September marks the start of a new academic year, and at Feldon Dunsmore, that is no different. With so many colleagues in training, whether that is preparing for the LPC, SQE, CILEX, or other qualifications, this season brings a renewed focus on studying. Particularly for us at Feldon Dunsmore, this also means focusing on how we balance our studies alongside our day-to-day work.

We’re lucky to be part of a team where so many people are on similar journeys. Between us, we’ve done a lot of studying and taken a lot of exams! This makes it easy to share advice, swap tips, and support each other through the challenges of learning while working. This blog brings together practical study strategies and wellbeing tips from across the team. So, whether you’re just starting your studies, thinking about taking them on alongside your role, or simply curious about what studying law looks like in practice, we hope you find something useful here.

“My practical tip would be to break down studying down into 40/60 minute windows with at least 20 minutes in between sessions. Wellbeing is also important during your studies, so make sure you prioritise seeing friends or keeping up any health/fitness sessions you were attending while studying! I always make sure that I plan my revision days around ensuring that I can go to the gym or an athletics training session within the day as it’s a great way of unwinding and keeping up a good mental health.”

Matthew Mansfield, Trainee Solicitor, PSC Financial and Business Skills Course

“MIND MAPS!”

Erin Slattery, Paralegal Apprentice, Apprenticeship End Point Assessment

"Build a healthy end-of-day habit—like taking a short walk—to create a clear boundary between work during the day and evening study. This routine can help refresh your mind and reduce burnout by preventing the feeling of having worked nonstop from morning to night."

Heidi Erlandsen, Trainee Solicitor, SQE 2

“Having a friend or colleague to study alongside makes a huge difference, especially when they are preparing for the same exam. It makes the experience far more enjoyable, enables you to bounce ideas off each other and keeps you motivated and accountable.”

Mia Kelleher, Trainee Solicitor, SQE 1

“Always take a moment to yourself during exam times, even if it’s just for five minutes, to go outside and not be stuck to the books all day!”

Maisie Jones, Paralegal, LPC – Mergers & Acquisitions Law & Practice

“My advice to students would be to spend some time identifying the learning techniques that work best for them. For me, using a combination of spaced repetition and active recall was particularly effective while preparing for the SQE1. I also found that taking regular breaks and keeping active with plenty of exercise helped me stay focused and keep my mind sharp.”

Archie Arundell, Paralegal, SQE 1

“A practical tip would be that mind maps act as a good resource on each topic for active recall and comparing what information you can actively recall. My wellbeing tip would be the prioritisation of your evenings and sleep above all else. I found that I worked better getting up early and studying in the mornings before work was a better system for me than trying to study after a full day of work.”

Bethany Isard, Chartered Legal Executive, Exams for CILEx Fellowship

“My best study tip would be to not get too concerned if you had a “bad” study session. Some study sessions go better than others, so you just need to look ahead and try not to dwell on a bad session.”

Sophie Price, Plot Sales Paralegal, Advanced Paralegal CILEX course

As we head into the new academic year, studying alongside work is a challenge, but it’s a lot easier being a part of such a supportive team that try to help where they can. The tips we’ve shared here are just a snippet of what’s working for our team, and we hope they make your routine a bit smoother.

If you are interested in training at Feldon Dunsmore, take a look at our current opportunities here: https://www.feldondunsmore.co.uk/site/join-us/permanent-opportunities/