SQE1 Legal Services – Rules, Exceptions & Key Distinctions Cheat Sheet

Legal Services can feel difficult because the questions often look similar — but one small fact can change the regulator, exemption, offence, defence or consequence.

This 52-page SQE1 Legal Services revision guide is designed to help you organise the subject into a clear decision-making structure rather than memorising disconnected rules.

The guide helps you work through questions in the same order:

what regime applies → who is acting → are they authorised or exempt → are the conditions satisfied → what must they do → what is the consequence



So instead of trying to remember isolated rules, you can learn how to identify the issue, apply the correct framework and follow the answer through to the required action or consequence.

Covered in the guide:

• Providers of legal services and reserved legal activities

• The regulatory role of the SRA

• Equality Act 2010

• Financial services

• Money laundering regulations

• Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

• Funding options and legal aid

Built for SQE1 MCQ revision

The guide is structured to help you:

• Identify which regulatory regime is engaged

• Distinguish authorised, exempt and unregulated activity

• Separate the roles of the LSB, approved regulators, the SRA and the FCA

• Check every condition before relying on an exemption

• Identify the correct offence, defence and consequence

• Spot when the solicitor must disclose, report, refuse, verify or seek consent

• Distinguish rules that look similar but lead to different answers

• Retrieve key deadlines, penalties, thresholds and high-yield numbers quickly

The resource also includes fast issue spotters, MCQ traps, “Do Not Confuse” sections, worked distinctions, high-yield numbers and quick chapter checks to help you move from understanding the topic to faster recall.

The aim is simple:

• understand the regulatory framework first, then learn how to apply it quickly to an SQE1 scenario.
• Use the guide alongside MCQ practice to consolidate the subject, identify weak areas, review difficult distinctions and prepare for mocks and final-stage revision.

Please note: This is an independently prepared educational revision resource. It is not affiliated with, approved by or endorsed by the SRA or any university, education provider or SQE preparation provider. Candidates should use the applicable SRA SQE1 Assessment Specification and their main study materials alongside this resource.

Accuracy and liability notice:

This resource has been prepared with reasonable care for educational and revision purposes. However, legal rules, regulatory requirements, figures and assessment specifications may change, and errors or omissions may occasionally occur. Candidates should check the applicable SRA SQE1 Assessment Specification and any relevant official sources for the version that applies to their assessment date.

This resource is not legal, tax or financial advice and should not be relied on as a substitute for professional advice or official assessment materials. Nothing in this notice affects any rights you may have under applicable consumer law.