Legal Writing

Question 1

In what 3 ways can Legal Writing be assessed in SQE2?

Answer 1

1. Business (always)
2. Property or Probate
3. Dispute Resolution or Criminal Practice

Question 2

Summarise what the Legal Writing assessment involves

Answer 2

You’ll be provided with instructions relating to a client matter and be given 30 minutes to write an email or letter setting out your legal advice as a solicitor acting or assisting in that matter

Question 3

How long is the preparation time and assessment time for legal writing?

Answer 3

Prep time = 0 mins
Assessment time = 30 minutes

Question 4

How should you sign off a letter/email?

Answer 4

“A solicitor” or “An associate”

Question 5

What’s the first thing you should do once you’ve read the question?

Answer 5

Make a bullet point list of 4-5 issues that you need to address in your letter/email

Question 6

What are the 4 skills that will be assessed in legal writing?

Answer 6

1. Language - clear, precise, concise, and acceptable
2. Facts - include relevant information
3. Client and recipient focused - in relation to the content
4. Structure - should be logical, the reader should not have to jump around to understand

Question 7

What are 4 types of recipient you could be asked to write to?

Answer 7

1. A lay client (no or little understanding of law)
2. Sophisticated non-lawyer client
3. Client with legal training
4. Another firm of solicitors

Question 8

What should you do if you have to write a letter and the client’s address is not provided?

Answer 8

Put “address to be provided” in the correct space of the page

Question 9

How should you sign off a letter if you know the name of the recipient?

Answer 9

Yours Sincerely

Question 10

How should you sign off a letter if you don’t know the name of the recipient?

Answer 10

Yours faithfully

Question 11

What three things of the client should you focus on to ensure it’s recipient-focused?

Answer 11

1. Concerns
2. Needs
3. Objectives

Question 12

Set out the typical structure of an email/letter for legal writing

(hint: there are 8 elements)

Answer 12

1. Greeting
2. Letter/email header
3. Introductory paragraph
4. Summary of facts
5. Legal advice
6. Next steps
7. Closing sentence
8. Sign off

Question 13

What structure should you use when setting our your legal advice?

Answer 13

Issue
Law
Application
Conclusion

(aka: ILAC)

Question 14

Give 4 examples of professional conduct or ethics issues that may be tested in a legal writing assessment?

Answer 14

1. Maintaining independence
2. Conflict of interests
3. Integrity
4. Undertakings