SQE2 Written Assessments

The written component of SQE2 is an in-depth test of your ability to apply legal knowledge and professional skills across a broad range of practice areas in a solicitor’s daily work. It includes four types of legal skills assessments: case and matter analysis, legal research, legal writing, and legal drafting. These exercises are designed to reflect realistic legal tasks and demand an integrated understanding of both black letter law and practical application. You will complete 12 written assessments over the course of three half-days.

On Day 1, you are assessed on all four written skills, including case and matter analysis, drafting, research, and writing, in the context of Dispute Resolution and Criminal Litigation. This day involves handling both civil and criminal matters, where you must demonstrate your ability to identify key issues, research the law effectively, draft appropriate documents, and communicate legal advice with precision and clarity.

Day 2 shifts focus to Property Practice and Wills and Intestacy, Probate Administration and Practice. These practice areas require a detailed understanding of land law, conveyancing, probate procedures, and the administration of estates. The tasks set will again draw on the four core skills, testing how your analyse matters, research applicable law, draft accurate legal documents, and write letters or emails that are appropriate and professional in tone.

On Day 3, the assessments are entirely based on Business Organisations, Rules and Procedures. This includes matters such as company formation, business structures, partnership law, money laundering compliance, and financial services regulations. The written tasks continue to require the application of all four legal skills, offering you the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of corporate legal practice and regulatory obligations.

You may be required to complete the tasks in an order different from the one listed for each day. This arrangement allows the examiners to handle the assessments more efficiently and should not affect your performance as it does not affect the content and structure of the assessments. This flexibility means that you must be prepared to tackle any of the four skills in any order.

The SQE2 written assessments are a rigorous test of practical competence designed to simulate the tasks that a solicitor is expected to perform. The tasks require not only legal accuracy but also attention to detail, time management, and a client-focused approach. You must apply the law as it stands at the assessment cut-off date and must demonstrate integrity, sound judgment, and ethical awareness throughout.