Advocacy Basics for SQE2 - What Assessors Want to See

Introduction

For many candidates, advocacy is the most daunting of the SQE2 stations and the one where self-study leaves them least sure whether they are on track. The format is deceptively simple - candidates have 45 minutes to prepare and then 15 minutes to make a submission to a judge, played by a solicitor who assesses both skills and the application of law, in the context of either Criminal Litigation or Dispute Resolution.

The challenge is doing real courtroom advocacy, persuasive, structured and correctly pitched, in a high-pressure 15-minute window, while fielding questions from the bench.

This webinar demystifies the station and builds the core habits assessor’s reward - courtroom language and etiquette, a clear submission structure, persuasive delivery and the confidence to think on your feet when the judge intervenes.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• The shape of the SQE2 advocacy station, the 45-minute preparation period, the 15-minute submission and the two practice areas (Criminal Litigation and Dispute Resolution) in which it is set
• How to use the preparation time to navigate the bundle, identify the application you are making, pin down the relevant legal test and select the facts that matter
• Courtroom language and register, replacing ‘I think’ and ‘I believe’ with proper submission language such as ‘In my submission…’ and maintaining a polite, non-patronising manner
• Building a submission with a clear beginning, middle and end, using signposting to guide the judge through your argument
• Selecting and deploying only the relevant facts to support your submissions, rather than reciting the bundle
• Applying the correct legal principles accurately to the client’s situation, including where the court has a discretion you are asking it to exercise
• Persuasive, confident delivery, pace, clarity, purpose and influencing the judge’s decision-making
• Engaging with the court, directing the judge to documents, using your notes without being a slave to them and standing to address the court where required
• Handling judicial intervention with composure, anticipating likely questions in preparation and responding effectively under pressure
• Opening and closing properly, including signalling who you act for and using a clean closing formula such as ‘Unless I can assist you further, those are my submissions’
• Identifying any ethical and professional conduct issues woven into the scenario and dealing with them
• The most common reasons candidates lose marks, muddled structure, weak signposting, over-reliance on notes, hesitancy and failing to answer the judge’s question

This pre-recorded webinar will be available to view from Thursday 11th February 2027

Alternatively, you can gain access to this webinar and 2,400+ others via the MBL Webinar Subscription. Please email webinarsubscription@mblseminars.com for more details.