Resources for Black Letter Law

[John Doe 555 333]

Hi guys,

I am currently an SQE LLM student with BPP. The issue is that I found the resources available for reviewing the "black letter" component of the SQE 1 rather lackluster. Therefore, I wanted to ask for recommendations in terms of resources I should use to review that component? I have heard that both the ULAW and Revise SQE books are good, but I am concerned that learning the stuff from the textbook will not be enough in itself.

Thank you for your advice.

 

[Kay Aston]

Hi @John Doe 555 333 - appreciate this post was a few days ago, did you manage to find any good resources?

I study my LLM SQE with Ulaw, and I find the textbooks provided to be very good but (almost unmanageably) detailed. Therefore, I prefer to utilise more concise notes such as the Revise SQE books, and the Devils Advocate notes. You are right that learning the stuff from the textbook will not necessarily be enough just because it is such an application-focussed exam. For that reason, everyone that I know that has passed the SQE already has said that (for the black letter law AND for the new content), the real key to passing is question practice, question practice, and more question practice!

I would appreciate hearing from others who have studied the SQE, and what resources worked best for them!

 

[Ghassen]

Dear @Kay Aston,
I am happy to hear from you. I am currently doing SQE 2 preparation course online at ULaw. I finished my LPC four years ago, and I am now back on track to studies because I secured a TC. I am very worried about learning again FLK and different practice areas to pass SQE 2 (Exam is close book). I am struggling with revising from ULaw manuals and I saw you were satisfied with the Revise SQE books. Where can I find them please ? Also if you have any notes to send that help in revision, I will appreciate that.
Thanks

 

[j.s.cox]

I passed SQE1 in the first quintile and I am awaiting results for SQE2. You can purchase the Revise SQE books here or on Amazon.
Personally I think their underlying law books were incredibly helpful. If you can remember everything in the Revise SQE books, you'll be fine. The ULaw course will be pretty good for skills practice, but remember that the exam is 50/50 law and skills.

 

[Ghassen]

I passed SQE1 in the first quintile and I am awaiting results for SQE2. You can purchase the Revise SQE books here or on Amazon.
Personally I think their underlying law books were incredibly helpful. If you can remember everything in the Revise SQE books, you'll be fine. The ULaw course will be pretty good for skills practice, but remember that the exam is 50/50 law and skills.

Thanks for your insight. To clarify which books I have to purchase, Is it okay to buy the written skills in Criminal litigation and the written skills in the Dispute resolution (SQE2 prep), instead of buying the SQE1 modules. As you know, I need to revise also FLKs.

 

[j.s.cox]

The SQE2 prep books weren't yet released when I took SQE2. I focused on the SQE1 books and drilled in the FLK because I think that's where a lot of people fail. I have heard really positive things about the SQE2 books they have just released as well, however, as it shows you how to apply the FLK. If you did the LPC 4 years ago, I highly recommend the SQE1 books for revision. The pass rate tends to be lower for people who did the LPC instead of SQE1 and I think that is directly related to not knowing the content the exam requires well enough.

 

[Ghassen]

Thanks for your advice. Do you recommend that I postpone my exam intake from January to Mai. I do not feel ready and I think these two months won't be enough to cover all FLKs content.

 

[j.s.cox]

Only you can decide that, but if it helps, I don't think anyone feels totally prepared for these exams. I would consider the following:

• Are you able to postpone your exams without incurring additional costs?
• How comfortable do you feel with the FLK?
• Do you have any practical experience?
• Are you self-funding or being sponsored?

I made a checklist of all the FLK required for SQE2 and ticked it off when I felt confident in that area. This is also how I made my notes. This might be a good way for you to know if postponing is a good idea for you or not.

 

[Ghassen]

Oh that's so helpful ! I appreciate it a lot. Briefly, I am sponsored as I secured a TC to start next September. I have been working in an investment bank for two years and finished my LPC 4 years ago. I was thinking that SQE 2 will be based on skills, and we can use books and statutes, but I was shocked and surprised during the preparation with ULaw, that we are supposed to know everything from SQE1 by heart. But thanks again for your checklist.