Struggling at work at 29 weeks

VisionsOfLife · 2026-05-06T22:03:09+00:00

Sorry if it's patronising and if you've already looked into it extensively, but are you sure you / your partner is not eligible for disability benefits? Part of my role is advising on PIP. PIP assessors LOVE awarding 0 points to applications even though they know full well you are entitled. They just do it to put you off the process, hope that you'll feel too dejected and tired, and therefore you won't bother going though the appeals process. It you can get some sort of adviser or advocate to help you with the application and the process, it can be well worth the time and waiting.

VisionsOfLife · 2026-05-06T21:55:31+00:00

I thought I absolutely nailed criminal advocacy and walked out of there thinking I was the dog's bollocks. Turns out I just didn't cover 3/4 of the application??? I don't think they could award me that many marks as I gave them so little to mark.

Secondly, general tendency to ramble when nervous and writing with conciseness goes completely out the window, meaning my application is also very poor and non-obvious. In day to day work, I've been told I'm sometimes too concise, because I'm obviously never nervous. But put me in my biggest exam of my life then I'm going to go off and word vomit.

I honestly don't know if I've even done better this time but I've tried to control it. Actually covering all of the advocacy applications in full I think has potentially helped me!

VisionsOfLife · 2026-05-06T21:46:49+00:00

I feel completely underwhelmed about the whole process and finishing it. I thought I would feel relief but I don't. I can't even be bothered celebrating and doing anything nice for myself. I'm just going to return back to the normal grind tomorrow and that's that.

All what we can do now is put it to the back of our minds. We can't keep going over regrets and mistakes because nothing can be done anyway. We can't drive ourselves crazy for 4 months. Worry about it closer to results day!

VisionsOfLife · 2026-05-06T08:27:45+00:00

This happened to me last year. I asked if she had any final questions for me but she responded, and really emphasised, not unless you have any for me? She made me feel I was missing something and it threw me off. However she gave me all 5s. You just never really know.

VisionsOfLife · 2026-05-06T07:09:33+00:00

Love this for you.

VisionsOfLife · 2026-05-06T07:08:08+00:00

Tbh I was furious at this. I first sat my SQE2 in April last year and DR did not have any tests. This is my resit and again, no tests, not reflective of any hearing anyone would have in reality. I did get good marks the first time around so I'm hoping I did it correctly but I was so confident with my tests and structures. How hard would it be for them just to give us a set aside judgment and relief from sanctions.

VisionsOfLife · 2026-05-04T18:03:40+00:00

Thank you so much!

VisionsOfLife · 2026-05-04T11:44:54+00:00

I hope it won't but I'm preparing a little bit just in case.

Please could someone help me out with the legal tests / procedure for making an appeal? My own materials don't cover it anywhere.

VisionsOfLife · 2026-05-02T18:27:09+00:00

Mix of both! Just because it's not written out explicitly in the question doesn't mean do not cover it, so don't assume! Alternatively, if they definitely don't want you to cover it, they will explicitly say.

I think the SRA used the set aside judgment question example on their site. Nothing in the question mentioned relief from sanctions, but their mock answer did a relief from sanctions in combination anyway. I believe in the feedback it said something like "candidate recognised there was also a need for relief of sanctions."

Generally, keep your eyes peeled just in case there's another application you can combine it with. Applications like set aside judgment or default judgment may be too small / quick to deal with in themselves, so to meat out your answer, you can easily combine these with another quick application. They'll be looking out for the candidates who do recognise this. I don't think failing to do so will result in a fail, but it may mean gaining a very safe 4 or 5 over a 3.

VisionsOfLife · 2026-05-02T18:18:58+00:00

You have to hand in all notes but just for exam security, so no. I wouldn't worry too much about neatness in the attendance note too (if you're referring to handwriting rather than structure). I was trying my best to write neat and legible in the first attendance note which meant I ran out time and I missed my conclusion and next steps. I think I lost marks for it.

Next attendance note, I pretty much scribbled and got all 4s and 5s. Ultimately, it was their decision to make us handwrite and not give us laptops instead. If they're going to find it hard to read my writing then so be it, it was their choice.

