How I Would Use Notion to Prepare for SQE2

Preparing for the SQE2 can feel like a daunting challenge, but with the right tools, it doesn’t have to be. When faced with multiple skill-based assessments like client interviews, advocacy, legal drafting, and legal research, staying organised and productive becomes your lifeline. For me, Notion—a versatile productivity app—has become the ultimate study companion. It helps streamline my preparation, track my progress, and keep stress at bay.

In this post, I’ll walk you through how I would use Notion to prepare for SQE2, covering everything from organising study materials to planning for exam days. Whether you’re new to Notion or already a fan, you’ll find practical ideas to supercharge your SQE2 preparation.

Why Notion Is Perfect for SQE2 Preparation

Notion combines the best features of a planner, note-taker, and database into one seamless platform. This makes it the ideal choice for SQE2 candidates juggling multiple skills and practice areas. Unlike traditional study methods, Notion offers unparalleled flexibility to design a personalised workspace tailored to your study habits. Here's why it stands out:

All-in-One Workspace: Keep your notes, tasks, and resources in one place.
Customisable Dashboards: Tailor your workspace to reflect your unique SQE2 journey.
Tracking Progress: Visualise your goals and achievements with Kanban boards, calendars, and progress bars.
Collaborative Tools: Share pages with peers or tutors for feedback and group study.

Now, let’s dive into how I would use Notion to tackle SQE2 preparation step-by-step.

1. Organising Study Materials: Create Your Personal Knowledge Hub

One of the biggest challenges in preparing for SQE2 is managing the sheer volume of study materials. Notion allows you to create a digital study vault where everything is organised and easily accessible.

How I’d Set It Up:

Master Dashboard: My dashboard would act as the central hub, with links to databases for notes, case studies, practice questions, and exam strategies.
Subject-Specific Databases: Each skill area—like advocacy, client interviewing, and legal drafting—would get its own database. Within each database, I’d create entries for specific topics, complete with notes, videos, and practice questions.
Embedded Resources: Notion allows you to embed PDFs, YouTube videos, and links directly into your pages. For instance, my "Advocacy" page might include a tutorial on effective opening statements and annotated notes from mock trials.

Example: Legal Drafting Database

For legal drafting, I’d create a dedicated database with entries for:

Contracts: Include sample templates, notes on essential clauses, and embedded video tutorials.
Wills and Trusts: Add detailed drafting examples with key case law references.

With everything in one place, I’d never have to scramble for materials.

2. Planning and Tracking Your Revision: Stay on Top of Your Studies

Effective planning is critical for SQE2, where time management is just as important as mastering the skills. Notion’s planning and task management features can transform how you structure your study routine.

Weekly Study Planner

Using Notion’s calendar view, I’d create a weekly planner to map out my revision. For example:

Monday: Morning - Client interview techniques; Afternoon - Mock interviews.
Tuesday: Morning - Legal drafting exercises; Afternoon - Review advocacy strategies.

Daily Task Lists

Breaking weekly plans into daily tasks keeps things manageable. A typical Monday might look like this:

Review interview techniques (embed notes and videos).
Conduct a mock interview with a study partner.
Reflect on performance and log feedback in Notion.

Tracking Progress

To monitor my progress:

Kanban Boards: Tasks would move through columns like “To Do,” “In Progress,” and “Completed.” For example, under “Legal Research,” a task might go from "Find case law on defamation" to "Draft memo" and finally to "Submit for feedback."
Progress Metrics: I’d use databases with checkboxes to mark tasks as complete and visualise my preparation progress.

3. Enhancing Collaboration and Feedback: Leverage Peer and Tutor Support

SQE2 isn’t just about individual preparation—it’s about practicing in realistic, interactive settings. Notion can help facilitate collaboration with peers and feedback from tutors.

Shared Pages for Study Groups

A shared Notion page with my study group could include:

Group Notes: Consolidate insights from each member.
Mock Scenarios: Draft and share mock client interview scripts or advocacy arguments.
Task Assignments: Assign tasks like "Research recent case law for advocacy" to individual members.

Tutor Feedback

Notion makes it easy to share specific sections of your workspace with tutors:

Mock Feedback Pages: Create a page for each mock session with notes, video recordings, and tutor feedback.
Improvement Tracker: Maintain a database of feedback and corresponding action plans.

4. Preparing for Examination Days: Ensure You’re Ready to Excel

As exam day approaches, staying organised becomes even more important. Notion can help you prepare strategically and stay calm under pressure.

Exam Day Strategy Pages

In Notion, I’d create pages for each skill area with step-by-step strategies:

Client Interviewing: Include key steps like building rapport, identifying issues, and summarising advice.
Advocacy: Outline the structure of an argument, common objections, and handling evidence.

Comprehensive Checklists

I’d also prepare detailed checklists for exam logistics:

Day Before Checklist: “Review key cases,” “Pack necessary documents,” “Check exam venue address.”
Exam Day Checklist: “Arrive early,” “Bring ID and materials,” “Review mental strategy.”

Emergency Info Hub

Store critical information in one place:

Contact numbers (e.g., tutor, exam board).
Exam entry confirmations and ID scans.
Directions to the exam venue.

5. Using Notion to Balance Life and Studies

SQE2 preparation can be all-consuming, but Notion helps you maintain balance by integrating your personal and professional life with your studies.

Wellness Dashboard

A separate section in Notion could track wellness activities:

Exercise Log: Schedule walks, yoga, or gym sessions.
Meal Planner: Organise healthy meals to keep your energy up.
Break Timers: Use Pomodoro techniques and schedule downtime to avoid burnout.

Career Planning

For those preparing for life after the SQE2:

Job Applications Tracker: Track applications, interviews, and networking efforts.

Let Notion Be Your SQE2 Success Partner

Notion is more than just an app—it’s a complete ecosystem for organising, tracking, and excelling in your SQE2 preparation. With features that help you streamline study materials, plan effectively, collaborate with peers, and prepare for exam day, it’s the ultimate tool for modern legal students. By leveraging its capabilities, you can not only manage the demands of SQE2 but also enhance your overall productivity and confidence.

Take control of your SQE2 journey with Notion, and turn what might feel overwhelming into an empowering, well-structured process. Whether you’re drafting contracts, practicing advocacy, or acing mock interviews, Notion can keep you on track.

Good luck!