Building Your Legal Blueprint: How to Design a Productive SQE1 Study Routine

Preparing for the SQE1 exam is not a ride in the park, and without a solid study routine, it’s easy to get lost in the sheer volume of material to cover. However, by adopting an efficient and well-organised approach, you can significantly reduce stress and boost your chances of success.

In this post, I’ll walk you through how to build a productive study routine using The Legal Blueprint’ SQE1 Notion Template. This template is designed specifically for SQE1 students, helping you stay on top of your tasks, track progress, and maximise productivity.

Let’s dive into how you can craft a study routine that ensures you are fully prepared for the SQE1.

1. Transformational Organisation

One of the keys to mastering SQE1 is organisation. With numerous subjects and topics to juggle, it’s crucial to keep everything in order to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Here's how you can organise your study materials efficiently:

• Centralised Study Hub: Using a Notion template, like the one we’ve designed at The Legal Blueprint, you can create a one-stop digital hub where all your notes, readings, and tasks are located. Instead of scrambling through various notebooks, apps, or scattered files, everything you need is in one place, making study sessions far more efficient.

• Subject Breakdown: For each SQE1 subject, such as Contract Law, Tort Law, and Criminal Law, create dedicated pages. This allows you to categorise and store lecture notes, textbook readings, and revision cards in a logical manner. For example, you can build pages for each legal topic, detailing the core principles, key cases, and revision summaries.

• Tagging and Colour Coding: Use tags and colour codes within Notion to organise materials by priority or difficulty. If Contract Law is your weakest subject, for instance, tagging it for extra attention ensures it receives the focus it deserves.

By keeping all of your study materials organised in the SQE1 Notion Template, you’ll declutter your digital life and ensure your SQE1 preparation stays on track.

2. Effortless SQE1 Progress Tracking

Studying for the SQE1 is a long-term commitment, and one of the best ways to stay motivated is by tracking your progress. Without effective tracking, it can be difficult to see how far you’ve come and where more work is needed.

• Master Subject Tracker: Our Notion template includes a Master Subject Tracker that allows you to monitor your progress across each subject and topic. With this tool, you can tick off completed sections, ensuring you’re moving steadily through the syllabus. Seeing those checkboxes fill up can be a great confidence booster as exam day approaches.

• Daily and Weekly Task Planning: Another useful feature is breaking your study plan into daily and weekly tasks. Set realistic goals for each day, such as finishing a chapter or completing a set of multiple-choice questions. These short-term goals make the study process more manageable, and you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment every time you hit a milestone.

• Review Weak Areas: Not only can you track what you’ve completed, but also identify weaker areas. If you consistently struggle with certain topics, your study tracker will highlight these, allowing you to revisit them regularly. This method ensures no topic is left behind as you prepare for the exam.

3. Powerful Task Planning

Effective task management is crucial when preparing for SQE1. The sheer number of tasks can feel overwhelming, but with the right tools, you can break down the workload into manageable chunks.

• To-Do Lists and Deadlines: Notion's built-in To-Do List feature helps you set specific tasks for each topic and subject. Whether it’s completing a reading, summarising a chapter, or tackling practice questions, setting clear tasks ensures you stay productive and efficient.

• Task Prioritisation: Prioritise tasks based on deadlines or difficulty. For example, if your exam date is approaching and you’ve been struggling with Tort Law, you can prioritise those tasks over subjects you feel more confident in. With the SQE1 Notion Template, you can easily shift priorities as needed to ensure you’re making the most of your study time.

• Calendar View: To further manage your time, you can view your tasks in a calendar format. Seeing your deadlines visually mapped out helps you stay aware of upcoming milestones and avoid last-minute cramming.

4. Time-Saving Features

Time management is critical when studying for the SQE1, and with so much to cover, it’s important to make your study time as productive as possible.

• Pomodoro Timer: One feature of the SQE1 Notion Template is the Pomodoro Timer, which breaks your study sessions into intervals of 25 minutes of focused work followed by a short break. This method not only helps you stay focused but also ensures you don’t burn out by working for too long at a stretch.

• Automated Reminders: Set automated reminders within Notion to notify you about key deadlines, such as mock exams or study review sessions. This way, you won’t lose track of your study commitments and can keep up a steady pace without constantly worrying about what’s next.

• Resource Embedding: You can also embed useful resources, such as YouTube videos, podcasts, or legal articles, directly into your template. This saves time spent searching for additional materials and keeps everything easily accessible in one place.

Creating a productive study routine is key to preparing for the SQE1 exam, and with The Legal Blueprint' Notion templates, you’ll have everything you need to stay organised, track progress, and manage your time effectively. From streamlined task planning to comprehensive subject tracking, these templates are designed to simplify your study process and keep you on the right path.

If you’re ready to take your SQE1 preparation to the next level, start by downloading our FREE Ultimate SQE Success Checklist Guide to help structure your study journey. Remember, with the right tools and discipline, you can approach exam day with confidence.

For further reading on how to ace the SQE1 exam, check out our other blog posts!