Higher Rights of Audience Civil route

Eager to boost your reputation and help more clients? If you’re a solicitor, confident carrying out civil litigation, we’ll help you prepare for the qualification you need for higher court advocacy.

On day one, listen to lecturers on the theory, procedure and the assessment itself. On days two and three, join us for practical advocacy training that covers skeleton drafting, civil trial strategy plans, making interim applications and witness handling.

We’ll set practice briefs and you’ll receive feedback from our experts including Robin Sellers. You’ll also sit a mock written paper to evaluate your level of knowledge, so you can identify  any gaps you need to fill.

Who is it for?

You’ll feel you have adequate advocacy experience and be eager to represent clients in the higher courts. We offer two routes (civil and criminal), so you can pick the one that best fits your area of specialism.

Benefits

By passing the exam, you’ll be able to appear as a solicitor advocate in the High Court. And, through the training we offer, you’ll also strengthen your knowledge of evidence and ethics, and improve your confidence as an advocate.

Because of our international reputation, solicitors join us from all over the world. You’ll train alongside professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds, from professionals working at high-street firms to international arbitration lawyers.

• Increase your chances of passing by revising the syllabus and discussing the format of the assessment
• Prepare for the assessment in a small group of around eight other solicitors
• Boost your fee earning potential and improve your reputation
• Provide clients with a full service including all aspects of litigation work.

The assessment is designed to test your knowledge of evidence, procedure and ethics, and the drafting skills you’ve developed working as a solicitor. Although it’s not compulsory to complete any training before the assessment, it improves your chances of passing.

Our trainers are all current practitioners. They will help you:

• Practice using the type of civil case study that will be used for the assessment
• Learn specifically what the assessors are looking for
• Familiarise yourself with the syllabus and format of the assessment
• Gauge how well prepared you are to take the assessment
• Improve your confidence as an advocate.

Teaching

Over three days, we’ll give you intensive, practical training. Being in a small group gives you the level of support you need to pass the assessment. If you have any questions, our experts are always on hand to help.

First, you’ll attend lectures on exam technique and discuss the pre-set mock knowledge test and re-visit your knowledge of drafting conventions. Then you’ll practice all of these skills before taking the assessment.

Taking the assessment

After three days of training, you’ll take the assessment. It has three elements:

1. A two-hour written exam – you’ll show your knowledge by completing a multiple-choice test and drafting exam.
2. Contested interim application in front of a judge – you’ll prepare a skeleton argument in advance. Each delegate will have ten minutes and will involve judicial intervention by the assessor.
3. A full mock civil trial – you’ll deliver a trial strategy plan to demonstrate case analysis, give an opening speech, cross-examine a witness and then deliver a closing speech.

The way we’ve designed our assessment is unique. Taking part in a full mock civil trial means we’ll be able to see your weaknesses and how you react tactically. It also gives you an opportunity to show your knowledge of theory and secure extra marks.

Taking this route of our course, your mock trial will cover a civil case such as a personal injury case or a contractual dispute.

Your qualification

If you pass, we’ll notify the SRA and you’ll be granted the official notification from them.

To complete this training, you’ll need to be a fully qualified solicitor with experience carrying out civil litigation. You might have also appeared in court in cases where you didn’t need the Higher Rights of Audience.

English requirements

You will need a good level of spoken and written English to enrol on this course.