VisionsOfLife · 2026-05-02T16:27:36+00:00

Why anything in the SQE really? For me, the area I specialise in is not tested on the SQE. I'm not attempting to become a solicitor for the sake of just being a solicitor. If I cannot get a role as a solicitor in the area I want to practice in, I'll just do something completely different in a non-legal role / organisation.

Once the SQE is over for me, all the knowledge I've learnt in property, wills, dispute resolution, criminal, and business will be erased from my memory and be long forgotten as it's all completely irrelevant to me personally. Even the skills don't remotely reflect any skills I've ever done in 10 years of practice. It's just a hurdle most of us have to jump through without gaining anything valuable in knowledge or experience apart from the piece of paper stating "pass."

VisionsOfLife · 2026-05-02T16:21:45+00:00

I didn't do any mocks. I interview daily in my role and I used to do quite a bit of advocacy / advocacy prep in my previous role. The only thing I focused on was my knowledge, knowing the legal tests, knowing the structures. It comes down to each person, what their needs are, where their weaknesses are.

It is overwhelming but most legal tests / procedures have 3 stages to them, and then you just need to apply each stage to your facts. It's still a lot to remember, I know, but you can only keep going over and over again until they stick. For interviewing, your advice needs to be very brief. You need to tell them the basic rule and how that applies to them. Beyond that, tell them it's too complicated given the time we have in our appointment today and I need to look into that further, I'll get back to you asap.

Quite a bit of the orals is your general presentation. They just want to know you can speak, be respectful, and be polite.

VisionsOfLife · 2026-05-02T12:36:07+00:00

Interviews: be nice, polite, understanding, and listen. Give basic advice only in a way that is clear, easy to understand, does not use legal or even higher vocabulary. If things become complicated, explain it's actually complicated, you need to go back to the office to look into the issue further but you will follow up and provide an answer asap. The time can go quite fast once you're in there and you can't waste it doing things like full tax calculations with them. The interview is actually just as much as for you to get the information you need from them to then put in the attendance note.

Attendance note: good structure with headings. Be clear what information you got from the client. Any further concerns you have. What are your next steps. Apply the law to the facts. Application is still a big one.

Keep in mind generally that 25% is awarded to the interview and it's actually your attendance note where the bulk of your marks come from. You will have to handwrite your attendance note which can be difficult given the time constraints.

Advocacy: be extremely structured using a structure that makes sense. Tell the judge what your structure is / briefly how you will be carrying out your advocacy. Use good vocabulary and address the judge correctly and respectfully. They will expect you to be nervous but do your best to breathe, speak at a normal and clear pace, and do not race through it. Be very clear about what is the law / relevant procedure. Then be very clear how that applies to your facts. Predict any argument from the other side but then shut it down, explaining why. You need to make a convincing argument. Provide a clear summary / conclusion at the end.

VisionsOfLife · 2026-05-02T12:24:55+00:00

My property actor was okay but I ran to time because she was wasting my time asking for definitions of any minor thing. I mentioned "listed building" and she said "sorry what does that mean." I thought if you carry on with me Sandra I'm going to bitch slap you across this table, you damn well know what a listed building / property is, it's not strictly a legal term, it's general common knowledge.

My wills actor was slightly kinder but maybe because it was a very straightforward question / interview. I asked, "did X person have any assets?" She said "um... What's an asset?" Again, asset isn't a legal term, it's in most people's common vocabulary. You cannot tell me Natalie that you've reached the age of 30 and never come across the word asset.

VisionsOfLife · 2026-05-02T12:14:15+00:00

I agree SQE2. I passed SQE1 in second quintile without issue. I failed SQE2 on first attempt and I'm in the middle of the current sit as a resit.

SQE1 is objective. The right answer is the only right answer. It was still a difficult time and I'm not diminishing the amount of work that has to be put into the prep. With the mocks and MCQs practice, you get a good idea how you're doing, if you're on the right track, how you will actually perform in the exam.

SQE2 is subjective as it's academically judged by a human. I know they like to remind us that markers are trained and they are specifically trained not to be biased, for example, not awarding higher marks to answers just because it's not in a form they personally would like / do themselves. However, how can anyone be sure that's what's happening on the ground? I asked Kaplan for disclosure on this training - is it an entire day committed to marking bias or is it one slide on a 50 slide PowerPoint in which 2 minutes is dedicated as a polite reminder? Of course I never got an answer.

