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Higher Rights of Audience

Course overview

What?

The College of Law is an acknowledged provider of Higher Rights Advocacy Assessments and also provides the relevant training for such assessments. By these means, we aim to provide Dispute Resolution solicitors with the skills and qualifications required for practice. Courses are available for both Civil and Criminal practitioners, and are provided on both a public and in-house basis.

Who?

The Higher Rights of Audience qualification enables solicitors to exercise rights of audience in the Higher Courts of England and Wales. Solicitors who are involved with advocacy in the Higher Courts but do not conduct it themselves can still benefit from the training; maximising their ability as litigators and as instructors of counsel due to their increased knowledge and understanding of the process.

In addition:

  • those with significant advocacy experience can undertake the assessments alone
  • those seeking to enhance their capabilities as a dispute resolution practitioner can undertake the training alone
  • trainee solicitors can undertake the training as an alternative to, and in satisfaction of, their PSC electives requirement. Those who choose to undertake the Assessment as well, and do so sucessfully, can apply for Higher Rights accreditation once they qualify as a solicitor.

Our Higher Rights Assessments have been accredited by the SRA under the Regulations introduced on 1 April 2010.

Why?

  • Enhance your professional status and increase your fee-earning potential
  • Gain specialist knowledge and expertise
  • Develop your advocacy, communication and case management skills
  • Designed and delivered by experienced practitioners
  • Practical programme to ensure learning is directly applicable in the workplace

How?

To acquire accreditation to exercise rights of audience under the SRA Regulations, you need to successfully complete an Advocacy Assessment focusing on either the civil or criminal courts. To gain rights of audience for both civil and criminal proceedings you need to undertake two separate Advocacy Assessments.

There is no compulsory training requirement under the SRA Regulations, but we recommend attending written and practical advocacy training ahead of your Advocacy Assessment to maximise your chances of success.

After accreditation you are required to undertake advocacy-related CPD for five years.

Find out more about our Higher Rights Advocacy Assessments and training:

Higher Rights Advocacy Assessments
Higher Rights training 

Please note that all Higher Rights Assessments are undertaken in accordance with the College's Assessment Regulations.

Delegates may book to undertake the training but then sit an Advocacy Assessment at a later date (ie not immediately after undertaking the training). However, delegates should be aware that the procedural and legal requirements on which they will be examined may have changed in the interim; further that the SRA requirements for assessment may change over time.

When?

Higher Rights course dates 

Where?

Our Higher Rights Advocacy Assessments and training are offered at our London Moorgate centre.

How much?

Our Higher Rights Assessments/training can be booked individually or in convenient packages, as follows:

Assessment/training options  2012 fees 
Higher Rights Advocacy Assessment (Civil or Criminal) £497 + VAT 
Written Advocacy Training (Civil or Criminal) £497 + VAT  
Practical Advocacy Training (Civil or Criminal) £497 + VAT 
Written and Practical Advocacy Training package (Civil or Criminal) £985 + VAT
Written and Practical Advocacy Training plus Higher Rights Advocacy Assessment package (Civil or Criminal) £1,490 + VAT
 
PSC Core Modules + Higher Rights Written and Practical Advocacy Training but without assessment (Civil or Criminal) £1,795 + VAT
PSC Core Modules + Higher Rights Advocacy Assessment + Written and Practical Advocacy Training (Civil or Criminal) £2,195 + VAT
  

CPD?

Each day of attendance at Higher Rights training equates to six CPD hours.

Book

Booking is quick and easy, online or by downloading our booking form:

Book Higher Rights 

Please note that PSC packages including Higher Rights should be booked via our PSC booking form - see book PSC.

In-house Higher Rights

We have extensive experience and expertise in delivering Higher Rights training on an in-house basis for organisations with a number of delegates – either at one of our centres or your chosen venue. We work closely with organisations to ensure our cost-effective training solutions meet their individual needs and requirements. Our high standard of service and training receives consistently excellent feedback from both training managers and delegates.

To discuss how we can meet your organisation's requirements or for more information, please call our Client Contact Centre on 0800 289997 or e-mail 
inhousetraining@lawcol.co.uk 

Find out more

Please get in touch via our Contact us page or Call 0800 289997 (international +44 (0)1483 216000) Fax 01483 579558

Higher Rights Regulations

The College of Law Higher Rights Assessment Regulations 

Please ensure you read The College's Higher Rights Assessment Regulations document.

For queries regarding Higher Rights accreditation under the SRA Regulations, please contact the SRA directly on 0870 606 2555 or visit the SRA website.