Kaplan Altior has been granted accreditation by the SRA to deliver assessments under the new Higher Rights of Audience Regulations 2011.

Dates for the current assessments (under transitional arrangements) can be found here, and will be updated regularly. Transitional arrangements apply to candidates who have already started the training and assessment under the old 2000 regulations. Please click here for more information on this.

HIGHER RIGHTS OF AUDIENCE (2011 regulations).
Our assessments and training are delivered by our team of highly experienced trainers who are all practising Higher Court Advocates.

ABOUT THE SCHEME
Why should I do Higher Rights?
The benefits of becoming a Higher Court advocate are various:
• Enhance your professional standing and reputation
• Enable you and your firm to handle all aspects of litigation work on behalf of clients
• Giving the firm you work for a competitive edge
• Become a valued member of your firm
• Although the qualification is designed to equip candidates for work in the Higher Courts, the skills and experience you will obtain will help you conduct more effective advocacy in all courts. Aspects of the programme will also enhance your knowledge of evidence and ethics which will help you develop wider litigation expertise What does the new scheme involve?

The assessments are designed to test your knowledge and advocacy skills against the SRA’s standards for Higher Court Advocacy (see http://www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/accreditation/higher-rights/competence-standards.page for details).

Who is eligible?
Both trainee solicitors and qualified solicitors are eligible to sit the assessments. Trainee solicitors can take the assessments during their training contract but they will not be able to obtain the qualification until they qualify as a solicitor.

How will the new assessment be structured?
Although there is only one assessment, it comprises two elements: a written examination and a practical advocacy assessment.

Written Element
This part consists of a 2½hour examination with an additional 30 minutes of reading time. The paper contains a section of short answer questions based on case studies
and a section of multiple choice questions. You are able to take permitted materials into the examination (please see candidates’ handbook for further details).

Practical Element
This element is split into two parts and lasts for approximately 50 minutes. The first part requires candidates to submit a skeleton argument and conduct a contested interim hearing. The second part revolves around a mini mock trial and requires candidates to submit a trial plan and be assessed in two or more of the following areas:
• Opening Speech
• Examination in Chief
• Cross examination
• Re-examination
• Closing Speech

Candidates will receive the case papers for the assessment approximately two weeks before the assessment date. This allows you about a fortnight to prepare your skeleton argument (for the interim hearing) and your trial plan (for the mini mock-trial). Both will need to be emailed to us prior to the assessment, and hard copies brought to the assessment day.

Pass Marks
The written and practical parts of the Assessment each account for 50% of the total available marks. Candidates must achieve a minimum of 60% across both parts (an aggregate mark) to pass the Advocacy Assessment. Candidates will also be required to satisfy the Equality and Diversity and Ethics Standards throughout the assessment.

The two parts of the assessment comprise one assessment and candidates will only be notified of their final aggregate mark.

TRAINING FOR HIGHER RIGHTS
Is there a need for training?
There is no requirement to undertake training before attempting the new assessment. In our experience, however, training helps candidates make the transition from lower court advocacy to Higher Court advocacy. In addition, the SRA’s new standards are much more far-reaching, and candidates could be assessed against any of them. We strongly recommend that all of our candidates undergo training to give them the best possible chance of passing the assessment at the first attempt.

How will the new training be structured?
The training is split into two parts: written (1 day) and practical (3 days). You may purchase one or both elements.

Written Training (One Day)
The written part of the assessment will centre on the knowledge-based or document-based standards. Our one day written training programme is designed to prepare candidates to be assessed against all of these standards. Specifically, it covers:
• Evidence – hearsay, bad character, disclosure, experts etc
• Dealing with vulnerable witnesses.
• Ethics and diversity
• Code of Conduct issues
• Preparation and identification of deficiencies in written documentation such as indictments, particulars of claim etc
• Practice specific elements. For example ADR and Pre action Protocols for Civil and PCMHs and sentencing for criminal

Practical Training (Three Days)
Our practical training is extremely hands-on and allows delegates the opportunity to practise their advocacy skills in a safe environment, and get detailed feedback from the trainer. We keep trainer to delegate ratios low to maximise one-to-one contact. Our trainers are also assessors, and so they are ideally placed to coach delegates on their performance and advise them on any areas for improvement ready for the assessment.

The programme covers:
• Trial analysis and planning, including formulating a trial strategy plan
• Preparing and conducting an interim application
• Preparing and delivering an opening speech
• Planning and carrying out an examination in chief
• Preparing for, and conducting, an effective cross examination
• Preparing and delivering a closing speech

WHY CHOOSE KAPLAN ALTIOR’S HIGHER RIGHTS PROGRAMME?
• We have been delivering SRA accredited Higher Rights of Audience training and assessment (civil and criminal) for many years
• All of our training programmes are written and delivered by very experienced trainers who are also current Higher Court advocates and practitioners. Their training will not only prepare you for the assessment, but will also stand you in good stead for your first day in court using your new qualification
• Our programmes receive consistently excellent feedback
• We devote more time to training and preparing you for the practical assessment to give you the best possible chance of passing the assessment at the first attempt
• Our first-class administration team will smoothly guide you through the process, allowing you to focus all of your efforts and attention on the assessment itself

For more information on the training and assessments under the new 2011 regulations, or the Transitional Arrangements, please contact us at altiorhigherrights@kaplan.co.uk.