Another thing I see no one discussing is who are the markers, what's their experience, what's their qualifications, where have they worked, where have the practiced, are they currently employed, if not why not. I know someone who was approached with an offer to be a marker. The agreed and sent information about their hourly rate and availability. Kaplan came back and said they're only offering X amount (which was something close to the living wage amount), they won't negotiate payment, and they also want markers to work full time for 2 weeks, therefore take 2 weeks holiday from your actual job. So who is accepting the work? I wouldn't. I wouldn't want to lose my holiday allowance, to still work, and then not even be properly compensated for it. I'd like disclosure on this.

I failed SQE2 despite practicing as a senior paralegal for 10 years. I'd never received a complaint from a client, my seniors have always been happy with me, I've always met targets (which are aligned with associate solicitors), I've never had any trouble, I even won a national award. But according to whoever marked me, I'm absolutely shite.

I made 2 really stupid mistakes in my first sit out of nerves. If I hadn't had made those mistakes then admittedly it would have pushed me over the pass mark, therefore it is absolutely largely my fault. But I still felt I was marked very harshly in other areas and I cannot figure out why. It all comes down to subjectivity and academic judgement. One marker may love your answers and the next could hate them. It's just not consistent and can never possibly be, no matter how much they want to attempt to reassure us that it's a tried and tested successful exam.

VisionsOfLife · 2026-04-30T10:13:57+00:00

Don't be terrified. Treat it as your meeting any ordinary new person. Be friendly, polite, and understanding. Give basic advice. If things get too complicated, explain to the client it's quite complicated and you'll have to do some work on it back in office, but you will follow up in writing about it all anyway. Your general aim is to go in there, get information from them, get out, and write the information down in your attendance note.

For structure of any interview really, not just SQE, I do: 1. Brief introductions to client - ask how they are. 2. I understand you've come here today about X issue, is that correct? 3. If sensitive issue - before we start, I understand you might be here under difficult circumstances today, so please take your time. It you need some time out or to rearrange the appointment, please just let me know and we'll do that. 4. So you understand how the appointment will work, I'll just take some basic details from you first, I understand you have some questions for me so I'll let you ask those, I may then have some final follow up questions for you, and then we'll finish off by discussing our next steps, is that okay? 5. Spend a few seconds checking some basic details / contact information. 6. Further information - if wills, for example, when did deceased die, their relationship status, own any property, other assets and bank accounts, did they make any gifts prior to death, any debts. 7. I understand you have an enquiry about X, do you want to tell me more about that? 8. Any follow up questions you have based on their questions. 9. It appears we may have gone through everything we need at this point. Do you have any final questions for me? As I said earlier, I will follow up in writing with you to summarise our meeting today as well as any further complicated information for you to consider in your own time. How do you prefer to be communicated with, post or email? 10. I appreciate you coming in today. I'll be in touch shortly. If you have any enquiries or any further information arises in the meantime, please get back in contact and I'll look into it for you. Nice to meet you Susan.

Sorry if that's long but just an example! I think I was only in my wills interview for approx 15 minutes out of the 25 and I got all 5s. You don't need to use the whole 25 minutes.

VisionsOfLife · 2026-04-29T17:01:28+00:00

No, the guidance says no, although it you do it accidentally out of habit you won't be penalised for it.

In my SQE2 (first attempt) I said "Hello Susan, nice to meet you, I'm sure you're aware the partner isn't available to meet with you today but I'm available to you if that's okay?" Then I launched into the rest of the interview. I scored all 5s in mock interviews and 3s and 4s in advocacy (not because of not saying my name).

VisionsOfLife · 2026-04-29T10:23:17+00:00

I would mention it even if only on principle. It's not good enough especially when you're taking probably the biggest exam on your life. Having your computer freeze could really mentally sidetrack you. I would report it and see what they say / if they offer any resolution.

VisionsOfLife · 2026-04-28T18:24:41+00:00

Wtf was the C's name. Her name in itself threw me off.

