Top 10 Study Tips for SQE2 Success

Overview: Understanding the SQE2 Structure and Skills

What does SQE2 involve? SQE2 is a rigorous skills-based exam divided into two parts: an oral skills assessment and a written skills assessment. In total, candidates complete 16 practical exercises – four oral assessments over two days, and twelve written assessments over three days. The oral component includes tasks like a client interview (with an attendance note/legal analysis) and an advocacy exercise, while the written component covers case and matter analysis, legal research, legal writing, and legal drafting. SQE2 tests six core legal skills relevant to day-one solicitors: client interviewing, advocacy, case and matter analysis, legal research, legal writing, and legal drafting. Each task is time-limited and is set in a realistic scenario where you must apply legal knowledge to meet a client's needs. There is a single overall pass mark for SQE2 (the oral and written sections are not graded separately), so you need a balanced performance across all skills. Understanding this structure and the competencies being assessed is the first step to planning your study approach.

Top 10 Study Tips for SQE2 Success

Below are ten practical and proven tips to help you prepare effectively for SQE2. These SQE2 study tips cover preparation techniques, practice methods, oral performance strategies, time management, and mindset – all tailored to boost your chances of success in the SQE2 exam.

1. Plan and Organise Your Preparation Start your SQE2 preparation early and create a structured study plan. Make sure to cover all the skill areas and legal topics that could be tested. It's wise to split your revision between oral skills and written skills, rather than treating SQE2 as one monolithic exam. For example, dedicate specific days to practising oral exercises (like interviews or advocacy) and other days to written tasks (like drafting or research). Use the SRA's sample questions and materials as a guideline, and map out weekly goals for each skill. A clear revision timetable will ensure you give adequate attention to every portion of the exam and help you avoid last-minute cramming.
2. Adopt a Solicitor Mindset from Day One Remember that SQE2 is not a traditional academic exam – it's a simulation of real legal work. You won't be writing theoretical essays; you'll be performing tasks a solicitor does in practice. Approach your studies with a professional mindset. In your written answers and oral presentations, think and act as if you are already a solicitor serving a client. Pay attention to your tone and formality, and use clear, precise language. For instance, when drafting a letter or email, make it concise and client-friendly, and when advocating, be courteous and persuasive as you would in court. Continuously ask yourself, "Would an experienced solicitor trust me to handle this matter competently?" and let that guide the quality of your work.
3. Build Fluency in Applying the Law Knowing the law is important, but SQE2 is ultimately about how fluently you can apply legal principles in real-world scenarios. This means you should focus on practising the application of law, not just memorisation. For example, in a legal research exercise, it's less about recalling statutes from memory and more about efficiently finding and using the right resources provided in the question. In a client interview, it's about asking the right questions to draw out facts and then giving practical advice, rather than reciting textbook knowledge. To build this kind of legal fluency, practise each skill repeatedly using realistic scenarios. Work on explaining complex legal ideas in simple terms, and structure your responses logically with sound reasoning. Also, hone your ability to spot key issues quickly – this will come with time and practice. The better you get at thinking on your feet and adapting your legal knowledge to the situation at hand, the more confident you'll be during SQE2.
4. Develop Structured Approaches for Each Skill Each type of task in SQE2 follows a predictable structure, and having a systematic approach will help you tackle them consistently. During preparation, formulate a step-by-step method or checklist for every skill. For a client interview, for instance, you might structure it as: introduction, fact-finding questions, summary of facts, advice and next steps, and a proper conclusion. For a legal drafting task, remember the hallmarks of good drafting – clarity, brevity, proper format, and accuracy. Advocacy exercises should have a clear beginning (e.g. opening position or submissions), a logical sequence of points, and a concise conclusion, all delivered with appropriate courtroom etiquette. By practising with these frameworks repeatedly, you'll train yourself to address all necessary components even under pressure. Using templates or flowcharts can be helpful when learning, but ensure you can adapt to the specifics of the scenario so that your answers don't sound overly rehearsed or "robotic". The goal is to have a reliable game plan for each task type, which you can then execute flexibly in the exam.
5. Practise Under Real Exam Conditions One of the best ways to prepare for SQE2 is to simulate exam conditions as closely as possible. Set aside time for full practice sessions where you replicate the timing and pressure of the actual exam. For the written tasks, practise completing a case analysis, research, writing or drafting task within the allotted time, without interruptions or pauses (try writing your answer in one go with no excessive rewrites or use of "backspace," to mimic exam constraints). For the oral tasks, time your preparation and performance just as in the real exam – for example, give yourself 45 minutes to prepare an advocacy submission and then 15 minutes to present it, exactly as the exam requires. The more you expose yourself to the exam's time pressure and format, the more comfortable you will become. Include mock interviews and advocacy drills in your practice: record yourself conducting a client interview or presenting arguments, and then review the recording critically. You can also practise oral submissions in front of a mirror or with a study partner to simulate having an audience. These techniques train you to perform under pressure and help reduce exam-day nerves through familiarity.
