Learning Outcomes
After reading this article, you will be able to synthesise and summarise findings from multiple legal sources, identify core issues and outcomes, and produce clear, concise, exam-ready written reports. You will also understand how to present relevant law and facts to support your advice, a critical skill for SQE2 assessments.
SQE2 Syllabus
For SQE2, you are required to understand how to analyse and report findings in legal research. You must demonstrate the ability to:
- summarise and synthesise legal rules, authorities, and factual findings from multiple sources
- identify key issues and relevant law when reviewing large volumes of material
- present clear, concise conclusions and recommendations, tailored to the needs of a hypothetical client or supervising solicitor
- differentiate between relevant and irrelevant information, focusing on exam-style written advice and reporting
- structure findings using appropriate headings, summaries, and logical sequences to support effective legal advice
Test Your Knowledge
Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, remember to look more closely at that area during your revision.
- What does it mean to "synthesise" legal findings in a case research report?
- Why is it important to distinguish between relevant and irrelevant facts when summarising your research?
- In reporting findings for SQE2, what is the key difference between a summary and a synthesis?
- Name two features of a well-structured written report in the context of legal research.
Introduction
Legal research for SQE2 does not end with finding authorities. You must be able to analyse, combine, and present your findings in a way that supports practical legal advice. This includes accurately identifying and combining key issues, facts, and law, and writing your advice in a clear, concise, and structured manner. This article will focus on synthesising and summarising findings, as well as best practices for SQE2 assessment-style written reports.
Synthesising Findings
Synthesis requires you to combine material from different sources or evidential strands to form a single, reasoned answer to the legal problem.
Key Term: Synthesis
The process of integrating information from multiple sources, identifying connections, and producing a coherent, original conclusion that addresses the legal issue.
When you synthesise, you should look for patterns, consistencies, or points of conflict between authorities or facts. Highlight similarities and differences, then produce a clear answer justified by reasons.
Key Term: Relevant Authority
Any legal source that has direct impact on the issues in your research and supports or opposes your client's position.
Worked Example 1.1
You have identified three authorities regarding the enforceability of exclusion clauses. Two support the validity of clauses in consumer contracts with prominent warnings; one authority restricts enforceability where terms are hidden. How should you synthesise these findings in a legal research report?
Answer:
Combine the principles: explain that exclusion clauses will generally be enforced where drawn to the user's attention, but the courts will refuse to enforce hidden or unfair terms. Apply this combined conclusion to your client's contract based on the notice given.
Summarising Findings
Summarising means presenting the key facts, law, and outcomes in concise form. Avoid irrelevant detail. Focus on what will affect your advice or the decision-maker's reasoning.
Key Term: Summary
A brief statement collecting key facts, legal points, and outcomes, omitting unnecessary detail, to capture only what is essential for the client's or the supervisor's decision.
Summaries are not just lists. Good summaries demonstrate you have selected what is important from the materials, and justify your main conclusion by reference to those points alone.
Key Term: Conclusion
The final position or recommendation in a report, supported by synthesis and summary, guiding subsequent client action or legal advice.
Worked Example 1.2
A business client sends you a large folder of correspondence, invoices, and prior legal agreements. Your task is to summarise the findings relevant to a potential claim for breach of contract. How should you proceed?
Answer:
Identify the main relevant documents (the contract and key correspondence about the breach), ignore irrelevant invoices or emails, and present only the sequence of events and terms relating to the alleged breach. End with a brief summary of the prospects for the client's claim.
Reporting Findings
SQE2 assessments require clearly written findings. Focus on clear structure, appropriate use of headings, and logical progression from facts to law to advice.
Key Term: Legal Report
A structured written document which outlines facts, relevant law, an analysis, a synthesis of findings, and a concise conclusion, tailored to the needs of a supervisor or client.
Worked Example 1.3
You need to advise whether there is a defence for your client against a negligence claim. Your sources agree on the three-stage Caparo test but disagree on how "proximity" applies to novel fact patterns. How should you present this to your supervisor?
Answer:
Summarise the Caparo test, highlight the diverging authorities on proximity, briefly compare to your client's situation, and synthesise the outcome to conclude whether proximity likely exists. Present this as a short, structured report with heading, analysis, and final recommendation.
Structuring Reports: Key Techniques
- Use clear section headings: Facts, Law, Analysis, Conclusion.
- Start with a one-sentence summary of the issue.
- List key facts relevant to the legal issue; exclude details that do not affect the advice.
- Briefly summarise each relevant case or statutory provision.
- Where sources conflict, present the reasoning of each before combining findings.
- Finish with a clear, actionable conclusion or advice.
Exam Warning
Remember: SQE2 credit is given only for precise, concise written analysis. Writing everything you found, or failing to structure your report, may lose marks—always edit down to relevance.
Revision Tip
When practising written reports, set a strict word or time limit. Summarise only the facts and law that really determine your advice—less is almost always more.
Key Point Checklist
This article has covered the following key knowledge points:
- Synthesis means combining legal sources and facts to form a unified conclusion.
- A good summary is concise and excludes irrelevant facts or law.
- Written findings must always be clearly structured using appropriate headings or signposting.
- Conclusions must be justified by the analysis and synthesis of material, not simply stated.
- Only include information that addresses the specific legal issue or advice required for the SQE2 assessment.
Key Terms and Concepts
- Synthesis
- Relevant Authority
- Summary
- Conclusion
- Legal Report