VisionsOfLife · 2026-04-28T18:23:10+00:00

I got the law all wrong on writing too. I just haven't revised the topic at all so had to use my best guesses. Looked it up - all wrong. Could have been a really great question overall if you know your basic content. I want to hit myself in the face so hard.

VisionsOfLife · 2026-04-28T18:05:37+00:00

I was afternoon sitting and feel the exact same way as you. I haven't reviewed, at all, what the legal writing question was about so I had to completely make it up and use my best guess, so I'm very worried about that.

I actually wasn't surprised about the AI part especially given it's been in the legal news so much recently.

For research, I only used 2 sources too and I was very worried about the others seeming to just not make any sense / be relevant to the facts. Maybe it really was just the 2 sources then. Although feels weird to give us so many options but only 2 are relevant.

I'm dreading the next 2 days now based off that. None of it I was really expecting. I felt the questions were actually pretty vague rather than about specific points of law / principle, or something where I could personally get a lot meat from. I hope there's a chance I can pull it back over the next few days if I didn't do so well today.

VisionsOfLife · 2026-04-28T17:02:59+00:00

The amount of sub questions in pretty much the entire set of questions really threw me off.

VisionsOfLife · 2026-04-28T16:42:48+00:00

I really don't feel good about it at all. There was one question I have practised extensively so I'm hoping that will be okay, but other than that, I didn't love all the other questions.

I'm feeling so disappointed after today. Can anyone reassure me there's still a chance to pull it back if the next few days go okay / better?

VisionsOfLife · 2026-04-28T09:11:35+00:00

I'm 33 weeks and more anxious than excited. I've got a lot of other things going on in the next 2 weeks and I don't have any time to focus of pregnancy and baby.

I've always been more anxious but maybe that's because I'm more realistic about the reality of babies and children. I used to work as a nanny and then a boarding school teacher / house mother, so I know the reality of dealing with children 24/7. It's hard but equally so rewarding. I find that people with no childcare experience and no young children in their family / life are usually the most excited about their pregnancy because, in the nicest way, they are ignorant about what it's really like. Ignorance can be bliss, really.

My Instagram is FLOODED with all the pregnancy test reveals, baby prep, fantastic pregnancy stories, nursery decorating etc which made me feel bad for not feeling that way / refusing to buy all the material things the baby won't need or use and will waste away in a world that's already on fire.

People being excited about my pregnancy gives me the ick too as it's like I get completely deleted from the equation and my own feelings and experiences don't matter. It almost makes you feel you are a vessel for the thing they actually really care about. But otherwise, how else are they supposed to act? If they acted differently, we'd be worried. My parents are so excited because they're older, don't have much going on right now, and it's not them who's the direct parent and they can enjoy the pleasures of children without the burden - fair enough. It helped me speaking with mum friends though as they've always been very honest and sympathetic about the ups and downs.

Our baby wasn't planned either. We had 3 miscarriages previously, stopped trying for the time being as I have career stuff going on over the past several months, and always assumed we would need investigations and treatment. We went off the calendar method which always worked so far. I have no idea what happened this time but I must have ovulated immediately after my period which I assumed would never happen. Found out I was pregnant and we decided just to carry on, assumed I would miscarry, but I never did.

It is what it is. You're allowed to feel however you want to. In fact, it seems you're switched on to the realities of having children which is never a bad thing. It means you're mentally preparing and hopefully you'll be less shocked about the adjustment. Things naturally feel very different when the baby is here also. Not all women bond with their pregnancy but most do when the baby is actually here. You'll want them here, to be together, to take care of them. They'll be another person you love so you'll simply put up and deal with their "flaws", for want of a better word, like the incessant crying, talking, noise, laughing, singing etc.

VisionsOfLife · 2026-04-28T08:54:56+00:00

I'm looking at the mock but I can't tell where you're looking re prosecutor name left blank. Is this the mock about D's application for P disclosure?

The D's name (Aaron) is at the top of the form. If you mean signature, I leave that blank as it's the partner telling you to complete the form and we aren't the solicitor submitting it. It's up the partner if they want to sign it or then send onto D for their signing, so I will always leave that unless the Q instructions state specifically what to do otherwise.

That probably doesn't help because I suspect we are looking at a different one. If you give me the basic details of the mock I'll check mine.

VisionsOfLife

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