SQE2 Oral Exams: Practical Tips for Meeting the Examiner
The SQE2 oral exams for many candidates feels particularly daunting. Sitting face to face with an examiner—whether in the role of a client during an interview or a judge during advocacy—can heighten nerves and make it difficult to perform as you would in practice. This is entirely normal, and it is something I see with SQE2 candidates every sitting.
Based on experience supporting candidates through the SQE2 oral assessments, below are three practical tips to help you approach the interview, attendance note, and advocacy with structure and confidence.
1. Use your preparation time strategically
During the ten-minute preparation period before the client interview, use your handwritten notes to create a simple template. Write out a clear list of the questions you intend to ask, leaving space between each question to record the client’s responses.
During the interview itself, do not be afraid to pause briefly and explain to the client that you would like to take a clear note of their instructions. This demonstrates professionalism and helps ensure accuracy, rather than detracting from your performance.
2. Focus your attendance note on legal advice
When drafting the attendance note, concentrate on clearly setting out the legal advice applicable to the client’s issue, rather than attempting to reproduce everything discussed during the interview. You can refer back to your handwritten notes for the detail of the discussion. What matters most is that your attendance note reflects sound legal reasoning and appropriate advice.
3. Be selective and structured in advocacy
For the advocacy assessment, focus on explaining to the judge how the relevant legal test has been met and why it is appropriate for the order you are seeking to be granted. You do not need to refer to every piece of evidence. The SQE2 rewards clear, persuasive reasoning, not volume. Select the most compelling points and present them calmly and logically.
Finally, if nerves are an issue, it can help to reframe how you view the examiner. Rather than seeing the client or judge as someone there to catch you out, imagine them as a benign and supportive presence—someone who wants you to succeed and understand your reasoning. This mental shift alone can make a noticeable difference to how you present.
Need support with SQE2 oral exams?
If you would like targeted support with SQE2 oral assessments, including client interviewing, advocacy, or post-exam reflection, one-to-one SQE2 tutoring and results analysis sessions are available. These sessions focus on structure, technique, and exam-ready performance.