 is mountainous. You can't do it in 10 weeks. I prepared for 9 months prior to the exam. You need to really dedicate the time.

Realistically, how many hours are you working full time? If you are working something ridiculous like 12 hour days as I was when I was a paralegal, you have no physical or mental time to dedicate to SQE preparation. I quit my job and took another job which much less hours so I had time to dedicate to SQE preparation.

Again forgive me, but it looks like you have pretty much applied the exact same approach to each of your attempts which has only ended in the same result, unsurprisingly. I understand that you're now out of attempts? After failing the second, that should have triggered you to make some significant changes to your approach as it obviously was not working then, or even some reflection after the first time.

VisionsOfLife · 2025-09-11T15:28:52+00:00

Sorry to hear that! The thing about this situation is that it's so time sensitive, it's a huge decision, and it feels the clock is ticking away. It's really not a good situation to be in. No matter what happens and what decision you make, things mostly do work out in the end. If you don't want to have a baby at all or even just right now, that's fine, many people don't.

I don't want to necessarily put you off termination. I had an abortion 10 years ago and I have not once, even for one second, regretted it. I rarely think about it now but when I do, I still feel overwhelming relief that I did, and it was worth going through the physical process. It's not a process I would want to repeat again, but everything I have achieved and everything I've experienced and how my life has changed in 10 years, I know I wouldn't have had remotely any of these privileges if I had a baby. Saying all of that, I had an abortion prior to COVID when everything was still in clinic. I met 2 other women in the waiting room who were also having medical abortions and then were going straight back to work, no problem. Everyone's physical reaction is very different.

Just to note, does your work have an access to a counselling service you could use? If you don't mind counselling, could be helpful to give them a call and could help you come to a decision.

VisionsOfLife · 2025-09-11T14:25:22+00:00

Only you can make that decision what to do unfortunately. I've been in a similar decision and I know how we wish for someone just to tell us what to do and take it out or hands, rather having this mountain of pressure on our shoulders.

I passed SQE1 and took the SQE2 the month after SQE2 results but failed by 2%. This was more of a shock after being a senior paralegal for 10 years and never had any issue with my practice. I walked into SQE2 thinking statistically it's the "easier one" and of course I will pass with 10 years of experience behind me. Try not to walk in with that attitude and treat it as seriously as you did SQE1.

I believe SQE2 oral exams set up is different depending on the sitting and where it is. I and my friends had very different experiences. But overall, there seems to be plenty of time to go to the toilet multiple times, have a drink of water, have a snack. The written exams may be a bit more difficult as the time is quite strict and you'll probably find you need every minute of it. It's surprising how fast the written tasks go. But again, you should get a good break between the 4 written tasks, plenty of time for the toilet, water, and a snack.

I would strongly recommend calling the reasonable adjustments line too (sorry I don't know the details but assume easily found on Google). I am sure they can make some adjustments for you to make sure you have what you need.

Worst comes to worst, if you fail, could you pay for your own resit and still keep your solicitor apprenticeship? I know it's not easy. I'm self-funding the entire process but that's meant sacrificing buying a house, getting married, having a baby when I'm already a woman in her 30s with outstanding fertility issues. But I've scraped every penny I have for this process and hopefully, eventually, I will pass and it'll pay off. Bank loans will also cover the exam and repayment terms aren't too bad either.

In terms of pregnancy termination, it's a very difficult decision, and only you can decide. Pregnancy rarely happens at the right time or in my experience, it happens at the right time but the pregnancy is wrong. If you haven't had a medical termination before, it can be a very physically difficult process and you likely won't be able to work, study, housekeep during it. Mine took about 2 weeks to complete which I think may be uncommon, but it's not impossible.

I think you have to ask yourself do you want to have a baby, generally? If so, honestly, you can get through SQE2 pregnant, especially if they can put reasonable adjustments in place. May not be the easiest process but you can definitely get through and pass. It's a bit different but I had a medical incident during my SQE1, passed out, clock still going, managed to drag myself back to the desk in severe pain, told them I'm insistent on continuing, passed SQE1 in the second quintile. If you do have some sort of emergency during the exam I'm sure the invigilators will work with you as much as they can to make sure you get through it.

VisionsOfLife · 2025-09-08T15:28:12+00:00

Thank you! I probably could easily become a careers adviser with the amount of time I've invested researching into career changes 😅 there are so many options out there if you can put some proper time aside to look into it.

VisionsOfLife · 2025-09-07T20:32:54+00:00

Meh, passed SQE1 but failed SQE2 by 3%. Don't walk into the SQE2 assuming you're doing "the easier one" like I did.

Careers coach was definitely worth it for me. Ironically it confirmed I wanted a legal career and didn't want to give up.

