SQE2 case and matter analysis: a 60-minute method
SQE2 case and matter analysis is a 60-minute written task where you read a client file and advise on the issues, the law, the evidence and what to do next. It tests whether you can see the whole matter and give a clear recommendation.
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What the assessor is looking for
The criteria for this task ask for relevant facts, a logical structure, clear, precise and concise language, and an approach that suits the reader. The law criterion asks for correct and comprehensive application of the law. Ethics counts too.
The file is the key. It usually has more than you need: emails, a contract, a statement, a letter before claim, a forms bundle. Your job is to find what matters, ignore what does not, and tell the reader what to do.
A method for the hour
- Minutes 0 to 5: the task. Who is the reader? What is the question? What output is required (note, email, advice)?
- Minutes 5 to 20: the file. Read once, marking dates, sums, parties, promises and anything that contradicts something else. Build a short timeline.
- Minutes 20 to 28: issues. List the legal issues in order of importance. For each, name the rule you will apply.
- Minutes 28 to 52: write. Use a fixed pattern for each issue: short answer, law, application to the facts, risk, evidence gap, action.
- Minutes 52 to 60: recommendation. Write the overall view and numbered next steps. Check names, dates and sums.
Use an issues grid
A grid keeps you organised and shows the assessor your thinking. Write one row for each issue.
| Issue | Key facts | Law | Strength | Gap or next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Is the debt owed? | Invoice for £48,000 dated 3 May, work finished 20 April | Contract terms on payment; breach | Strong | Get signed completion certificate |
| Does the other side have a defence? | Says work was defective; no written complaint until July | Set-off and counterclaim; burden of proof | Medium | Ask client for snagging emails and photographs |
| What is the next procedural step? | No letter of claim sent yet | Pre-action steps in the CPR; Part 36 offers | Action needed | Send a letter before claim giving a reasonable time to respond (often 14 days in a simple case), and consider mediation |
In the written answer, turn the grid into sentences. The grid is a planning tool, not the final answer unless the task asks for a table.
What a strong recommendation looks like
Say what you advise and why. Give a view on the chances, the cost and the risk. Offer one alternative.
Example: 'I recommend we send a letter before claim now. The debt appears well supported by the invoice, and the signed completion certificate should confirm it once we have it. The main risk is the defects allegation, which may reduce the sum but is unlikely to defeat the claim. Court proceedings would cost more than a negotiated settlement, so I also recommend we invite the other side to mediate within 28 days. If they refuse, we can issue and ask the court to take the refusal into account on costs.'
Notice that the recommendation names an action, gives the reason, weighs risk and offers a fallback. It does not say 'it depends' without choosing.
Common mistakes
- Telling the story of the file in order instead of ranking issues.
- Describing the law in general terms with no link to the facts.
- Missing a time limit, a procedural step or a funding point.
- Not saying what evidence is missing and how to get it.
- Giving options with no recommendation.
- Ignoring ethics: a conflict, a confidentiality point, a risk of misleading the other side or the court, or a funding issue under client care duties.
- Spending 40 minutes reading and 20 writing.
Case and matter analysis checklist
- Task, reader and output form noted.
- Timeline built.
- Issues ranked by importance.
- Each issue: rule, application, risk, gap, action.
- Evidence gaps named.
- Overall recommendation with reasons.
- Numbered next steps.
- Ethics point considered.
- Final check of names, dates and sums.
For the same analysis in a different style, practise with legal research (answering one question) and legal writing (putting the answer to the reader). The SQE2 mock page shows how to time a full written half day.
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Templates and worked examples
Questions
What is case and matter analysis in SQE2?
It is a written task, typically 60 minutes, where you analyse a client file and advise on the issues, the law, the evidence and the next steps.
How is case and matter analysis different from legal research?
Research answers one defined question using given sources. Case and matter analysis looks at the whole file, ranks several issues and recommends a course of action.
How should I use the 60 minutes?
Spend about 28 minutes reading and planning, about 24 writing up the issues, and the last 8 on your recommendation and a final check. Do not read the whole file twice.
Do I need to cover every document in the file?
No. Choose what matters. Some documents are there as background or as distractions. Say briefly why you rely on the documents you use.
Is ethics tested in case and matter analysis?
Yes. Ethics questions are not flagged, and the facts may hide a conflict, a confidentiality issue or a duty to the court.
Related
- SQE2 legal research: a method that fits in 60 minutes
- SQE2 legal writing: how to write a strong answer in 30 minutes
- SQE2 dispute resolution: what the tasks look like
- SQE2 business law: what the tasks look like
- SQE2 mock: how to run one that helps
Sources: SRA presentation: The SQE2 assessment; Law Society: SQE1 and SQE2 assessments; Civil Procedure Rules; SRA Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs and RFLs. Checked 10 November 2026.