SQE2 Exam Structure and Guidance

Preparing for SQE2 can feel overwhelming, but once you understand the structure, it becomes much easier to plan your study. This guide explains how SQE2 is set up and how you can approach it effectively.

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1. What SQE2 Assesses

SQE2 tests two things together:

• Legal skills – such as interviewing, advocacy, legal writing, legal drafting, case and matter analysis, and legal research.

• Application of law – using core areas of law in realistic client scenarios.

You are not just recalling rules. You are showing that you can think and act like a solicitor in real practice situations.

2. Overall Structure of SQE2

SQE2 is made up of a series of oral and written assessments across different practice areas.

Skills tested

The main skills are:

1. Client Interviewing & Attendance Note / Legal Analysis

2. Advocacy

3. Legal Writing

4. Legal Drafting

5. Case & Matter Analysis

6. Legal Research

Each task is built around a realistic client file or scenario.

Practice areas covered

Skills are tested through scenarios in:

• Dispute Resolution

• Criminal Litigation

• Property Practice

• Business (including company and commercial)

• Wills and the Administration of Estates

• Solicitors’ Accounts / Professional Conduct may be embedded in scenarios

You are not examined on every skill in every area, but across the whole assessment these areas are sampled.

3. Oral Assessments

The oral assessments typically include:

(a) Client Interview and Attendance Note

• You conduct a live interview with an actor playing a client.

• You are assessed on:

  • How you build rapport and listen

  • How you identify the client’s goals and key facts

  • How you explain the next steps clearly and accurately

• Immediately afterwards, you write an attendance note / legal analysis:

  • Summarising key facts

  • Identifying legal issues and risks

  • Setting out next steps and advice in a structured way

(b) Advocacy

• You deliver a short oral submission (for example, an interim application in a civil case or a criminal hearing task).

• You are assessed on:

  • Structure and organisation of your argument

  • Use of facts and law

  • Persuasiveness, clarity and professionalism

  • Courtroom etiquette and professional conduct

4. Written Assessments

The written assessments usually cover:

(a) Legal Writing

• A task such as a letter or email to a client, or a memo to a supervising partner.

• Markers look for:

  • Clear structure and logical flow

  • Use of appropriate tone (client-friendly vs. technical)

  • Accurate application of law to the given facts

  • Practical and realistic advice

(b) Legal Drafting

• Drafting or amending a document such as a clause, order, or contract provision.

• You must:

  • Use precise and concise language

  • Reflect the client’s instructions and objectives

  • Maintain internal consistency and proper formatting

(c) Case and Matter Analysis

• You are given a file or bundle of documents.

• You must:

  • Identify the key facts and legal issues

  • Spot risks, gaps and necessary further information

  • Propose next steps and strategy

(d) Legal Research

• You are given a practical problem and access to legal materials.

• You must:

  • Find relevant authority efficiently

  • Extract and apply the key principles

  • Present your answer in a clear, structured format (e.g. note or memo)

5. Marking and Standards

Each task is marked against standardised criteria, typically including:

• Identification of relevant law and issues

• Application of law to the facts

• Accuracy, completeness and practicality of advice

• Communication skills (structure, clarity, tone)

• Professionalism and ethics

Marking is pass/fail overall, but your performance across all tasks is combined. You do not need to “pass” every single task individually, but consistently weak performance across skills or practice areas can lead to an overall fail.

6. How to Prepare Effectively for SQE2

(a) Build on your SQE1 Knowledge

• SQE2 assumes a solid grasp of black-letter law, especially:

  • Business Law

  • Property Practice

  • Dispute Resolution

  • Criminal Litigation

  • Wills, Trusts, Tax and Probate elements

• Weaknesses in SQE1 knowledge will show up in your ability to advise and apply law in SQE2 scenarios.

(b) Practise Each Skill Separately

Break your preparation into skill-based blocks:

• Interviewing: role-play with a partner or mentor; focus on listening, summarising and managing time.

• Advocacy: practise short oral submissions; focus on structure, signposting, and confident delivery.

• Writing & Drafting: rewrite sample answers; edit for clarity and precision; compare with strong models.

• Case Analysis: work from practice files; practise extracting key facts and planning next steps.

• Research: set yourself mini research questions and summarise your findings within a strict time limit.

(c) Simulate Exam Conditions

• Practise full tasks against the realistic time limits.

• Use a quiet environment, no notes, and stick to the task brief exactly.

• Afterwards, mark your own work:

  • Did you address the client’s actual question?

  • Did you use the correct tone?

  • Did you apply law correctly and completely?

(d) Focus on Professionalism and Ethics

• SQE2 expects you to think like a practising solicitor:

  • Maintain client confidentiality

  • Identify conflicts of interest

  • Give realistic, not over-optimistic, advice

  • Flag where you need to check something or seek supervision

• When in doubt, explain the risk and the safest course of action.

(e) Develop Templates and Structures

Having simple mental templates saves time and reduces stress. For example:

• Client interview structure:

  1. Introductions and explanation of your role

  2. Open questions to get the client’s story

  3. Clarifying key facts with focused questions

  4. Summarising back to the client

  5. Outlining next steps and managing expectations

• Advice letter structure:

  1. Brief summary of the issue

  2. Relevant law in plain language

  3. Application of law to the client’s facts

  4. Clear advice and options

  5. Next steps and practical points (costs, timing, risk)

7. Common SQE2 Pitfalls to Avoid

• Ignoring the client’s actual objective – always keep their goal at the centre of your answer.

• Over-complicating the law – markers look for practical application, not academic essays.

• Poor time management – leaving tasks unfinished or missing a key part of the brief.

• Unclear structure – jumping between issues without signposting.

• Unrealistic advice – promising outcomes you cannot guarantee, or failing to explain risk.

8. Final Thoughts

SQE2 is demanding, but it is also very learnable with the right approach:

• Understand the structure and the skills being tested.

• Practise realistic tasks under time pressure.

• Use clear, repeatable frameworks for each skill.

• Keep your focus on client needs, practical advice and professional standards.

With consistent, focused practice, you can turn SQE2 from something vague and intimidating into a clear, structured challenge you are ready to meet.