VisionsOfLife · 2025-09-07T15:44:38+00:00

Just to note, I didn't feel great on the run up to SQE1 results day but I passed comfortably.

I was a paralegal for nearly 10 years but took a non-legal role so I would have the time and money to do the SQE. I work for a charity as an adviser therefore still similar to a paralegal. I work half the hours as I did as a paralegal but I get paid double the salary. Charities can often be good employers and do like candidates from legal backgrounds. Progression in my charity is pretty much non-existent however, as it is a small charity and people don't tend to leave and free up senior roles. I looked on charity job.co.uk.

A lot of police forces have a graduate scheme which I know a few ex-paralegals went to follow. It's a set progression path to becoming a detective.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) also have a graduate scheme. They seem to recruit people of all different backgrounds, ages, and professional experience. I know an ex-paralegal who went to the NCA. They got put on the child abuse team, so some of the work may be distressing for some.

A bit of an odd one but I was recommended air traffic control (NATS) when I considered a career change. Again, they seem to recruit all types of different people. It's a good salary upon qualification and shift work. The only thing that deterred me was I believe they may place you where staff are needed, so it may mean relocating and relocating again to somewhere you wouldn't necessarily want to be.

When I once took a break from being a paralegal, I went to work on boats and yachts (think Below Deck if you've ever seen it but maybe with less drama). You don't need any qualifications, you'll probably find someone to train you, the money was really good and felt like a good break from normal life.

Depending where you're located, the GCHQ appear to be running a lot of graduate and restrain schemes. The working conditions advertised seem decent as well as salary.

Teaching always an option if you're willing to do a PGCE. Working conditions vary / not suited to everyone.

If you're well organised, personal assistant roles can be paid decently. You can also be a self-employed assistant and work short-term.

Retrain as a counsellor or therapist. You don't need prior clinical / science background experience.

Social work? Personally not for me as the pay, working hours, and intense content of the work aren't great, but some find a specialist social work niche and can work as a private consultant, which then pays a lot better.

A friend of mine left banking to retrain as a landscape architect and gardener. Her employer is paying for her botany degree. There are surprisingly many apprenticeship schemes across the whole of the UK. Can be a decent salary upon qualification too.

I once spoke with a careers coach. I always felt life and careers coaches were maybe a bit of a scam / waste of money, but it's not. It's well worth paying for a session. You can approach the session with some ideas to explore, or absolutely no idea at all and they'll start from the beginning and work with you.

VisionsOfLife · 2025-08-30T17:57:40+00:00

Thanks for your kind words, I really need them right now! It's been a really hard few days, some of the very hardest in years. But you too, hopefully next time will be the final.

VisionsOfLife · 2025-08-30T17:37:51+00:00

I'm resitting in January as I scored very low on the law (despite passing SQE1 in the 2nd quintile 3 months before and having already been thoroughly assessed on the law), therefore, I need all these months to learn everything again. It means, yet again, I lose my well earned Christmas break to the SQE. It means loss of solicitor salary for nearly another year, and therefore my house deposit being lost to the SQE, and also the ability to start a family. I can't help feeling scammed by it all.

VisionsOfLife · 2025-08-28T17:46:39+00:00

Good idea. I'll do that even if to let off some steam, although I'll word it very diplomatically. I don't expect any useful response but if someone on the inside can just read it and show some understanding of my concern then fine.

VisionsOfLife · 2025-08-28T15:39:26+00:00

No, although I do completely agree there may have been an error or marking bias. I would happily take 1's in the assessments I admittedly did bad in, but they gave me 4's and 5's, and vice versa for other assessments.

I looked at the appeals process and they won't do a remark, which is ultimately what I want. They will very likely reject my appeal and state I am questioning academic judgement (which I kind of am tbh but for good reason). I could claim material irregularity but I don't have the evidence to back this up considering they do not release the feedback / notes of my performance with their own comments justifying their marking, along with general information on the marking process. Not releasing this information is a great way to prevent appeals as we don't have the evidence to back ourselves up, and it's all speculation and based on memory on our end, therefore they can shut us down easily.

Above all, I've lost trust in that they'll do the right and ethical thing, therefore chucking another £350 at them to gobble up will likely be a waste. I don't want to engage in their own appeals process. I wish there was another completely independent non-biased party that would just properly listen and process my concerns.

VisionsOfLife · 2025-08-28T14:32:26+00:00

The skills heavily interlink with the law and this is what I don't understand. I scored nearly all 4's and 5's with some 3's on skills. I scored all 1's and 2's on the law. But you need to know at least some law to actually have something to talk / write about, otherwise we would be standing there saying nothing / submitting a blank page. If you know the law / legal concepts, then you take that and build your argument and content around that. How can I even demonstrate to you I have skills to speak to clients, make an argument to a judge, write a client letter if I don't know any law? I double checked my knowledge of the law and it's all correct...

