Exclusive Mentorship or Ethical Minefield?
When RPC's £75 TikTok mentoring sessions hit the news, the reaction was mixed. Some applauded the creativity of using TikTok to reach younger audiences. Others questioned the ethics of charging aspiring lawyers—many of whom are deep in student debt—for access to advice that arguably should be free.
Let’s call it what it is: a paywall around professional guidance. And it’s not just RPC. Across the legal industry, mentoring is becoming increasingly commercialized, often pricing out the very people who need it most—self-funding SQE candidates, paralegals earning £20k a year, and career changers juggling bills with part-time study.
But here’s the kicker: mentorship is only part of the problem. The bigger issue? Many aspiring solicitors are overpaying for everything—mentorship, prep courses, even basic practice tools—because they feel they have no choice. Spoiler: they do.
The Real Cost of Becoming a Solicitor
If you’re on the SQE route, you’ve already noticed how expensive it is to qualify. The exam fees alone are brutal—£1,622 for SQE1 and SQE2. Add to this the £3,000–£6,000 many prep providers charge, and you’re staring at a five-figure investment before you’ve even secured a training contract.
For many, mentoring feels like just another tax on ambition. And while £75 might not seem like much compared to, say, BARBRI’s £6,000 prep course, it adds up fast when you factor in multiple sessions. Plus, let’s not forget: not all advice is worth paying for.
Take the example of Amy, a recent law graduate self-funding her SQE journey. Amy spent £300 on mentorship from a LinkedIn-recommended solicitor, only to realize the advice was generic and didn’t address her specific struggles with Property Law. Meanwhile, her friend Anika opted for a free SQE webinar hosted by a legal charity, which provided actionable tips she could use immediately. The difference? Cost—and effectiveness.
What’s the alternative? You can’t afford to wing it. The SQE1 pass rate hovers around 55% (SRA data)—and it’s even lower for first-timers who don’t prepare properly.
This is where affordable, targeted tools come in.
Why Active Practice Beats Passive Advice
Let’s be honest—no mentoring session, however valuable, will teach you how to spot the single best answer in a multiple-choice exam. That’s a skill you build through practice. Repeated, focused, and sometimes frustrating practice.
Here’s the thing most candidates don’t realize: passive learning (like watching lectures or even listening to advice) is far less effective than active recall. This isn’t just my opinion. Research from the National Training Laboratories shows that active learning techniques, such as self-testing, result in 75% retention rates compared to just 10% from reading or lectures.
And yet, most SQE prep courses are built on passive learning. They’ll give you hours of lectures and hundreds of pages of reading material but limited opportunities to actually apply what you’ve learned.
Take BARBRI’s SQE1 prep course, for example. While comprehensive, it leans heavily on video lectures and written materials, with limited interactive elements. Compare this to SQE1Prep, which focuses entirely on active practice:
| Feature | BARBRI (£6,000) | SQE1Prep (£5/month) |
|---|---|---|
| Video Lectures | Yes | No |
| Practice Questions | Limited | 600+ (100 added daily) |
| Weak Topic Detection | No | Real-time analytics |
| Exam Simulation | Limited | Full Exam Mode |
| Cost | £6,000 | £5/month |
- AI-Powered Drills: With over 600 focused MCQs (and 100 new ones added daily), you’ll never run out of fresh material. Every question mimics the SQE1 format—single-best-answer, mapped to SRA specifications.
- Weak Topic Detection: Struggling with Property Law? Scoring under 60% in Tort? Real-time analytics pinpoint your weakest areas so you can stop wasting time on what you already know.
- Exam Mode: Ready to simulate the real thing? Exam Mode replicates the SQE1 timed format, complete with 180-question papers.
At just £5/month, it’s a fraction of what most courses charge—and infinitely more practical than a one-off TikTok mentoring session.
The Ethics of Access
Charging for mentorship feels especially problematic in a profession that preaches access to justice. How can we, as future solicitors, advocate for fairness while gatekeeping the very advice that helps people enter the profession?
Some argue that mentors deserve to be paid for their time. And sure, time is valuable. But there’s a difference between covering costs and turning mentorship into a side hustle. RPC’s TikTok offering may look progressive, but it risks normalizing the idea that careers in law are pay-to-play.
What’s the solution? Firms could offer free mentoring as part of their corporate social responsibility commitments. For example, Clifford Chance runs free virtual mentoring initiatives for underrepresented groups, showing that it’s entirely possible to provide guidance without charging fees. Legal charities like Aspiring Solicitors already provide some free resources, but demand far exceeds supply. Until the gap is filled, self-funded candidates need to be strategic.
That means prioritizing what actually helps you pass the SQE1—like targeted practice—and seeking free or affordable mentoring alternatives wherever possible.
Affordable Prep = Empowered Candidates
In my view, the rise of paid mentoring is a symptom of a larger problem: the commercialization of legal education. But let’s not get stuck in outrage. The real question is, what can you do about it?
First, focus on what you can control. You don’t need a £75 session to figure out where you’re struggling. Tools like SQE1 Drills use real-time analytics to do that for you—at a price you can actually afford.
Second, make mentorship work for you. Can’t afford RPC’s TikTok sessions? Join a free LinkedIn group for aspiring solicitors. Attend virtual Q&A events hosted by law firms. Seek advice from peers who’ve already passed the exam.
Finally, remember that no mentor, however well-meaning, can replace the value of consistent, focused practice. If you’re serious about passing SQE1, you need to put in the hours. And you need tools that make those hours count.
FAQ
Q: Is mentoring worth paying for?
A: It depends. If you’re getting tailored advice from someone with relevant experience, it can be helpful. But it’s rarely a substitute for active preparation.
Q: How do I find free or affordable mentoring?
A: Check LinkedIn groups, legal charities like Aspiring Solicitors, and pro bono initiatives run by universities or firms. For example, the Law Society’s Diversity Access Scheme offers mentoring to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Q: What’s the most effective way to prepare for SQE1?
A: Research shows active recall (like answering practice questions) is far more effective than passive review. Use tools like SQE1Prep to build this into your routine.
Q: Why is SQE1 so expensive?
A: Exam fees are set by the SRA, and many prep providers charge premium prices. Affordable alternatives like SQE1 Drills exist, but they’re still underutilized.
Q: How do I know if I’m ready for the exam?
A: Simulate exam conditions. Use tools with an Exam Mode feature to mimic the real SQE1 format and track your accuracy under timed conditions.
If you’re tired of overpriced prep and want a smarter way to study, SQE1 Drills can help. Get started free →
