Updated SQE Assessment Specifications and FLK published following annual review

Apr 30, 2026

Summary

We have completed the annual review of the Assessments Specifications and Functioning Legal Knowledge (the FLK) for SQE1 and SQE2.

Following this, we have now published:

  1. a summary of the changes to the SQE1 Assessment Specification and FLK, along with updated versions showing the changes; and
  2. a summary of the changes to the SQE2 Assessment Specification and FLK, along with updated versions showing the changes.

Updated Assessment Specifications and FLK

The updated Assessment Specifications and FLK will apply to SQE assessments that take place after 1 September 2026. Therefore, the first time it will apply will be the SQE2 assessment in October 2026.

Versions of the Assessment Specifications and FLK showing the changes that have been published. Clean web-versions will be published in full after the SQE2 July 2026 assessments, replacing the versions that apply up to 31 August 2026, including Welsh language versions.

Current Assessment Specifications and FLK

The current Assessment Specifications and FLK will continue to apply for all assessments taking place before September 2026, namely April 2026 SQE2, July 2026 SQE1, and July 2026 SQE2. The current Assessment Specifications:

Aims of the annual review

The aims were to:

  • update the Assessment Specifications and FLK to reflect changes in the law and practice and make any other essential changes; and
  • offer clarification in the light of feedback from stakeholders where necessary.

Information on the review process was published in January 2026.

In addition to the usual stakeholder feedback process, focus groups relating to the five year evaluation of the SQE, including a review of the FLK, involving over 80 legal stakeholders, took place in March this year. Additional feedback was gathered during the focus groups which was in line with the scope of the annual review and which has resulted in more changes being made to the FLK than have been made previously.

The scope of the five year review of the FLK is broader and updates on that review later will be provided later in the year.

Learn more: FLK Annual Review

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