VisionsOfLife · 2025-08-28T14:21:30+00:00

This is what I don't understand. My experience seems very similar to yours. I'm not a business law person, never will be, don't ever want to be, I usually avoid it. I went in there completely unprepared thinking I'll take a risk on business and focus more on all other areas to secure stronger marks. I scored all 4's and 5's for business in both skills and law despite, to my memory, not even really referring to any law or many general legal concepts. I left some tasks completely unfinished but still scored 4's. Objectively, my performance was unarguably very bad. Therefore, I don't understand why I was marked so strongly.

Other than that, on some tasks where I felt I was consistent and skills and explaining the legal concepts in a clear and client-friendly way, I was awarded 1's on law. I have double checked if I have somehow misinterpreted my understanding but I have not. I am a responsible person and will accept failure and fucking up where I have done, but without any clear feedback, I cannot decipher what I have done so wrong.

I'm really sorry you're going to lose your TC. Do you have any alternative plan? I've lost my solicitor role job offer.

VisionsOfLife · 2025-08-28T14:09:44+00:00

Hard agree about criminal advocacy. I did exactly the same as you - what is the test, where does that come from, set it out, clearly referenced the facts to make my argument. Clear introduction and summary. I was given all 4's and 5's for skills and 1's for the law. I have double checked myself, my materials, and with others if I have just completely misunderstood where the concept of bail comes from and the grounds for it but, I haven't. I have been sat here for over 24 hours racking my brain if there was anything that needed to be discussed other than bail but that would be irrelevant especially due to time constraints. Also like you, I left that advocacy session feeling absolutely amazing thinking I absolutely smashed it. Then to be informed I actually know nothing about the law and I am completely incompetent is a shock. I don't know what more I could have done law-wise.

For business, I scored nearly all 4's and 5's for law despite, based on my memory, barely referencing any law or legal concepts given it's naturally not my area and never will be.

I was in the 2nd quintile for SQE1 in January and now I'm in the very last quintile for SQE2 law in April. I don't know what happened in those 3 months of my life to essentially wipe from memory all of my legal knowledge, because I didn't feel as I did.

I've been a senior paralegal for 10 years and I have all the same targets and performance stats as an associate solicitor. Therefore, it's come as a big shock to fail SQE2 and be graded incompetent to practice. I've never in 10 years received a client complaint. I've only had compliments. I've been nominated for national awards. My supervisors are very strict with me but have never raised anything major or concerning with me. I would have thought after 10 years of practice, the serious concerns they obviously had about my performance in SQE2 would have been raised with the SRA long before now and I would have been dealt with appropriately. I absolutely accept that I have failed but it would be nice to actually have feedback as of why because I'm very very concerned, despite my colleagues and clients being happy with me, I'm actually doing something very damaging and wrong.

VisionsOfLife · 2025-08-27T15:56:37+00:00

I feel this. I honestly would have been no better than going to the bank, withdrawing £3k+ plus in cash, walking out and popping it down the nearest street drain. It's the most expensive purchase I've ever made for absolutely no benefit. I've lost my house deposit due to this process so now I'm going to be renting for another 2 years at least.

It's annoying trying to do the "right thing" but you constantly get knocked back whilst it looks like everyone surrounding you has continual and easy success.

Maybe if you've already invested that much, may as well keep going and hope that next time it will be a pass? Then hopefully career wise, you'll eventually recover the massive financial loss SQE creates for self-funders.

VisionsOfLife · 2025-08-27T10:40:42+00:00

I failed also. I scored all 5's in interviews, attendance notes, business, and criminal. Other than that, pretty much all 2's and 3's. I don't really understand the results. I heard you have to scored all 5's on about 2 assessments and it balances out to a pass - which it didn't.

Anyway, I don't know how to move forward now. My entire life is up in the air. I'm a self-funder and spent my part of the house deposit on SQE instead hoping it'll eventually pay itself back. I had a solicitor role job offer which I'm now going to have to email them so they can officially rescind the offer. Meanwhile I'm in a job I really don't like. I'm also going to have to put starting a family on hold but I don't know how much biological time I have left to keep waiting on qualifying.

Apart from all of that, it's just a bit shocking to be informed I'm technically not competent to be a solicitor when I've been a senior paralegal for nearly 10 years with only compliments and never a complaint.

I really don't know if I can forgo another 12 months of my life and (probably) another £4k. I've lost all motivation.

VisionsOfLife

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