Following our last post on SQE 1 assessments, here’s the low down on SQE 2 assessments.
It would be wise to advise that you cannot progress to SQE 2 until you have passed SQE 1.
SQE 2 is a rigorous journey of sixteen assessments in five practice areas to be undertaken over five days. It’s a demanding path, but as aspiring Solicitors in England and Wales, you’re ready for the challenge, right? After all, the best things in life are worth the effort!
You will face four oral assessments in advocacy and client interviewing and twelve written assessments in legal research, case and matter analysis, legal writing and case and matter analysis.
These assessments are closed-booked assessments. Written assessments usually take place at Pearson View centres, which are centres where you may have undertaken your driving theory test. Other candidates will be taking the SQE assessments, and on some occasions, other professional exams are undertaken there.
Oral assessments may occur at Pearson View Centres, hotels, or similar venues.
Exams used to be over 5 days in 1 week. Students can now take written and oral assessments separately rather than immediately after one another.
The questions in SQE are designed to assess legal skills using fundamental rules and principles at the level required of a competent newly qualified Solicitor.
For SQE2, you are assessed at 50% skill level and 50% law, apart from Interviewing, which is 25% skill, and attendance note is 25% skill and 25% law.
Look out for future posts where we will provide more detail on each skill assessment.