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Contentious skills electives
Dispute Resolution
Case Analysis and Management
This one-day course demonstrates how to run litigation rather than be run by it. Having analysed a civil dispute, you will learn how to project manage the proceedings, by planning ahead with reference to time, cost and the allocation of resources. You will also learn how to formulate a dispute resolution strategy and consider alternative dispute resolution procedures. Effective case management requires an initial understanding of the case to be managed, so the case analysed here is a shortened version of that covered in our Advocacy and Communication Skills PSC core module.
Business: Client Relationships; Commerciality
Law: Technical Competence; Development
Self: Commitment; Managing Self; Development
Working with Others: Team-working; Communication |
Civil Litigation Drafting Skills
This one-day course looks at the skill of drafting statements of case including the rules and principles that apply when drafting particulars of claim and defence and counterclaims. This is a practical workshop and it provides the opportunity to practise and develop drafting skills in the context of a case study.
Business: Client Relationships; Commerciality
Law: Technical Competence; Development
Self: Commitment; Managing Self; Development
Working with Others: Team-working; Communication
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ADR and Mediation
This one day course looks at various forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and the details of how to prepare for and conduct a mediation. Based upon case study materials delegates will prepare for and conduct a mediation. The course will focus on mediation and will not look at e.g. arbitration in any detail although arbitration is of course a form of ADR compared to litigation. ADR and in particular mediation is of growing practical importance within the context of dispute resolution as courts increasingly expect parties to explore ADR prior to and in the course of traditional court proceedings. Conducting a mediation also involves an important transferable skill which is central to what solicitors do across specialisations (e.g. negotiation).
Business: Client Relationships; Commerciality
Law: Technical Competence; Development
Self: Commitment; Managing Self; Development
Working with Others: Team-working; Communication |
Personal Injury
Funding and Damages
This one-day course looks at two important aspects of a personal injury claim. It starts by assessing the different methods of funding and considers these issues in the light of two case studies. It then focuses on damages in personal injury claims including fatal claims, using a number of case studies to practise the principles involved.
Business: Client Relationships; Commerciality
Law: Technical Competence; Development
Self: Commitment; Managing Self; Development
Working with Others: Team-working; Communication
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Employers' Liability
This one-day course examines the key elements of employers’ liability law including common law negligence, vicarious liability and breach of statute (focusing on the health and safety regulations). The course deals with a number of case studies to give practical examples of this area of law.
Business: Client Relationships; Commerciality
Law: Technical Competence; Development
Self: Commitment; Managing Self; Development
Working with Others: Team-working; Communication |
Investigation of a Claim
This one-day course looks at the need for good investigation techniques, balanced with the overriding objective and proportionality. It focuses primarily on liability, starting with a road traffic scenario and moving on to an employer’s liability case. This case focuses on interviewing the client, analysing the case and further investigations required to prove the case.
Business: Client Relationships;Commerciality
Law: Technical Competence; Development
Self: Commitment; Managing Self; Development
Working with Others: Team-working; Communication |
Pre-action Protocols and Expert Evidence
This one-day course focuses on how to understand, use and apply the various pre-action protocols introduced into personal injury actions as a result of the CPR, with an emphasis on application of the Personal Injury Pre-action Protocol. It examines how to use medical and other experts in personal injury actions, including the selection and instruction process and the ways in which their evidence may be presented.
Business: Client Relationships;Commerciality
Law: Technical Competence; Development
Self: Commitment; Managing Self; Development
Working with Others: Team-working; Communication |
Employment Law
Employment Practice (two-day course)
This two-day course provides a practical overview of one of the most dynamic areas of law in practice. The course gives an overview of the core and most common employment law rights, claims and issues encountered by employers, employees and legal advisors in practice, including: contract formation; change of contract terms; unlawful deductions from wages; “family-friendly” rights; working time issues; equal opportunities; workplace disputes; termination and settlement of complaints. Course emphasis is not only on providing an account of guiding legal principles, but also applying this legal theory in practice through "in-practice tips", and a series of linked case studies and tasks dealing with issues arising from recruitment through to dismissal.
Business: Client Relationships;Commerciality
Law: Technical Competence; Development
Self: Commitment; Managing Self; Development
Working with Others: Team-working; Communication |
Employment Tribunal Advocacy
This one-day course focuses on the role of the advocate in employment tribunals. It adopts a case study approach, using an unfair dismissal case and gives you the opportunity to observe and practise advocacy skills, including case analysis, cross examination and closing submissions.
Business: Client Relationships;Commerciality
Law: Technical Competence; Development
Self: Commitment; Managing Self; Development
Working with Others: Team-working; Communication |
Criminal Law
Bail and Mitigation
This one-day course gives you the opportunity to practise applying for and opposing bail, and presenting mitigation in a variety of offences commonly met in Magistrates’ Courts.
Business: Client Relationships;Commerciality
Law: Technical Competence; Development
Self: Commitment; Managing Self; Development
Working with Others: Team-working; Communication
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Criminal Trial in the Magistrates’ Courts (two-day course)
This two-day course tracks a trial in the Magistrates’ Court. You will run the trial as an advocate for either the prosecution or a defendant, with the opportunity to make applications on law and to examine and cross-examine witnesses. Please note that this course is not appropriate for those who have attended our Local Government PSC.
Business: Client Relationships;Commerciality
Law: Technical Competence; Development
Self: Commitment; Managing Self; Development
Working with Others: Team-working; Communication |
Family Law
Family Law Advocacy and Practice – Care Proceedings
This one-day course serves as an introduction to the complex area of public sector child care law. It examines law and practice in this area from both the private practice and the local authority viewpoint through the consideration of a case study. Issues addressed include the procedure relevant to care proceedings, the format and content of care plans, use of experts and case analysis and theory.The course provides you with the opportunity to practise your advocacy skills through a cross-examination exercise.
Business: Client Relationships;Commerciality
Law: Technical Competence; Development
Self: Commitment; Managing Self; Development
Working with Others: Team-working; Communication |
Family Law Advocacy and Practice – Domestic Abuse
This one-day course builds on core advocacy skills by focusing on evidence and advocacy in applications under Part IV of the Family Law Act 1996, including considering the advocacy required, aims and objectives of examination-in-chief and cross-examination. It gives you the opportunity to practise those skills in the context of a domestic abuse case study. Please note that this course is not appropriate for those who have attended our Local Government PSC.
Business: Client Relationships;Commerciality
Law: Technical Competence; Development
Self: Commitment; Managing Self; Development
Working with Others: Team-working; Communication |
Family Law and Drafting: Application for a Financial Order
This one-day course builds on core drafting skills using an application for a financial order as the basis for the skills training. The course aims to familiarise you with the law and procedure relating to an application for a financial order and to equip you with the skills required to draft the documents involved in the formal application to the court. The course is particularly aimed at those at the start of their training contract or with little experience of drafting Form Es and other documents, but can also benefit more experienced delegates.
Business: Client Relationships;Commerciality
Law: Technical Competence; Development
Self: Commitment; Managing Self; Development
Working with Others: Team-working; Communication |
Family Law Interviewing and Negotiation – The Children Act 1989
This one-day course focuses on building the specialist interviewing and negotiation skills required in family work. You will develop your interviewing and negotiation skills through the consideration of a case study set in the context of section 8 private law children proceedings for residence and contact under the Children Act 1989. The course also considers the role of the CAFCASS officer and provides you with the opportunity to practise your advocacy skills through a cross-examination exercise.
Business: Client Relationships;Commerciality
Law: Technical Competence; Development
Self: Commitment; Managing Self; Development
Working with Others: Team-working; Communication |
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