6. Sharpen Your Oral Communication Skills Many candidates find the oral assessments (client interviews and advocacy) the most daunting, so give special attention to practicing these skills. Effective communication is key – work on speaking clearly, calmly, and with purpose. During interviews, practice active listening and responding naturally to the client's information. During advocacy or oral presentations, focus on structuring your speech so that it's easy for the listener (examiner or "judge") to follow. A good tip is to always consider the examiner's perspective: they are evaluating how well you address the question and meet the criteria, not your personal quirks or nerves. Aim to give them what they're looking for – succinct, clearly explained legal points that directly relate to the facts of the scenario. To improve, try speaking on legal topics or summarising cases aloud regularly. It can also help to practice with a colleague or friend acting as the client or opposing counsel, so you become comfortable thinking on your feet with someone else in the room. Over time, this practice will build your confidence and improve your SQE2 oral skills for the exam.
7. Make Your Advice Client-Focused In all your responses – written or oral – keep the client's perspective at the forefront. SQE2 is designed to test whether you can deliver advice and solutions that are practical and tailored to the client's needs. This means you should not just state abstract legal rules; always connect your answers back to what it means for the client's situation. For example, if you're advising on a dispute, address the client's objectives (e.g. avoiding court, saving costs, or achieving a quick resolution) and explain the options in light of those goals. If there are risks, costs, or ethical considerations, articulate them clearly so the client can make an informed decision. Showing empathy and understanding of the client's circumstances is crucial – the examiners want to see that you can be a "client-centred" lawyer. During your study, practice framing your answers in terms of advice: use phrases like "In this situation, the client should… because…". This habit will ensure that in the exam, your solutions aren't just legally correct, but also genuinely helpful from the client's point of view.
8. Stay Aware of Ethics and Professional Conduct Professionalism and ethics are woven through every SQE2 task. Often, scenarios will include hidden ethical issues or dilemmas – for instance, a conflict of interest, a confidentiality concern, or a client asking you to do something dubious. It's essential that you train yourself to spot and address these issues. Make sure you're familiar with the SRA Principles and Code of Conduct, because you may need to apply them on the fly. In practice answers, if an ethical issue arises, acknowledge it and outline what a solicitor should do (e.g. refusing to mislead the court, informing a client about a conflict, etc.). Don't ignore professional duties – demonstrating integrity and ethical judgment will earn you credit. Remember that the exam is partly about proving your readiness to act as a solicitor of England and Wales, which includes upholding ethical standards. By incorporating ethics into your study cases and discussing them with peers or mentors, you'll become more adept at responding appropriately when these issues come up in the exam.
9. Seek Feedback and Learn from Mistakes Practice alone isn't enough – you need to continuously improve by learning from each attempt. Whenever possible, get feedback on your performance. If you're enrolled in an SQE prep course or have a mentor, ask them to critique your mock answers or do a mock interview and debrief with you. Even without formal feedback, you can self-review by comparing your written answers to model answers or scoring guidelines (the SRA's SQE2 sample answers and marking criteria can be very enlightening). Identify any gaps or errors – for example, did you miss an issue, mismanage your time, or provide an answer that was legally correct but not client-focused enough? Keep a simple journal or log of common mistakes and key lessons for each skill. Over time, you'll start to see patterns and can target those weak spots. The aim isn't to be perfect in one go, but to show steady improvement until you consistently meet the standard of a newly qualified solicitor. Embrace constructive criticism and treat every practice run as an opportunity to refine your technique.
10. Leverage Practice Platforms and Resources (e.g. antlaw.ai) Take advantage of quality study resources to enhance your preparation. In addition to the official materials, consider using an online SQE2 practice platform like antlaw.ai to get extra practice. The antlaw.ai platform offers a large bank of SQE2 practice questions and realistic scenario simulations that cover all the key skill areas. You can work through a variety of authentic case scenarios – from client interviews to drafting exercises – which helps you apply your knowledge to new situations. A standout feature of antlaw.ai is its AI-driven support: you receive instant feedback on your answers and performance, pinpointing areas for improvement. This kind of intelligent tutoring can accelerate your learning by highlighting mistakes you might not notice on your own. The platform also includes mock exams that closely mimic the real SQE2, so you can test yourself under exam-like conditions. Many candidates find that practising with such tools not only builds their skills but also their confidence. (According to antlaw.ai's data, it boasts a 92% pass rate among students who extensively use its question banks.) While you should certainly use free resources like SRA sample questions, investing in a comprehensive SQE2 preparation tool like antlaw.ai can give you structured practice and support that is hard to get from self-study alone.