The ND Lawyer Project (NDLP)- Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) and Neurodiversity Survey
PLEASE READ - At NDLP, we are passionate about ensuring access to the legal profession for neurodivergent lawyers. We have been receiving many messages from aspiring lawyers about the SQE exams and how suitable they are for neurodivergent people. Therefore, we want to gather a more holistic view of the experiences on neurodivergent people who are taking or have taken the SQE exams. This is to help tailor our efforts in advocating for any necessary changes. Please give as much detail as possible (negative OR positive), you do not need to provide any personal or identifying details and we cannot trace who gave these responses. The anonymous results of this survey may be shared with various universities/prep-course providers and/or, if appropriate, Kaplan and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). If you have any issues accessing this form, or would prefer to give your answers in another format, please email us on outreach@ndlawyerproject.org.uk. With many thanks to Barbri SQE prep, Legal Neurodiversity Network and our focus groups for providing insight and comments on this survey.
University or prep-course provider for the SQE? Do you attend online or in-person?
If you did not attend a course, please put N/A.
Type a question
When were you diagnosed and who diagnosed you? Did your assessment report detail any educational adjustments?
For example, 2018 by a private psychologist
Are you a sponsored student (e.g., through an employer) or are you self-funding (including through postgraduate student loans)?
You do not need to specify WHO is sponsoring you, unless you feel this is relevant.
Are you doing/have you completed SQE 1 or 2? If you have sat an SQE exam, when did you sit it and at what assessment centre?
For example, "Sat SQE 1 in July 2022 in London, sitting SQE 2 in June 2024 in Manchester"
Before you started the SQE, what was your view of the exam(s)? Did you have any concerns as a neurodivergent person? Did your concerns ever make you question whether you should do the SQE?
(If applicable) How did you find the process of requesting adjustments from Kaplan (not their implementation)? What information did you have to provide and were Kaplan receptive to this information? Did your prep-course provider provide any assistance or advice?
(If applicable) What types of adjustments did you request? Were they implemented on the day of the exams in the way you had anticipated?
(If applicable) If you studied a prep course, as a neurodivergent person, how did you find the teaching and materials provided at your university/prep-course provider and what adjustments were made (including any Disabled Students Allowance support you received)? Would you suggest any improvements to make them/it more neuroaccessible?
How suitable was it to your learning style? This may include things like getting printed materials before workshops/lessons or a study tutor.
(If applicable) How did you find the format of the exam for your neurodivergence? (e.g., the amount and type of questions, the closed-book nature or the length of the exam days)
How was your mental health throughout your time taking the exam or during teaching? Did you access any support and was this offered by universities/providers?
(If applicable) Did you pass or fail the exams? ADDITIONAL QUESTION - If you failed, did you appeal your grade and on what grounds did you appeal? How did you find the appeals process?
Did you experience any other issues at the exam centre or with the SQE more generally (e.g., administrative issues)?
What do you think could be done to improve the SQE for neurodivergent people?
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