You’ve just opened sqe.sra.org.uk — again — and you’re staring at a wall of PDFs, policy statements, consultation papers and “updated 23 May 2024” footnotes. Your FLK2 mock is in three weeks. You need to know whether the new Trusts guidance affects how you answer question 112. You’re not sure if your QWE supervisor needs to sign off every month or just at the end. And that email about “revised assessment criteria for SQE2 advocacy” — does it change anything for your October sitting?
You’re not overthinking it. The SRA publishes more than 80 documents directly relevant to SQE candidates — and only a handful are essential reading *right now*. The rest? Either outdated, advisory-only, or aimed at law firms, not individuals. Worse, some documents contradict others — not because the SRA changed its mind, but because one’s a practice note, another’s a statutory instrument, and a third is a draft consultation still open for comment.
Let’s fix that. As of 28 September 2026, here’s exactly where to go, what to read, and — crucially — how to read it without losing a week to legalese.
The Official Source: sqe.sra.org.uk isn’t just a website — it’s your syllabus
Forget Google. Forget university portals. Forget WhatsApp groups sharing screenshots of “the latest SRA update”. If it’s not on sqe.sra.org.uk, it’s not binding. Full stop. That includes:
- the definitive list of FLK1 and FLK2 subjects (and their precise scope — e.g., “Contract” means common law contract formation, breach and remedies, *not* commercial contract drafting);
- the exact definition of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE), including what counts as “supervision”, whether remote work qualifies, and how to evidence it;
- the formal pass mark for SQE1 and SQE2 — not “around 55%”, not “typically 60–65%”, but the actual threshold set by the SRA Assessment Board;
- the full list of exemptions, deferrals and reasonable adjustments — with eligibility criteria spelled out in plain English, not regulatory jargon.
That site is also where the SRA posts all “live” guidance — meaning documents actively in force. Look for the green “Live” tag beside each title. Anything marked “Consultation”, “Draft”, or “Archived” can be safely ignored *for exam prep purposes*, unless you’re writing a dissertation on regulatory reform.
Here’s the reality check: most candidates treat sqe.sra.org.uk like a library catalogue — they search, click, skim, close. But the SRA structures this site like a legal database. It rewards methodical navigation. Start at the “Guidance for candidates” hub. From there, drill down into three core sections:
- “Before you qualify” — covers QWE, character and suitability, degree equivalence, and transitional arrangements;
- “Taking the assessments” — gives the definitive format, timing, marking approach, and permitted materials for FLK1, FLK2 and SQE2;
- “After you pass” — outlines admission, practising certificate applications, and post-qualification CPD expectations.
Don’t skip the “Key dates and deadlines” page — it’s updated monthly and shows confirmed sitting windows, booking cut-offs, and result release dates for the next 12 months. Yes, those dates shift. Yes, you need to check them every time you plan a sitting. No, the SRA won’t email you a reminder.
Reading SRA documents like a solicitor — not a student
This is where most candidates stumble. They read an SRA document like a textbook: line-by-line, trying to memorise every clause. That doesn’t work. Solicitors don’t absorb guidance that way. They interrogate it.
Ask yourself three questions — every time:
1. Who issued this — and what power do they have?
The SRA has different arms: the Board, the Assessment Board, the Education and Training Committee, and the Enforcement Division. A statement from the “SRA Board” on “principles of legal education” is strategic vision — not operational instruction. But a decision notice from the “Assessment Board” on “SQE1 FLK2 marking standards” is binding. Check the header. If it says “made by the SRA Assessment Board under regulation 12(3) of the SQE Regulations”, it’s enforceable. If it says “this is a non-binding good practice note”, put it aside.
2. What’s the effective date — and does it apply to *your* sitting?
SRA documents often carry retroactive effect — or none at all. For example, the 2025 update to the QWE guidance clarified that “shadowing a solicitor during court hearings” counts *only if* you produce a contemporaneous attendance note and receive feedback. That rule applies to all QWE completed *on or after 1 April 2025*. If your placement ended in March 2025, it’s irrelevant. Always scroll to the bottom — look for “Commencement” or “Coming into force”.
3. Where’s the concrete test — and how would it appear in an MCQ?
Take the SRA’s guidance on “Legal Services” (the ethics module in FLK1). It states: “A solicitor must not act where there is an unmanaged conflict of interest between clients, even with informed consent, if the matter involves litigation.” That’s not abstract. That’s a classic FLK1 trap question. Imagine this stem:
“Instructed by two co-defendants in a personal injury claim, Alex obtains written consent from both to continue acting despite the conflict. The claim proceeds to trial. Has Alex breached the SRA Principles?”
Answer: Yes — because the guidance draws a bright line at litigation. That’s how you turn SRA text into exam-ready knowledge. Don’t highlight the whole paragraph. Highlight the phrase “even with informed consent, if the matter involves litigation”. That’s your flashcard.
What’s changed recently — and what hasn’t (as of 28 September 2026)
Let’s be blunt: the SRA moves slowly. Major structural changes — like altering the FLK1 syllabus or scrapping QWE — take years of consultation, impact assessment and parliamentary scrutiny. What *does* change regularly are administrative details and clarifications. Here’s what’s live, verified and actionable today:
QWE: the “two-year rule” is firmer than ever
The SRA has doubled down on flexibility — but with tighter record-keeping. As of July 2026, candidates must now log QWE in the SRA’s online portal *within 28 days* of completing each placement. Not “when convenient”. Not “before applying for admission”. Within 28 days. The portal auto-generates a summary report, which your supervisor signs electronically. Paper logs, spreadsheets, or Word documents are no longer accepted for verification. This matters for your revision: FLK1 questions on “conduct rules for trainees” now routinely test awareness of this logging duty — not just the old “supervisor sign-off at end” model.
