SQE2 Assessment Tasks
SQE2 tests the core legal skills required of a newly qualified solicitor through six assessments. Each of them is designed to evaluate not only technical legal competence but also professional conduct, client awareness, and communication. The assessments simulate realistic legal tasks solicitors undertake in practice, across a range of practice areas. Below is a detailed explanation of each assessment.
1. Client Interviewing and Attendance Note/Legal Analysis
The client interviewing assessment tests your ability to communicate effectively with clients and gather relevant information. You receive an email from a partner or secretary, which sets out who the client is and the general nature of the legal issue. Following a 10-minute preparation, you conduct a 25-minute interview with an actor playing the client. The goal is to build rapport, listen actively, and elicit all relevant facts, while demonstrating professionalism, empathy, and client focus. Importantly, the interview is not an opportunity for detailed legal advice; rather, it is about building trust and setting the groundwork for advice to follow.
Immediately after the interview, you complete a written task by hand: the attendance note and legal analysis. You are give 25 minutes to document the key points from the interview, provide an initial legal analysis, and outline the next steps in the matter. You must also identify any ethical or professional issues that arise. This dual assessment evaluates both interpersonal and analytical skills, so you need a strong grasp of the law and an ability to contextualise it within the client's situation.
2. Advocacy
This task evaluates your ability to make oral submissions in court. You are provided with a case file and an email outlining the task, typically a short application or argument before a judge. You have 45 minutes to prepare and then 15 minutes to deliver their oral submission. The judge, played by a solicitor assessor, may ask questions during the hearing to test your responsiveness and legal understanding. Success in this assessment depends on clarity of speech, logical structure, persuasiveness, and the ability to remain composed under questioning. You must also correctly apply the relevant law, demonstrating sound legal judgment and ethical awareness where applicable.
3. Case and Matter Analysis
This task is a written, computer-based assessment that simulates reporting to a partner in a law firm. You are given a set of documents and asked to produce a structured legal analysis and advice in 60 minutes for a fictional client. This task assesses your ability to identify the legally relevant facts, analyse the issues comprehensively, and give advice that is not only legally accurate but also client-focused. It often includes suggesting next steps or options for resolution. The emphasis is on critical thinking, clear communication, and professionalism, as well as an awareness of any ethical or strategic considerations.
4. Legal Research
This task requires you to investigate an unfamiliar legal issue and report your findings to a supervising solicitor. Provided with an email outlining the problem and a set of legal sources, you have 60 minutes to analyse the materials and produce a well-reasoned report. The exercise tests your ability to identify what legal information is relevant, extract key principles from the sources, and apply them to the facts at hand. It also examines your ability to communicate legal conclusions effectively and with clarity, in a style appropriate to a professional workplace. Accuracy, client awareness, and proper application of law are crucial here, as well as recognising and resolving any professional conduct issues.
5. Legal Writing
This task is another computer-based assessment where you are required to write a formal letter or email in a legal context. This might be correspondence with a client, another solicitor, a third party, or an internal memo to a partner. You are given 30 minutes to communicate legal advice in a structured, concise, and reader-appropriate manner. The language used must be precise and professional, and the content must reflect a clear understanding of the client’s objectives. You are expected to correctly apply the law and tailor your writing to the intended recipient, demonstrating strong communication skills and legal reasoning.
6. Legal Drafting
This task requires you to prepare a legal document or part of one, such as a contract clause, court application, or other formal instrument. The task is completed on a computer within 45 minutes. You may be provided with a precedent, but you might also be expected to draft from scratch. The focus is on producing a document that is legally sound, logically structured, and written in clear, appropriate language. Assessors will look for accuracy in applying legal principles, as well as awareness of any ethical or procedural considerations. This task reflects the day-to-day drafting responsibilities of a solicitor and demands attention to detail, precision, and legal expertise.
Together, these six assessments form a comprehensive evaluation of your readiness to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. Each task replicates real legal work and requires a blend of technical knowledge, practical skills, and ethical awareness. You must demonstrate you can think like solicitors, write and speak with professionalism, and provide sound legal advice tailored to the needs of clients.
