What does SQE2 entail? What will I be assessed on?
Once aspiring solicitors have passed SQE1, their next step is usually to begin preparing for SQE2. The exam can be taken in January, April, July and October.
SQE2 is somewhat different to SQE1. While SQE1 tests your functioning legal knowledge, SQE2 assesses practical legal skills and your ability to apply legal knowledge in the context of different practice areas. This means the exam does not assess how much you know, its focus is on assessing how strongly you demonstrate particular skills. As such, the exam comprises SQE2 oral assessments and SQE2 written assessments.
SQE2 written assessments can be completed at Pearson VUE locations in the UK and internationally. However, SQE2 oral assessments only take place at exam venues in the UK, namely Birmingham, Cardiff, London and Manchester. There is no fixed order in which candidates complete the oral and written assessments.
In preparation for SQE2, you may have a few questions. This article provides answers to the following:
1. Which skills are assessed on SQE2?
2. Through which practice areas will the six skills be assessed on SQE2?
3. What is assessed on SQE2 Oral, and how long does the assessment last?
4. What is assessed on SQE2 Written, and how long does the assessment last?
Which skills are assessed on SQE2?
The following skills are assessed on SQE2:
Client interview and attendance note/legal analysis,
Advocacy,
Case and Matter Analysis,
Legal Research,
Legal Writing and
Legal Drafting.
Negotiation skills are not assessed as a standalone subject or skill on SQE2. However, these skills may be assessed through the following:
Interview and attendance note/legal analysis and, or
Case and matter analysis and, or
legal writing.
Through which practice areas will the six skills be assessed on SQE2?
Criminal litigation (including advising clients at the police station),
Dispute Resolution,
Property Practice,
Wills and Intestacy, Probate Administration and Practice and
Business organisations, rules and procedures (including money laundering and financial services).
What is assessed on SQE2 Oral, and how long does the assessment last?
SQE2 Oral assesses the following skills:
Interview and attendance note/legal analysis and
Advocacy.
The SQE2 Oral assessment is completed over two consecutive half days. Depending on the centre where you sit the assessment, the order in which you complete the assessment may change. However, based on the SRA’s guidance, your SQE2 Oral Assessment days may look similar to the following:
Day 1:
Complete Advocacy in the context of Dispute Resolution and
conduct an interview and attendance note/legal analysis in the context of Property Practice.
Day 2:
Complete assessments on the same skills that you were assessed on on day 1, but through different practice areas.
For example:
You may be assessed on your advocacy skills in the context of criminal litigation and
Your interview and attendance note/legal analysis skills may be assessed in the context of Wills and intestacy, Probate Administration and Practice.
What is assessed on SQE2 Written, and how long does the assessment last?
SQE2 written assesses the following skills:
Case and matter analysis,
Legal research,
Legal writing and
Legal drafting.
The exam includes 12 assessments and you will take them over three consecutive days.
As with SQE2 Oral, on each test day, you will be assessed on all the skills.The days differ in terms of the context in which you are tested on these written skills.
This means that on day 1 you will complete four exercises. These four exercises will assess your competence with the four SQE2 written skills, case matter and analysis, legal drafting, legal research and legal writing.
On days 2 and 3, the same four skills will be assessed but through four different exercises.
As with SQE2 Oral, it is possible to complete the assessments in an order different to that outlined in this article. However, the assessment days may look somewhat similar to the following:
Day 1
You will complete four exercises. Two exercises may be in the context of Dispute Resolution and the other two may be in the context of Criminal Litigation.
Day 2
You will complete four exercises. Two exercises may be in the context of Property Practice and two may be in the context of Wills Intestacy, Probate Administration and Practice.
Day 3
You will complete four assessments, all of which will be in the context of Business Organisations, Rules and Procedures.
To find out more about SQE2 assessment days, follow this link https://sqe.sra.org.uk/assessments/assessment-days/SQE2