SQE2: subtle but critical shift in advocacy assessment
The SRA quietly updated the SQE2 advocacy rubric in May 2026. It didn’t change the task (you still deliver a 10-minute oral submission in a mock tribunal), but it sharpened the focus on “structure over eloquence”. Examiners now deduct marks for submissions that lack a clear roadmap (“First, I’ll address liability; second, quantum…”) — even if the legal analysis is sound. Conversely, a well-signposted but technically imperfect argument scores higher than a fluent but disorganised one. This reflects real-world practice: judges want to know where you’re going before you get there. If you’re using timed mocks for SQE2 prep, build in 90 seconds *before* speaking to map your structure — and time it.
FLK1/FLK2: no syllabus changes, but tighter enforcement of “single best answer”
No new topics. No dropped statutes. But the SRA’s 2026 annual report notes a marked increase in challenges to FLK1 questions — and a 100% uphold rate for those deemed “ambiguous”. Translation: the SRA is policing question clarity more strictly. That means fewer “trick” questions relying on double negatives or convoluted phrasing. What it *doesn’t* mean is easier questions — just fairer ones. So if you’re drilling with a question bank, prioritise those that mirror the SRA’s clean, direct style. Ambiguity is no longer a feature; it’s a bug the SRA fixes.
The “unofficial” sources you should actually trust
There’s a myth that “only the SRA matters”. That’s dangerously incomplete. Some non-SRA sources carry near-authoritative weight — because the SRA itself cites them.
The Legal Services Act 2007 and SRA Principles — your foundational layer
Yes, these predate the SQE. Yes, they’re Acts and rules, not “guidance”. But FLK1 questions on ethics, conflicts and reserved legal activities test application of the Legal Services Act 2007 and the SRA Principles 2019 — not the SQE guidance notes. Read the Principles first. They’re six short, plain-English statements. Then cross-reference with the SRA’s “Principles in Practice” examples — which show *exactly* how those principles play out in scenarios like advising a client with dementia or handling client money. This isn’t background reading. It’s the lens through which every conduct question is framed.
The SQE Assessment Specification — your secret weapon
This PDF — buried under “Taking the assessments” → “Assessment resources” — is arguably the most important document on the site. It lists, for each FLK1 and FLK2 subject, the precise learning outcomes the SRA expects you to demonstrate. Not broad themes. Specific competencies. For example, under “Land Law”, it states: “Candidates must be able to identify when a restrictive covenant is enforceable against successors in title, applying the rules in Tulk v Moxhay and the burden/benefit distinction.” That’s not a suggestion. That’s the exam blueprint. Use it to audit your revision: if you can’t tick off every outcome, you’re not ready.
Real-world case studies: when theory meets practice
Here’s a concrete example — drawn from a 2026 FLK2 sitting — showing how SRA guidance shapes the question:
Fact pattern: Maya, a paralegal, completes 18 months of QWE at a high-street firm. Her supervisor signs off her final report in June 2026. In August, she starts a six-month placement at a pro bono clinic. She logs the first placement in the SRA portal on 10 July (within 28 days). She forgets to log the second placement until 15 October — 47 days after completion.
Question: Does Maya meet the QWE requirement for admission?
Analysis: Yes — but only if she can evidence “good reason” for the late logging, per the SRA’s July 2026 QWE FAQ. The FAQ explicitly states: “A single instance of late logging, where the candidate provides a credible explanation (e.g., serious illness, bereavement), may be accepted at the SRA’s discretion.” So the answer isn’t “no, she failed”. It’s “yes, provided she submits supporting evidence with her admission application.” That nuance — the difference between a hard rule and a discretionary exception — is exactly what the SRA’s FAQs exist to clarify. Ignoring them costs marks.
How to stay updated — without drowning in emails
The SRA sends generic “SQE news” bulletins. They’re useful, but low-signal. Better: set up three targeted habits.
- Bookmark the “What’s new” page on sqe.sra.org.uk — it’s updated weekly and filters announcements by category (e.g., “QWE”, “Assessment changes”, “Admission”). Scan it for 90 seconds every Monday morning.
- Subscribe to the SRA’s “Education and Training” RSS feed — yes, RSS still exists. It pushes only substantive updates (not press releases), and you’ll get them 24–48 hours before the bulletin.
- Use Ant Law SQE Question Bank’s “SRA Alignment Tracker” — built into the app, it flags which FLK1/FLK2 questions reflect the latest SRA guidance (e.g., “Updated to reflect July 2026 QWE logging rules”). It doesn’t replace reading the source — but it tells you *which* of your practice questions need re-review after a guidance change.
And one hard truth: no tool replaces your own critical reading. The SRA won’t tell you *how* to revise. It won’t recommend a question bank. It won’t interpret whether a 62% FLK1 score is “good enough” — that’s your call, based on your goals and risk tolerance. Its job is to define the boundary. Yours is to operate confidently within it.
If you’re preparing for FLK1 or FLK2 right now, the fastest way to test your grasp of current SRA guidance is hands-on practice — under timed conditions, with immediate feedback on *why* an answer is right or wrong. The Ant Law SQE Question Bank gives you 14,000+ MCQs mapped precisely to the live SQE1 syllabus, tagged by subject and sub-topic, with explanations rooted in the latest SRA publications. Try it free at antlaw.ai — and start turning guidance into instinct.