Mental Health and the SQE
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) will physically and mentally challenge you. This week we look at mental health and the SQE, as we end Mental Health week 2025.
Studying for the SQE is a huge commitment. It is a high stakes exam that requires you to put a lot of hours to prepare. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, stressed, or even burnt out. That’s why prioritising your mental health is not a luxury, it’s a must for long-term success.
It’s 2025 and mental health should not be considered a taboo topic or have any stigma attached. Mental health is real and we all need to do better to support those who need it the most.
Understand Your Stress Response
The pressure of SQE prep can activate your body’s fight-or-flight response, potentially impairing concentration and memory. Two things you’ll definitely need for the SQE. Science shows that chronic stress affects cognitive function, so managing stress isn’t just about feeling better—it’s about performing better.
Actionable Tips – mental health and the sQE
1. Create a Realistic Study Schedule
Avoid cramming. Research from the American Psychological Association supports spaced repetition, studying in short, focused sessions over time boosts retention and reduces anxiety. Schedule breaks and include buffer days for review.
2. Move Your Body
Exercise releases endorphins and enhances cognitive performance. Even a 20-minute walk can improve focus and reduce stress. Make it part of your daily routine, especially during intensive study periods.
3. Prioritise Sleep
Lack of sleep impairs reasoning and recall. Key skills needed for the SQE. Aim for 7–9 hours per night. Treat sleep as part of your revision plan.
4. Mindfulness and Breathing
A daily 10-minute mindfulness practice can help to reduce anxiety and improve emotional regulation. Apps like Headspace or Calm offer guided meditations.
5. Connect With Others
Feeling lonely, locked away at your desk study can feel lonely. Speak with fellow SQE candidates, friends, or a mentor. Just talking about your stress can significantly reduce its impact. Join SQE communities.
Mental Health Resources
Becoming a solicitor is a marathon, not a sprint. A strong mind is just as important as legal knowledge. By investing in your mental wellbeing, you’re not only preparing for the SQE, you’re preparing for a resilient, successful legal career.
You’ve got this. One step, one case, one question at a time.
- LawCare is the mental health charity for the legal sector. A confidential support service for anyone in the legal profession, including students. Offers a helpline, peer support, and mental health resources tailored to legal careers. ☎️ Helpline: 0800 279 6888
- SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority). While not a mental health provider, the SRA offers guidance on wellbeing in legal education and training, and links to support networks.
- Find NHS talking therapies for anxiety and depression. Use this service to find NHS talking therapies for anxiety and depression you can refer yourself to.
- Student Minds empowers students to build their own mental health toolkit to support themselves and their peers through university life and beyond. Student Minds challenge the higher education sector, health sector, and government to make student mental health a priority.
- Headspace‘s mission is to provide every person access to lifelong mental health support.
- Calm – app for sleep, meditation and relaxation.
- Crafty Counsel – Mental health, wellbeing & stress in the legal profession
- BARBRI provides mental health support for [their] students and colleagues
- Flex Legal, Mental Health and Wellbeing in Law
What other mental health resources are valuable?
Share your links in the comments here.
