SQE2 Legal Research
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The Legal Research assessment in SQE2 is a computer-based task designed to test a your ability to carry out focused and effective legal research using provided materials. In this exercise, you are given an email from a partner instructing you to research one or more legal issues so that the partner can advise the client appropriately. The task requires you to produce a written note that clearly explains your legal reasoning, cites the key sources relied upon, and outlines the advice the partner should provide to the client.
You are allotted 60 minutes to complete this assessment. The legal issue at hand will fall within the broad scope of one of the five SQE2 practice areas (Business Law and Practice, Criminal Practice, Dispute Resolution, Property Practice, and Wills and the Administration of Estates), but it may involve points outside the core Functioning Legal Knowledge, thereby necessitating legal research. You are not expected to produce a research trail or bibliography, but your report must demonstrate a sound understanding of the relevant legal principles based on the sources provided.
A critical part of this task is the ability to identify and use only the relevant materials from a collection of legal sources that includes both primary sources (such as statutes or case law) and secondary sources (such as legal commentary or extracts from practice manuals). Some of the materials provided will be irrelevant, and part of the challenge is knowing what to disregard.
The written report must be clear, concise, and professionally presented. It should explain the law in a structured way that makes it easy for the partner to understand and use in communication with the client. The advice provided must be client-focused, demonstrating an understanding of the client’s needs and objectives, rather than offering a purely academic legal discussion.
In applying the law, you are expected to be both accurate and thorough. You must show good judgment in analysing the legal position and, where appropriate, highlight any ethical or professional conduct issues, proposing appropriate resolutions in line with the solicitor’s duties of honesty, integrity, and compliance with the SRA Code of Conduct.
