The SQE2 assessment tests your ability to complete practical legal skills tasks across a number of practice areas. You’ll also be tested on ethical principles throughout. There are 16 assessments in total, known as ‘stations’, which include simulations of solicitor/client interactions, file reviews, and court-based scenarios.
As an example, an assessment might test whether you can conduct an interview with a client who is confused, forgetful, emotional, unreliable, or with whom you have to establish your credibility.
Skills tested in SQE2
Client interviewing and completion of an attendance note/legal analysis (oral)
Advocacy (oral)
Legal research (written)
Legal writing (written)
Legal drafting (written)
Case and matter analysis (written)
Practice areas tested in SQE2
Dispute resolution
Property practice
Business law
Criminal practice
Wills and intestacy, probate administration, and practice
How you’ll take SQE2
There are two parts within SQE2. Each part assesses different types of skills.
🔴 SQE oral assessments
SQE2 oral will take place over two half days. The following table shows the assessments you will undertake on each of the days.
Day 1 | Day 2 |
Advocacy (dispute resolution) | Advocacy (criminal litigation) |
Interview and attendance note/legal analysis (property practice) | Interview and attendance note/legal analysis (Wills and intestacy, probate administration and practice) |
📢Note: Different candidates may complete the assessments in different orders. You may therefore begin with either the interview or the advocacy assessments.
🔴 SQE written assessments
SQE2 written exams take place over three half days. You’ll sit 12 assessments in total:
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 |
Case and matter analysis | Case and matter analysis | Case and matter analysis |
Legal drafting | Legal drafting | Legal drafting |
Legal research | Legal research | Legal research |
Legal writing | Legal writing | Legal writing |
Two of these exercises will be in the context of dispute resolution and two will be in the context of criminal litigation | Two of these exercises will be in the context of property practice and two will be in the context of wills and intestacy, probate administration, and practice | Candidates will sit all assessments in the context of business organisations, rules, and procedures |
📢Note: Different candidates may complete the SQE2 assessments in different orders.
The pass mark for SQE2
Throughout SQE2, you’ll be marked on both your skills and the application of the law, with each element weighted equally. You’ll be assessed on whether, overall, you meet the standards of a newly qualified English solicitor.
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