This is the course that enables solicitors to become a Higher Court Advocate. It is split into 2 stages of training and assessment: stage 1 (evidence, procedure and ethics) and stage 2 (advocacy).

There are 2 main routes to gaining the qualification: the Development Route (open to all trainee solicitors and solicitors and involving both Stage 1 and Stage 2) and the Accreditation Route (open only to solicitors with more than 3 years' post qualification experience). A solicitor taking the latter route can skip Stage 1 and simply complete Stage 2.

The course is led by a team of experienced tutors including Roy Morgan (criminal), Andrew Shanahan, Gwyn Parry, Alan Taylor, Chris Reeves-Croft and Peter Tyers-Smith.

The new Higher Rights of Audience Qualification Scheme will be introduced on 1 April 2010. The proposed changes include:
• More extensive and rigorous advocacy assessments (a wider range of skills will be assessed)
• Candidates who require an “All Proceedings Qualification” must pass separate Civil & Criminal assessments
• Candidates who fail any element of an assessment must resit the entire assessment
• No portfolio requirement (also applies to candidates who begin the development route before 31 March 2010)
• No mandatory training requirement
• Additional assessment against equality and diversity standards

Proposed transitional arrangements apply to candidates who have already started the training and assessment under the current regime.

We hope to be able to publish dates and locations for training courses and assessments under the new regulations toward the end of February 2010, subject to SRA accreditation.

The development, accreditation and exemption routes will only continue under the current regime. Candidates who commence training and assessment under either the current development or accreditation routes before 31 March 2010 will have 2 years from the date of issue on their certificate of eligibility to complete their qualification under these routes but without the necessity to complete a portfolio. Exemption route candidates will have until 31 March 2011 to complete the requirements that apply to them*.

Candidates who have already commenced training and/or assessment under the current regime may, if they prefer, recommence qualification under the new regulations. Those who choose to do this will not receive any formal credit for the training they have already undertaken.

* Subject to demand, we will continue to run training and assessments under the current regime (alongside assessments under the new regime) to enable candidates who are part way through their qualification to progress.


For a range of further advocacy courses, please see our Advocacy section or Criminal courses section.