SQE2 Case and Matter Analysis

The Case and Matter Analysis task in SQE2 is a written, computer-based assessment designed to evaluate your ability to analyse a case from both a legal and practical perspective. You are placed in the position of a junior solicitor who has received a case file from a supervising partner. The task is to produce a written report that identifies the legal issues, applies the relevant law, and provides clear, client-focused advice in the context of Business Law and Practice, Criminal Practice, Dispute Resolution, Property Practice, or Wills and the Administration of Estates. The exercise is grounded in real-life solicitor practice, so you are not simply restating law but are expected to apply it critically and pragmatically to the client’s situation. You are given 60 minutes to complete the task.

The materials provided typically include a case study and accompanying documents, such as letters, emails, contracts, statements, or procedural notices, similar to what a Day One Solicitor might encounter when reviewing a client file. The goal is to assess your ability to sift through this material, extract the legally and factually relevant information, and translate it into a structured, professional report addressed to a partner. The report must reflect not only legal accuracy but also a sensitivity to the client’s commercial, emotional, or personal objectives. You must demonstrate an understanding of what the client is trying to achieve, not just in law, but in outcome.

From a skills perspective, the assessment requires you to identify and prioritise the relevant facts, distinguishing what is legally significant from background detail. The advice must be tailored to the client’s needs and expressed in clear, concise, and professional language. Legal jargon should be kept to a minimum unless clearly explained. The report should be well-structured and easy to follow, helping the supervising partner understand the problem and the proposed next steps quickly and efficiently. The use of plain English and good document organisation reflects real-world expectations in practice.

In terms of application of law, you are expected to correctly apply the relevant legal principles to the facts of the case. This is not a rote recitation of the law as you must show you understand how the law operates in context. The analysis should be comprehensive, covering all the major legal issues, and demonstrating how the law supports or limits the client’s objectives. Where ethical or professional conduct issues arise, for example, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, or duties to the court, you must identify them and show sound professional judgment in addressing them.

In short, Case and Matter Analysis mirrors the kind of internal analysis a solicitor would regularly produce for a partner or senior colleague: practical, legally accurate, ethical, and client-centred. It tests your ability to balance legal reasoning with commercial awareness to show that you are ready to provide useful and responsible advice as a Day One Solicitor.