Overview
Our free Business Law and Practice notes cover everything you need to know for the Solicitors' Qualifying Exam (SQE). From company formation and director duties to shareholder rights and insolvency, we've got you covered. Whether you're in a classroom or taking the self-study route, these notes provide added peace of mind, knowing that you have everything you need to help consolidate and revise effectively for the SQE1 exam. Think something could be better? Give us a shout on our contact page, and we'll take a look.
We've created comprehensive study guides for all SQE1 FLK1 and FLK2 topics. Check out our other free notes below:
FLK1
FLK2
- Criminal Law and Practice
- Land Law
- Property Practice
- Solicitors Accounts
- Trusts
- Wills and the Administration of Estates
1. Business and Organisational Characteristics
- Sole trader
- Ordinary partnerships
- Limited liability partnerships
- Private limited companies
- Public limited companies
- Legal personality
- Limited liability
2. Company Formation
- Incorporation process and requirements
- Constitutional documents
- Companies House filing requirements
- Trading name and registered office
- Directors, shareholders, and people with significant control
- Changing from private to public company
- Shelf companies
3. Partnership and LLP Formation
4. Corporate Governance and Compliance
- Rights, duties, and powers of directors
- Rights, duties, and powers of shareholders
- Decision-making processes (board meetings, general meetings)
- Written resolutions
- Appointment and removal of directors
- Minority shareholder protection
- Unfair prejudice claims and derivative actions
- Statutory filing and disclosure requirements
- Documentary and record-keeping obligations
5. Partnership Governance
- Decision-making and authority of partners
- Procedures under the Partnership Act 1890
- Common provisions in partnership agreements
- Dissolution and sale as a going concern
6. Business Finance
- Funding options: debt and equity
- Types of security (fixed and floating charges)
- Distribution of profits and gains
- Financial records and accounting requirements
- Share capital and shareholders
- Allotment and transfer of shares
- Share buybacks
7. Income Tax
- Chargeable persons and entities
- Basis of charge
- Types of income
- Main reliefs and exemptions
- Calculation and collection of tax
- Tax bands and rates
- Payment methods and deadlines
- Anti-avoidance provisions
8. Capital Gains Tax
- Chargeable persons and entities
- Basis of charge
- Calculation of gains and allowable deductions
- Main reliefs and exemptions
- Calculation and collection of tax
- Payment methods and deadlines
- Anti-avoidance provisions
9. Corporation Tax
- Basis of charge
- Calculation of taxable profits
- Payment and collection of tax
- Tax treatment of company distributions to shareholders
- Anti-avoidance provisions
10. Value Added Tax (VAT)
- Key principles (scope, supply, input and output tax)
- Registration requirements
- Issuing VAT invoices
- Returns and payment of VAT
- Recordkeeping and compliance