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Certificate in Intellectual Property Litigation

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  • Level of study:
    Professional
  • Entry Requirements:
    More information
  • Start date:
    November 2026
  • Duration:
    8 months covering IP Litigation and IP Advocacy*
  • Attendance:
    Part-time
  • Course delivery:
    On-campus (City Campus)
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About this course

Nottingham Law School offers Certificates in IP Litigation and IP Advocacy enabling practitioners to obtain The Higher Courts Litigation Certificate issued by the Intellectual Property Regulation Board (IPReg) granting the holder rights to litigate intellectual property matters before the civil courts of England and Wales.

This is an Advanced Litigation Skills Course for registered Patent Attorneys and registered Trade Mark Attorneys (see bullet point 2 below) and should not be confused with the Basic Litigation Skills Course required to be completed by all Patent Attorneys and Trade Mark Attorneys registered after 31.12.12. (see bullet point 1 below).

Intellectual Property Regulation Board Litigation Rights:

  • To litigate or act as advocate before the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court or a County Court, or to appeal from the IPO to the High Court, Patent Attorneys and Trade Mark Attorneys need an “Intellectual Property Litigation Certificate”. This certificate is issued by IPReg. Nottingham Law School provides a course for those wishing to have these rights.
  • To litigate in intellectual property matters before other civil courts of England and Wales, Patent Attorneys and Trade Mark Attorneys need a “Higher Courts Litigation Certificate”. This certificate is issued by IPReg. Nottingham Law School provides a course for those wishing to have these rights.
  • To act as advocate in intellectual property matters before other civil courts, Patent Attorneys and Trade Mark Attorneys need a “Higher Courts Advocacy Certificate”. The Higher Courts Litigation Certificate is granted by IPReg following successful completion of the two NLS Certificates in IP Litigation and Certificate in IP Advocacy. It permits the holder to exercise IP litigation and IP advocacy rights before the IPEC and conduct some litigation and appeals in the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

It should be noted that although the certificates include advocacy, successful completion of the two certificates will not entitle Patent Attorneys and Trade Mark Attorneys to apply to IPReg for The Higher Courts Advocacy Certificate. This certificate is awarded by IPReg following successful completion of a further course dedicated to the teaching and practice of advocacy skills at the highest level. It is parallel to the Higher Rights of Audience Solicitors’ qualification. 
The IP Litigation and IP Advocacy courses are operated under the aegis of the Intellectual Property Regulation Board (IPReg). The content of the skills and substantive subjects is prescribed by written outcomes drafted by Nottingham Law School and approved and accredited by IPReg. The tuition, together with the form and content of the assessment regime, is monitored rigorously by internal and external examiners.

  • Benefit from our excellent reputation

    Celebrating our 60th anniversary, we're one of the UK's largest and most established law schools.

  • Accredited advanced litigation training

    Gain a prestigious IPReg-accredited qualification that empowers Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys to confidently represent clients in higher courts across England and Wales, unlocking new career opportunities in IP litigation.

  • Expert-led instruction

    Learn from experienced practitioners and academics who provide insights into the nuances of IP litigation, enhancing both theoretical understanding and practical application.

The IP Litigation and the IP Advocacy courses are designed for Patent Attorneys and Trade Mark Attorneys who have at least two years’ post-qualification practitioner experience in intellectual property.

They enable students to apply their knowledge and skills to their own professional practice and continue their professional education.

The courses are delivered to suit busy schedules and minimise time spent away from the office. They will enhance:

  • case analysis skills;
  • drafting skills;
  • knowledge of the law of evidence and related practice;
  • students’ management of litigation procedure in the civil courts;
  • students’ experience of alternative methods of dispute resolution;
  • and develop high-level skills of reflection.

*Courses are accredited by the Intellectual Property Regulation Board (IPReg). Successful completion of the two courses, which are assessed by written examination and oral advocacy, will entitle candidates to apply for registration with IPReg for the Higher Courts Litigation Certificate.

Module information

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll be studying throughout the course:

We regularly review our course content based on student and employer feedback to ensure they remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or availability in future years. Optional modules will only run where there is sufficient demand. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis to protect the academic and student experience.

Course overview video

An overview of our Intellectual Property Litigation and Advocacy course.
 

How you're taught

Assessment methods:

  • Written Paper in Intellectual Property Litigation (three hours) for the Certificate in IP Litigation (5 June 2026)
  • Oral Advocacy Assessment for the Certificate in IP Advocacy (13 June 2026)

Course dates:

ModuleDate
Module 120 – 22 November 2025
Module 212 – 14 February 2026
Module 323 – 25 April 2026
Module 410 – 13 June 2026

Who will teach you?

  • Joy Davies

    Joy Davies

    Principal Lecturer

    Joy Davies is a Principal Lecturer at the Nottingham Law School, Nottingham Trent University and mostly teaches on the practitioner courses.

    Visit Joy Davies's staff profile

Entry requirements

UK students

We will assess you individually on your ability to benefit from the course. We sometimes offer places on the basis of non-standard entry qualifications, and industrial or professional experience.

International students

We will assess you individually on your ability to benefit from the course. We sometimes offer places on the basis of non-standard entry qualifications, and industrial or professional experience.

Fees and funding

UK students

- see the fees for this course, as well as information about funding and support.
  • £8,500

Career Development loans may be available. For further information please visit the Gov.uk website.

International students

- see the fees for this course, as well as payment advice and scholarships.
  • £8,500

Career Development loans may be available. For further information please visit the Gov.uk website.

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses. There are just a few additional things you may need to budget for:

Textbooks and library books

Your modules will point you to key textbooks and recommended reading. Many are available online, and in our libraries, but some students choose to buy their own copies. You’ll receive resource lists showing where to access eBooks, digital resources and physical copies. Our friendly Library team is always on hand to help you find what you need.

Printing and photocopying costs

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the printing and photocopying information on the Library website.

Careers and employability

These courses provide professional training for Trade Mark Attorneys, Patent Attorneys and other professionals working in the field of Intellectual Property Law.

  • Employability Promise

    Personalised support, one-on-one coaching and industry-specific advice – it’s all part of our Employability Promise. And it doesn’t end when you leave NTU – you’ll have access to all our careers services for three years after you graduate (conditions apply).

  • NTU Enterprise

    If you’re a budding entrepreneur, NTU Student Enterprise can help you to develop your ideas and innovations and turn them into a reality. We also offer training, mentoring, workshops, financial advice and more to develop your business skills.

Campus and facilities

Applying

UK students

For a step-by-step guide on making an application to the University please visit our how to apply page.

Apply now

International students

Please read our application guidance before you start your application.

We advise you to prepare and apply as early as you can as Student visa processing time can vary.

We'll send you important emails throughout the application process. Please check your emails regularly, including your junk/spam mail folder.

Apply now

Personal statement guidance

When you apply to NTU, we’ll ask you to submit a personal statement – here are our tips on what to include and how to structure your personal statement.

Application support

If you have any questions about applying, get in touch through our online form or call us on 44 (0)115 848 4200.

Related courses

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Intellectual Property Basic Litigation Skills (Patent Attorney)

Keeping in touch

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