SQE2 Time Management: How to Use Every Minute Wisely

One of the biggest challenges in SQE2 is time pressure. With each task limited to 25–45 minutes, knowing the law isn’t enough—you also need to know how to manage your time under exam conditions. In this post, we’ll break down practical SQE2 time management strategies for every assessment type, so you can maximise your performance and avoid last-minute panic. Whether you’re prepping for advocacy, interviews, drafting, legal writing, case and matter anylsis or the dreaded legal research, this is your go-to guide.     Advocacy: Mastering Prep and Presentation Preparation (45 minutes) Use your prep time wisely by breaking it down into clear blocks: 5–10 mins: Read through all materials 20–30 mins: Prepare your speech (bullet points or full script) 5–10 mins: Practise delivery silently or aloud Presentation (15 minutes) Keep your arguments sharp and concise. If your speech has 2 key points, try this structure: 1–2 mins: Introduction 2–3 mins: Summary of facts 2–3 mins: Point 1 (law + application) 2–3 mins: Point 2 (law + application) 1–2 mins: Conclusion Leave 3–5 mins for questions at the end Time Management Tip: Practice your advocacy aloud to develop an instinct for how long each section takes.     Interview & Attendance Note: Keep It Client-Focused Interview Prep (10 minutes) Read the scenario Plan the key open and follow-up questions Prioritise what you absolutely need to know Interview (25 minutes) Assuming the client has 3 main issues: 5 mins: Intro and rapport building 5 mins: Issue 1 5 mins: Issue 2 5 mins: Issue 3 5 mins: Wrap-up, client questions, next steps Attendance Note (25 minutes) Divide your writing strategically: 5 mins: Tidy up client details and background 5 mins: Issue 1 (law + advice) 5 mins: Issue 2 (law + advice) 5 mins: Issue 3 (law + advice) 5 mins: Final summary + proofreading Time Management Tip: Use the client interview to start building a framework for your note, and already writing down facts and details.     Legal Writing: Fast, Focused, and Precise Legal writing is one of the shortest SQE2 tasks, so every minute counts. 5 mins: Read instructions, build a letter/email template, plan answer in bullet points 6 mins: Cover Issue 1 (law, application, advice) 6 mins: Cover Issue 2 (law, application, advice) 6 mins: Cover Issue 3 (law, application, advice) 5 mins: Proofread Time Management Tip: Practice template creation and keep your structure consistent to save time.     Case and Matter Analysis: Don’t Overcomplicate It This assessment gives you a decent window of time—use it well. 5–10 mins: Read instructions, bullet-point your answer plan 15 mins: Issue 1 (law, analysis + options, advice) 15 mins: Issue 2 (law, analysis + options, advice) 15 mins: Issue 3 (law, analysis + options, advice) 5–10 mins: Final summary + thorough check Time Management Tip: Focus on practicing mocks and nailing the structure to avoid losing track.     Drafting: Manage the Unknowns Drafting tasks vary significantly, so flexibility is key. 5 mins: Read instructions, identify drafting purpose and format, create bullet-point outline 30 mins: Draft the document 10 mins: Review content, tone, and grammar Time Management Tip: If the format is unfamiliar, slow down your planning and avoid rushing the structure.     Legal Research: Stay Calm, Work Smart Research is high-pressure due to time constraints and the volume of materials. 5 mins: Read the instructions and identify the key legal issues 15 mins: Research and note rough answer + source for Question 1 15 mins: repeat for Question 2 15 mins: repeat for Question 3 10 mins: Tidy up, edit and polish your written answer Time Management Tip: Don’t try to read everything. Skim for headings, use Ctrl+F, and focus on pinpointing the relevant legal rule that answers each question quickly.     Final Thoughts: Time is Your Secret Weapon Great SQE2 preparation isn’t just about knowing the law—it’s about knowing how to use your time wisely under pressure. To recap: Practice your timing for each task regularly Stick to your structure so you’re not reinventing the wheel each time Leave time to review—proofreading can be the difference between a pass and a borderline fail With a solid plan and smart time management, you’ll walk into each SQE2 station knowing exactly what to do—and when to do it. For more practice, check out my popular mock question packages here.