Aspiring solicitors find out today if they have passed the second part of the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s centralised assessment.

Results for the SQE2 exams that candidates sat in April started being released at 11am. Candidates should receive an email containing a link they need to click on to access their results.

SQE2 is the second and final part of the exam process.

The exam is made up of 16 written ‘stations’ testing the candidate’s legal skills and application of legal knowledge. A dozen stations test candidates’ skills of case and matter analysis, legal research, writing and drafting and four oral stations test skills in advocacy, interviewing, attendance note and legal analysis.

Overall pass marks are calculated using the station scores for each group of candidates who sit the same assessment. The pass mark for each of the three SQE2 sittings held last October was 62%. The overall pass rate was 71%.

Once exam provider Kaplan has confirmation that everyone has received their results, the pass marks for the latest sitting will be revealed. Attention will focus on any disparities between different ethnic groups, which have raised questions about the utility of the SQE in boosting diversity. Kaplan's analysis of last October's sittings found that 74% of those identifying as white passed SQE2, compared with 67% for Asian/Asian British and 53% for black/black British candidates. The SRA has commissioned research on differences in ethnic outcomes. 

The next SQE2 sittings will be held in October. Bookings close at 5pm on 11 September. Results for the July sittings of SQE1 (which tests functioning legal knowledge) will be released on 31 August after 11am.

To qualify as a solicitor, candidates must pass both sets of SQE assessments (the first tests functioning legal knowledge), have two years’ qualifying work experience and meet the SRA’s character and suitability requirements.

 

This article is now closed for comment.