In this article, Jane Waddell, Head of Curriculum at The College of Legal Practice, shares practical SQE2 revision tips and explains how students can prepare effectively for both the oral and written assessments.
SQE2 can feel very different to SQE1. After months of revising legal knowledge and answering multiple-choice questions, students are often surprised by the shift in focus. SQE2 still requires strong legal knowledge, but it is ultimately assessing how you apply that knowledge through the practical skills expected of a newly qualified solicitor.
One of the most common questions I hear from students is: "How should I revise for SQE2?"
The answer is not necessarily to learn more law. It is to think carefully about how you will use that law in practice. With that in mind, here are some of my top SQE2 revision tips.
1. Understand what SQE2 is actually testing
The first step in preparing for SQE2 is understanding what you are being assessed on.
SQE2 tests six core solicitor skills:
- Client interviewing
- Advocacy
- Case and matter analysis
- Legal research
- Legal writing
- Legal drafting
These skills are then assessed within the context of five legal practice areas. This means that while legal knowledge remains important, knowledge alone will not be enough.
Students sometimes make the mistake of approaching SQE2 as though it is simply "more SQE1". In reality, the focus is very different. SQE2 is about demonstrating that you can use legal knowledge professionally and effectively.
2. Don't neglect your SQE1 knowledge
Although SQE2 is skills-based, you still need a secure understanding of the underlying law.
Many students assume they can put their SQE1 notes away for good once they have passed. However, the legal knowledge tested in SQE1 forms the foundation for many of the tasks you will encounter in SQE2 and is in fact 50% of your grade.
For example, if you are conducting a client interview or drafting a legal document, you still need to understand the legal principles that sit behind the scenario.
A good revision strategy should therefore include both skills practice and regular review of your legal knowledge.
3. Practise the oral assessments early
The oral assessments are often the aspect of SQE2 that students feel most nervous about.
Advocacy and client interviewing require a different type of preparation to written assessments. Reading notes and watching recordings can be helpful, but confidence usually comes from practice.
Try speaking legal advice out loud rather than simply reading it. Practise explaining legal concepts in plain English. If possible, ask a colleague, friend or fellow student to play the role of a client so that you can practise asking questions and responding in real time.
The more comfortable you become with speaking about the law, the more natural these assessments will feel.
4. Learn to focus on the client's needs
One of the biggest adjustments students need to make when preparing for SQE2 is remembering that the client is at the centre of every task.
Students often try to demonstrate everything they know. Unfortunately, that can result in answers that are overly complicated or miss the point entirely.
A better approach is to continually ask yourself:
"What does the client actually need from me?"
Whether you are conducting an interview, writing a letter or presenting an argument, your goal is to identify the relevant issues, provide practical advice and help the client move forward.
5. Don't leave drafting and legal writing until the end
Drafting and legal writing are practical skills that improve through repetition.
Many students spend significant time revising substantive law but comparatively little time writing. As a result, they can find the written assessments more challenging than expected. The best way to improve is to practise regularly.
Draft documents. Write attendance notes. Produce client letters and legal emails. Review examples and compare your work against them. Over time, you will become more comfortable with structure, tone and professional presentation.
Remember that legal writing should be clear, concise and precise. The strongest answers are rarely the longest.
6. Learn how to identify the important facts
In practice, clients do not arrive with the legal issue clearly identified. Part of a solicitor's role is working out which information matters, which facts are relevant and which issues need further investigation. This is why case and matter analysis forms such an important part of SQE2.
When revising, try not to focus solely on learning legal rules. Spend time practising how you identify issues within a scenario and separate relevant information from distractions. Developing this skill can make a significant difference across multiple assessment types.
7. Use feedback as a revision tool
Many students focus heavily on completing practice exercises, but the real value often comes afterwards.
Feedback helps you understand what worked well, where improvement is needed and what you should focus on next.
Wherever possible, review feedback carefully and look for recurring themes. Are there particular skills that need attention? Is there a pattern to the comments you receive?
SQE2 preparation should be viewed as a cycle of practice, feedback and improvement rather than a simple checklist of tasks completed.
8. Practise under realistic conditions
As exam day approaches, it becomes increasingly important to simulate the assessment experience. Timed exercises help develop confidence and improve decision-making under pressure. They also highlight areas where further preparation may be needed.
Students often discover that performing a task and completing it within the allotted timeframe are two very different things.
The more familiar the assessment format becomes, the more mental energy you will have available on the day to focus on the task itself.
Final thoughts
There is no shortcut to SQE2 success. The students who prepare most effectively are usually those who move beyond simply learning the law and spend time practising how they will use it. Building confidence in interviewing, drafting, communicating advice and analysing legal issues is just as important as revising legal content.
My advice is simple: start practising early, make use of feedback and keep returning to one key question throughout your preparation:
"What would a solicitor do in this situation?"
That mindset can make all the difference.
These tips have been taken from our webinar, The SQE Route Demystified: What you need to know in June 2026.