SQE2 Oral Tasks

The oral tasks in the SQE2 assessment are designed to simulate real-life legal situations where candidates must demonstrate core practical skills expected of a Day One Solicitor. These tasks are interactive, time-pressured exercises where performance is judged on both communication ability and professional competence. They include advocacy assessments in both dispute resolution and criminal litigation, as well as interview and attendance note/legal analysis exercises in Property Practice and Wills and Intestacy, Probate Administration and Practice. Each of these stations assesses a unique combination of skills and legal application, and together they form a critical part of evaluating a candidate’s readiness for legal practice.

Advocacy (Dispute Resolution)
You must prepare and deliver a structured legal argument on behalf of a client in a civil context. Typically, the scenario will involve a hearing before a judge, such as a summary judgment application, interim remedy hearing, or case management conference. You are provided with a set of documents, including a brief from a supervising solicitor and any relevant case papers. You have 45 minutes to prepare your submission, during which you must analyse the factual matrix, identify legal issues, and determine the client’s objectives. This is followed by a 15-minute oral presentation, during which you must demonstrate effective advocacy skills, such as making persuasive arguments, responding appropriately to judicial intervention, and presenting your case in a clear and logical manner. Although you are not required to cite case law extensively or argue complex points of law, you must apply legal principles accurately and present your submissions in a way that reflects professional courtroom standards. Marks are awarded based on both legal application and oral advocacy technique.

Advocacy (Criminal Litigation)
This task follows a similar structure but focuses on representing a client in a criminal law context. The scenario may involve a bail application, plea in mitigation, or preliminary hearing. As in the civil advocacy task, you receive a brief and relevant documents, and have 45 minutes to prepare your oral argument. The 15-minute advocacy performance is assessed in real time by a solicitor acting as a judge or magistrate. In this task, you must show you understand criminal procedure and the relevant legal thresholds, such as those related to bail or sentencing, and tailor your submissions accordingly. You are expected to advocate for your client in a measured and ethical manner, balancing persuasive argument with professional decorum. As criminal hearings can involve vulnerable individuals or sensitive topics, an additional layer of assessment involves your ability to communicate with empathy, clarity, and respect for court protocol.

Interview and Attendance Note/Legal Analysis (Property Practice)
This task evaluates a candidate’s ability to conduct a client interview in the context of a property transaction or dispute, followed by a written record and analysis of the meeting. You are first given 10 minutes to review background materials, such as an email from a partner or client file summary, before conducting a 25-minute client interview. The client, played by an examiner, may present a purchase, lease, or boundary dispute issue. The interview is assessed solely on skills, including the ability to build rapport, extract key facts, and demonstrate professionalism and client-focus. You are not expected to give in-depth legal advice during the interview, but you should provide preliminary guidance that reassures the client and frames the legal issues. Immediately following the interview, you have 25 minutes to write a detailed attendance note or legal analysis. This must accurately reflect the information obtained, provide a sound preliminary analysis of the legal issues, suggest appropriate next steps, and address any ethical or conduct concerns. This part of the exercise is assessed both on legal accuracy and professional written communication.

Interview and Attendance Note/Legal Analysis (Wills and Intestacy, Probate Administration and Practice)
A similar format is used for this task though the subject matter shifts to private client work. You may meet a client who is making a will, administering an estate, or dealing with intestacy. As in the property practice station, you are given preparatory material and then conduct a 25-minute interview followed by a written analysis. This station demands a high level of empathy and sensitivity, as the client may be recently bereaved or dealing with emotionally charged family issues. You must elicit the client’s wishes, personal circumstances, and any relevant legal facts, such as familial relationships or the existence of previous wills, while also spotting potential problems such as tax implications or contested estates. In the written part, you must show you can analyse the legal issues competently, propose appropriate steps to take, and handle any ethical questions, such as conflicts of interest or capacity concerns.

In all oral SQE2 tasks, the emphasis is not just on legal knowledge but on professionalism, communication, and client care. The tasks are realistic and designed to assess whether you can operate confidently and competently in a solicitor’s role from the first day of practice. They demand the ability to think on one’s feet, interact appropriately with clients and judicial figures, and translate legal knowledge into clear, actionable advice or persuasive submissions.