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SQE 1- Assessment Specification

Overview of SQE1 assessments

Functioning Legal Knowledge

The depth and breadth of knowledge of English and Welsh law required of candidates is that of functioning legal knowledge. This means that candidates must apply their knowledge of the law to demonstrate the competencies required to the level of a newly qualified solicitor of England and Wales.

The core legal principles and rules a candidate will be asked to apply are identified by subject area. A candidate should be able to apply these fundamental legal principles and rules appropriately and effectively at the level required of a competent newly quaified solicitor in practice, to realistic client-based and ethical problems and situations. Each single best answer question is followed by five possible answers. Candidates should mark only one answer for each question.

The SQE1 FLK assessments are closed book. The questions in the assessments are designed to test the application of fundamental legal principles which can be expected of a newly qualified solicitor of England and Wales without reference to books and notes. They are not designed to test matters of detail which a newly qualified solicitor would be expected to look up.

Candidates will be tested on the law as it stands at the date of the assessment. They will not be assessed on the development of the law.

The two SQE 1 Functioning Legal Knowlege (FLK) assessments comprise the following subject areas:

  1. First Group
  • Business Law and Practice
  • Dispute Resolution
  • Contract
  • Tort
  • Legal Systems of England and Wales
  • Constitutional Law and administrative law
  • EU Law
  • Legal Services

2. Second Group

  • Property Practice
  • Wills and the Administration of Estates
  • Solicitors Accounts
  • Land Law
  • Trusts
  • Criminal Law and Practice

Within each of the above FLK assessments, questions may be drawn on any combination of the subject areas which might be encountered in practice.

Ethics and Professional Conduct will be examined pervasively across the two assessments above.

Principles of taxation will be examined only in the context of:

  • Business Law and Practice
  • Property Law and Practice
  • Wills and the Administration of Estates.

If you need further information send an email to info@britishlawacademy.com or fill in this form https://forms.gle/ybTC5vY691KQHAv17.