SQE Stage 2 is the practical legal skills assessment which tests various skills: Client Interviewing and completion of an attendance note/legal analysis; Advocacy; Legal research; Legal writing; legal drafting; and Case and Matter Analysis.
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The assessments must be taken and passed in the various practice contexts making a total of 16 assessments known as stations: Dispute Resolution; Property Practice; Business Law and Practice; Criminal Practice; Wills and the Administration of Estates and Trusts. The stations will sample across the skills and practice areas. Candidates will not be able to choose the practice area for their skills assessment.

The Client Interviewing and Advocacy assessments involve role-play exercises. An assessor who has been trained in playing the role of the client assesses the client interview. The attendance note which follows the interview is marked by a solicitor. The Advocacy exam is assessed during the submission or presentation by a solicitor acting as the decision maker.

The Legal Research, Legal Writing, Legal Drafting, and Case and Matter Analysis assessments are completed on a computer. The exercises are marked by a trained assessor, who is a qualified solicitor according to the SRA criteria.

For practical purposes, SQE2 is divided into two parts as follows:

SQE 2 oral will take place over two half days. The following table shows the assessments candidates will undertake on each of the days. Candidates will take a total of four oral legal skills assessments, as shown in the table on the screen:

SQE2 written will take place over three and a half days. The following table shows the assessments the candidate will undertake on each of the days. Candidates will take a total of 12 written legal skills assessments as shown on the table on your screen.