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student experiences
Tamana khabibi
Newly qualified solicitor at Finsbury Law, passed SQE1 and SQE2 with the College
I’m Tamana Khabibi, a newly qualified solicitor working in a firm in King’s Cross, London. I specialise in family law. I completed my SQE2 prep with The College of Legal Practice in 2024. My interest in law began at school. I was always engaged in more analytical STEM subjects like mathematics, but the law really called to me, leading to me pursuing an LLB. As I came to the end of my LLB, the SQE route to qualification was just beginning, and I chose to go down this route as my next step to becoming a solicitor.
Why did you choose The College of Legal Practice for your SQE2 prep?
As I came to the end of my LLB I was given the choice of going for the old LPC route, or diving in and going for the SQE. I chose the SQE as it leant heavily into a remote-first style of learning and felt like a more flexible approach to study over the campus leaning LPC.
I self-studied for SQE1 and it was very, very difficult. I did pass, but it made me reflect on how I wanted to pursue SQE2. I decided to choose an online course, and found that The College of Legal Practice was the best fit for me. It had a very clear structure, could fit around my work commitments and it had a very competitive price structure which you could pay for in installments. It worked really well for me as I was self-funding.
What was your experience of the SQE2 course like?
I went for the full time, 10-week course for SQE2 prep, which was naturally very intense! I have a very understanding employer who has allowed me to work a lot from home during my studies to cut down on commuting time, which I can then use for studying, but it hasn’t been easy by any means.
I think time management is my biggest tip for those considering this route. It’s doable, but you need to take it seriously and plan well. It’s also important to remember that with SQE2, it’s not just legal knowledge - it’s about using legal skills that apply your knowledge, and this requires a different learning style. For me that really meant I needed a course for my best chance of success, and I would recommend that anyone else should also take part in some form of taught route to get the best chance of passing.
What support did you receive during your studies?
I’ve found the clear structure of the course has been really beneficial for me. For example, I can look on a Sunday to see what my week ahead is going to be like, and what the expectations are, then communicate that to my employer. Everything for the course is also available in advance, so if I feel like there’s an area I’m going to be working on that I’m less hot on, I can do extra reading to mitigate the challenge.
The support has been brilliant from the College, too. Even though the course is completely online it’s very interactive and you get a lot of support. You get assigned your own supervisor and they’re brilliant for both keeping you on track and assessing your progression. I sat down with my supervisor and we went through all of the assessments I’ve submitted along with my average grades, and she used that to recommend which exam sitting I should go for. I was unsure of whether I was ready for an April sitting and was considering going for a July date, but my supervisor assured me I was ready, and I passed!