SRA update to the SQE Assessment Specifications
UPDATE TWO (May 2023)
This update is applicable across the Revise SQE series
On 28 April 2023, the Solicitors Regulation Authority posted a news item on its SQE website regarding an update to the SQE Assessment Specifications. According to the SRA:
“Most of these changes are minor – the only substantial change is to make clearer our expectations around understanding the laws in England and Wales, how they apply and where they differ. For instance, for Property Practice, candidates need to understand differences in relation to certain taxation, with Stamp Duty Land Tax in England and Land Transaction Tax in Wales. For Business Law, candidates need to understand the potential differences in the calculation of income tax in each of England and Wales.”
Indeed, many changes include the addition or removal of certain words and phrases, which do not amend the FLK in substance (e.g. the inclusion of the words “Common assault” before “assault and battery” in Criminal Law. This merely clarifies the FLK content, it does not amend it. Other changes are more substantive in nature, however. For example, in Criminal Practice, the SRA have included a new topic in the law of evidence, namely non-defendant bad character evidence in s.100(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.
Candidates sitting any SQE assessments post 1 September 2023 are strongly encouraged to read this updated Assessment Specification. The team at Revise SQE will be updating our Revision Checklist and Table of Legal Authorities in due course to reflect these changes.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For more information, see the full news update here:
RELEVANCE TO YOUR SQE1 ASSESSMENT
The updated FLK will apply to SQE assessments that take place after 1 September 2023. Therefore, the first time it will apply will be the SQE2 assessment in October 2023. Candidates sitting SQE1 and SQE2 in July 2023 will not be affected by these changes.
The Team at Revise SQE will be working hard to update textbooks and SQE1-style MCQs to reflect these changes to ensure that our work remains up-to-date in assisting you in passing the SQE.