SQE2 legal research: a method that fits in 60 minutes
SQE2 legal research gives you about 60 minutes to answer a legal question for a client or supervisor. Assessors look for the relevant sources, correct law applied to the facts, and a clear, concise written answer.
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What the assessor is looking for
The criteria for research include identifying and using the relevant sources, using the relevant facts, a logical structure, clear and concise language, and a style and format that suit the reader. The law criterion asks for correct and comprehensive application. Ethics is marked too, and may be hidden in the facts.
A seven-step method
- Read the instruction twice. Who is the reader, what is the question and what form of answer is required (email, note, letter)?
- Frame the question. Write it as one sentence: 'Can X do Y in these circumstances?' If there are two questions, number them.
- Pick sources. Start with primary sources (statute, rules, cases) before secondary ones (textbooks, practice notes). Ask which sources are binding and which are only persuasive.
- Check currency. Is the provision in force? Has it been amended? Is the case still good law, and does it come from a court that binds? Date matters.
- Extract the rule. Note the exact words of the key section or paragraph. Note any exception.
- Apply to the facts. Link each element of the rule to a fact. State the result and your confidence.
- Write the answer. Conclusion first, then reasons, then limits and next steps.
How to spend the 60 minutes
Many candidates spend 50 minutes reading and ten writing. Reverse the balance as far as you can.
| Minutes | Activity |
|---|---|
| 0 to 8 | Read the instruction and facts. Frame the question. Make a list of issues. |
| 8 to 35 | Read and select sources. Note the exact words and any exceptions. Cross out irrelevant material. |
| 35 to 55 | Write the answer: conclusion, reasons, limits, next steps. |
| 55 to 60 | Read through. Check names, dates, section numbers. |
Worked mini example
Mr Singh says a supplier delivered faulty machinery to his workshop in March 2019. He first contacted your firm in November 2026. He asks, 'Can I still sue?' Your supervisor wants a short email.
Frame. Is a claim for breach of contract against the supplier still within time?
Source. Limitation Act 1980, s 5: an action founded on simple contract cannot be brought after six years from the date the cause of action accrued. For breach of contract the cause of action accrues at breach, so here at delivery in March 2019.
Apply. Six years from March 2019 ended in March 2025. On the facts given, the claim is outside the primary limitation period.
Check exceptions. Limitation Act 1980, s 32 postpones the start of the period for deliberate concealment, fraud or mistake until the claimant discovered it or could with reasonable diligence have discovered it. We need facts: did the supplier know of the fault and hide it?
Answer (first lines of the email). 'Short answer: on the facts we have, the contract claim appears to be out of time because the six-year period ran out in March 2025. It may still be possible if the supplier deliberately concealed the fault. I recommend we ask Mr Singh about that before we advise him on any claim.'
The answer is correct, short and useful. It gives the conclusion, the authority, the exception and the next step.
Common mistakes
- Writing everything you found instead of answering the question.
- Relying on a source that is out of date, repealed or not yet in force.
- Missing the exception or the more specific rule.
- Quoting long extracts. Paraphrase and cite the section.
- Not tying the law to the client's facts.
- A reply written for the wrong reader, such as using technical terms for a client or too much explanation for a supervisor.
- No conclusion in the first paragraph.
- Not saying what you could not establish, and what is needed to close the gap.
Legal research checklist
- Reader and format noted.
- Question written in one sentence.
- Primary sources before secondary.
- Currency checked.
- Exceptions considered.
- Each element applied to a fact.
- Answer first.
- Gaps and next steps stated.
- Ethics point considered.
Practise with the research tasks on our task list. Each task is original and comes with its own source materials.
Practise this now
Wrongful trading risk for a director of a failing companyPassBusiness Law and Practice
Was the company bound by a lease signed without approval?PassCriminal Litigation
Can the prosecution use previous convictions at trial?PassCriminal Litigation
Reading a frightened witness's statement at trialPassDispute Resolution
Was the claim form validly served by email?PassDispute Resolution
Is a claim against a surveyor out of time?PassProperty Practice
Can a shop tenant renew a lease that was contracted out?PassProperty Practice
Can a landlord forfeit a shop lease for unpaid rent?PassWills and Probate
Gift to the daughter whose husband witnessed the willPassWills and Probate
Does a husband's will still benefit his wife before divorce?
Templates and worked examples
Questions
How long is SQE2 legal research?
Typically 60 minutes. It is a written task and appears on each of the three written days.
What sources do I use in SQE2 legal research?
Use the sources the task gives you. Choose the relevant ones, and check that each applies to the facts and is current. Do not use sources outside the task unless the instructions allow it.
What is the difference between legal research and legal writing in SQE2?
Research is about finding the right rule and applying it. Writing is a short document for a particular reader, usually where the law is already known. They are marked separately.
Should I give the answer first?
Yes. State the conclusion in the first paragraph, then your reasons. The reader should not need to reach the end to learn the answer.
Do I need to cite cases and sections?
Yes, where the source gives you them. Cite the section or rule number. Paraphrase rather than copy long passages.
Related
- SQE2 legal writing: how to write a strong answer in 30 minutes
- SQE2 case and matter analysis: a 60-minute method
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- SQE2 mock: how to run one that helps
- SQE2: what it tests and how to prepare
Sources: SRA presentation: The SQE2 assessment; Law Society: SQE1 and SQE2 assessments; SRA: Ethics and professional conduct changes for SQE2 after 1 September 2026; Limitation Act 1980. Checked 10 November 2026.