Home The Open University Login 

• Want a law degree
• Want to work in law
• Already working in law
• International students

• Legal Employers
• Our courses
• Our centres
• About the College

Where am I?  Home > Our courses > Professional Skills Course > PSC core modules

Back to course overview 

PSC core modules

The three PSC core modules should normally be completed before you start your electives. Our flexible PSC allows you to take the core modules as an eight-day intensive ‘fast-track’ programme or individually across a wider range of dates:

Advocacy and Communication Skills – 3 days (18 hours) 

Client Care and Professional Standards – 2 days (12 hours) 

Financial and Business Skills – 3 days (18 hours) 

Advocacy and Communication Skills – 3 days (18 hours)

This module builds on and extends the skills learnt on the LPC and helps you to:

• Develop your skills to make a persuasive presentation, structure a logical and cogent argument, and elicit information from others efficiently
• Conduct a factual analysis of a case and develop theories as to why your client’s case should succeed
• Conduct chambers advocacy
• Understand trial advocacy and practise the effective examination of witnesses in chief, cross- and re-examination, and the presentation of opening and closing speeches
• Reach the ethical and procedural standard required to properly exercise the rights of audience granted to qualified solicitors in the civil and criminal courts

The module is assessed with an individual oral and written appraisal.

Back to top 

Client Care and Professional Standards – 2 days (12 hours)

We offer a choice of career routes for this module, meaning you can tailor the course to suit your type of practice:

• Corporate route – for trainees in corporate firms where clients are predominantly publicly-listed companies
• Commercial and private route – for trainees in firms with a mixture of private and business clients
• In-house lawyers route – for trainees working in commercial organisations where their client is the employer

The module is offered as two separate days of training, which can be taken together on consecutive days, or individually at different times to suit you. Please note that the SRA stipulate that Day 2 cannot be taken during the first six months of your training contract.

The module develops your understanding of professional conduct, client care and work management, and helps you to:

• Identify and deal with matters of ethics, professional conduct, risk management and client care
• Develop ways of working with others, managing your time and organising your projects and professional development
• Understand practicalities such as the retainer, duties owed to third parties and the court, undertakings, fees and client care
• Identify and solve problems in a practical way

We offer a tailored module on our Corporate PSC package.

Back to top 

Financial and Business Skills – 3 days (18 hours)

This module looks at the specific statutory bases upon which financial advice can be given and the application of those principles, the possible criminal sanctions arising from such advice together with issues which might arise under the Code of Conduct.  The module is a three day course with a 1 hour 30 minute written assessment following the conclusion of the second day.

By the end of the second day, and in preparation for the assessment, delegates will:

• have an overview of the financial services industry
• understand the legal and regulatory regime which applies to solicitors in the provision of financial advice
• appreciate the impact of the Code of Conduct on the provision of financial services
• have an overview of the characteristics of different types of investments and an appreciation of portfolio planning

Following the assessment which will take place at the start of the third day, delegates will conclude the course by developing an appreciation the relevance of financial interpretation to solicitors and gain an overview of the regulation of accounts.

For more information including course dates, fees and booking, go back to course overview.

Back to top

Policies College News Alumni Prospectus Learning Support Vacancies 

© Copyright The College of Law 2012. All Rights Reserved.