One of the first questions every SQE1 candidate asks is: what’s the difference between FLK1 and FLK2? The two papers look identical in format — 180 multiple-choice questions, five hours each — but they cover different areas of law. Understanding what each paper contains, and how to approach them differently, is essential for effective revision planning.
FLK1: Business and Property Law
FLK1 covers the subjects that arise most commonly in transactional and commercial legal practice. The core topics tested in FLK1 are:
- Contract Law — formation, terms, breach, remedies, vitiating factors
- Tort Law — negligence, occupiers’ liability, nuisance, defamation, vicarious liability
- Business Law and Practice — company law, directors’ duties, partnerships, insolvency
- Property Law and Practice — freehold and leasehold conveyancing, mortgages, co-ownership
- Wills and Administration of Estates — validity, intestacy, personal representatives
- Dispute Resolution — civil procedure, limitation, interim remedies, costs
FLK2: People and Criminal Law
FLK2 covers the subjects that arise most frequently in personal client and criminal practice:
- Criminal Law and Practice — offences against the person, property offences, procedure, sentencing
- Trusts — express, resulting, constructive trusts; certainties; breach and remedies
- Solicitors’ Accounts — SRA Accounts Rules, client money, interest
- Legal Services — SRA Standards and Regulations, principles, complaints, regulatory framework
- Constitutional and Administrative Law — parliamentary sovereignty, judicial review, human rights
Wait — Aren’t Some Topics in Both Papers?
Yes. The SRA’s approach is that a qualified solicitor needs functioning legal knowledge across all areas, but certain topics have greater overlap. Solicitors’ accounts and legal services, for example, are tested in FLK2 but the underlying regulatory principles run across both papers. You won’t be penalised for applying, say, contract law knowledge in a scenario that primarily arises in FLK1 — but the questions are designed to be self-contained.
The SRA publishes a detailed Subject Matter Specification for the SQE1. Every revision plan should start with that document — it tells you exactly what rules you’re expected to know.
How the Papers Differ in Practice
FLK1 tends to have a strong quantitative element in property and business questions — you may need to calculate stamp duty land tax, work out apportionment figures in a conveyancing transaction, or apply loan-to-value ratios. Build comfort with basic arithmetic and financial calculations for FLK1.
FLK2 contains the criminal law scenarios, which often involve multiple defendants, partial defences, or procedural decisions. These questions test your ability to apply nuanced rules quickly. Criminal procedure in particular — bail, disclosure, modes of trial — requires precise knowledge rather than broad understanding.
Should You Sit Them in the Same Session?
Most candidates sit FLK1 and FLK2 in the same examination period, typically on consecutive days. There are arguments for and against:
- Same session: Momentum, consistent preparation period, no gap where knowledge fades
- Split sessions: Reduces total revision pressure, allows deeper focus per paper
The majority of candidates who use a well-structured revision platform and begin preparation at least four months before the exam date are well-equipped to sit both papers together. If you’re starting with less than ten weeks to go, consider whether splitting is more realistic for your circumstances.
Revision Strategy: Should You Study FLK1 and FLK2 Together?
The most effective approach is to study them in parallel rather than sequentially. Complete contract law, then do some criminal law, then move to tort, then trusts. This interleaving is harder in the short term but produces stronger retention — a well-established finding in cognitive psychology.
Use your progress tracking to keep an eye on mastery across both papers simultaneously. Sqewise’s smart selector balances questions from both paper subjects automatically, so gaps don’t build up silently in one area while you’re focused on the other.
Practise This Topic on Sqewise
Sqewise covers all FLK1 and FLK2 subjects in one platform. You can filter your practice sessions by subject, or let the smart selector allocate questions based on where you need the most work. Visit our SQE1 topics page for the full subject breakdown, or see how Sqewise works.