Practical Legal Skills in SQE2

The Solicitors Qualifying Examination Stage 2, commonly abbreviated as SQE2, is the second part of the SQE, which is designed to assess your practical legal skills. While the specific details of the assessment format may vary, the following practical legal skills are assessed in SQE2:

Client interview: Client interview refers to the process of meeting with a client to gather relevant information about their legal matter. This skill involves active listening, effective communication, and the ability to ask pertinent questions in order to understand the client's situation, objectives, and concerns.

Attendance note: An attendance note is a written record or summary of a meeting, discussion, or event. In the legal context, attendance notes are commonly used to document the details of client meetings, court hearings, negotiations, or any other important interactions. It serves as a reliable reference for recalling important information and can be used for future reference or as evidence.

Legal analysis: Legal analysis involves the systematic examination and interpretation of legal issues, rules, statutes, regulations, and case law. It requires the ability to identify and evaluate legal principles, apply them to specific factual scenarios, and reach reasoned conclusions or recommendations. Legal analysis often involves critical thinking, logical reasoning, and the ability to consider different perspectives and arguments.

Advocacy: Advocacy refers to the skill of representing and defending a client's interests in legal proceedings. It involves the ability to effectively present arguments, make persuasive speeches, and advocate for a particular position or outcome. Advocacy can occur in various settings, including courtrooms, arbitrations, mediations, or negotiations, and requires a strong command of legal principles and persuasive communication skills.

Case and matter analysis: Case and matter analysis involves the thorough examination and evaluation of legal cases or matters. It includes reviewing relevant documents, identifying key issues, assessing strengths and weaknesses, and formulating strategies or recommendations. This skill requires attention to detail, analytical thinking, and the ability to identify and prioritise relevant facts and legal principles.

Legal research: Legal research involves the process of finding and analysing legal information to support legal arguments, advice, or decision-making. It requires the use of various legal resources such as statutes, regulations, case law, legal databases, and secondary sources. Effective legal research skills include the ability to formulate research queries, locate relevant sources, critically evaluate information, and apply the findings to the legal matter at hand.

Legal writing: Legal writing refers to the skill of drafting clear, concise, and well-structured written documents in the legal field. It includes drafting legal opinions, memoranda, briefs, contracts, and other legal documents. Legal writing requires a strong command of legal language and terminology, effective organization of arguments, and the ability to communicate complex legal concepts to a specific audience.

Legal drafting: Legal drafting involves the skill of creating and preparing legal documents such as contracts, agreements, wills, pleadings, or legislation. It requires precision, attention to detail, and a comprehensive understanding of legal principles and requirements. Legal drafting involves careful wording, structuring of clauses, and ensuring that the document accurately reflects the client's intentions while complying with applicable laws and regulations.

These skills collectively assess your practical abilities and competence in various aspects of legal practice. The assessments aim to ensure that candidates are well-prepared to handle the challenges and responsibilities of being a solicitor in England and Wales.