SRA Higher Rights of Audience Course Non-NTU Award
About this course
Why choose this course?
This is a practical and comprehensive course designed for solicitors who wish to deepen their knowledge and skills in High Court or Crown Court litigation and advocacy to undertake an assessment leading to the award of a Higher Courts (Civil Advocacy) Qualification or a Higher Courts (Criminal Advocacy) Qualification for solicitors. Whilst it is not necessary to take the course to sit the assessments under the current SRA regulations, the sessions provide a useful foundation not just for the assessments, but also on how best to chart a trajectory as a practising solicitor advocate.
Why study at Nottingham Law School?
- Nottingham Law School is accredited by the SRA to administer assessments under the SRA Higher Rights of Audience Regulations 2011.
- This course is provided by the NLS Centre for Advocacy, which focuses on developing excellence in advocacy and the teaching of advocacy. NLS also provides advocacy training and assessment for barristers and also qualification in litigation and advocacy for chartered patent and trade mark attorneys.
- NLS was one of the first providers of Higher Rights of Audience for Solicitors in England and Wales, from the inception of the scheme in 1994. Since that date, it has provided Higher Rights of Audience training and assessment to a variety of international law firms and individual solicitors in both criminal and civil advocacy.
The course was delivered beautifully and I came away actually understanding what is needed to be a high court advocate rather than what I was taught by another provider. So, Thank you.
Higher Rights Delegate, 2024
What you’ll study
Under the current SRA Higher Rights of Audience Regulations, there are two, distinct qualifications: the Higher Courts (Civil Advocacy) Qualification and Higher Courts (Criminal Advocacy) Qualification. To qualify with the equivalent rights as a barrister to appear before all courts and in all divisions, it is necessary to complete both the criminal and civil assessments.
The course and the assessment strategy are driven by the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations and, in particular, regulation 9.10. and the SRA Statement of Standards for Solicitor Higher Court Advocates for Criminal Advocacy and Civil Advocacy.
In addition to the material which must be covered for the purpose of assessment, there will also be the opportunity to develop additional skills and knowledge base central to the development of the advocate over a period of four months from enrolment to assessment.
Further information on what you'll study
Please be aware that all optional/elective modules are subject to availability, and NTU reserves the right to amend, change or withdraw modules at its discretion.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
How you're taught
In common with all post qualification training provided by Nottingham Law School, this programme is based on “learning by doing”, together with directed reading, exercises, and online self-test questions.
This course has also been designed with the needs of the practising litigation solicitor in mind. The course runs for a period of four months from enrolment for assessment in order to provide the space and time needed to develop, revisit and refine the knowledge base and practical skills of the solicitor advocate. In addition to face-to-face teaching at the law school’s campus in Nottingham (subject to COVID-19 regulations) and online MS Teams seminars, you will also have access to a wide range of online learning materials such as:
- practitioner texts via LexisNexis and Westlaw
- guided reading from practitioner texts and relevant legislation and case law on procedure, evidence, and professional ethics,
- a series of recorded lectures on core areas of the syllabus,
- podcasts, film clips, and guidance on advocacy skills.
- Live MS Teams delivery of some sessions meaning that you can attend from your office or home.
You can choose from the following courses, either criminal or civil, depending on your level of expertise and the qualification chosen:
November 2024 course dates: Higher Courts (Criminal and Civil Advocacy) Qualification
| Welcome and Ethics (online - MS Teams) | Friday 8 November 2024 |
| Evidence and Procedure (Civil and Crime) (online - MS Teams) | Friday 13 December 2024 |
| Advocacy in Person (Criminal and Civil) | Wednesday 15 January 2025 |
| Advocacy in Person (Criminal and Civil) | Thursday 16 January 2025 |
| Advocacy in Person (Criminal and Civil) | Friday 17 January 2025 |
| Revision session 1 (Criminal) (online - MS Teams) | Tuesday 28 January 2025 |
| Revision session 1 (Civil) (online - MS Teams) | Tuesday 28 January 2025 |
| Assessments (Written) | Tuesday 11 February 2025 |
| Assessments (Advocacy) | Wednesday 12 February 2025 |
March 2025 course dates: Higher Courts (Criminal and Civil Advocacy) Qualification
| Welcome and Ethics (online - MS Teams) | Friday 14 March 2025 |
| Evidence and Procedure (Civil and Crime) (online - MS Teams) | Friday 11 April 2025 |
| Advocacy in Person (Criminal and Civil) | Wednesday 21 May 2025 |
| Advocacy in Person (Criminal and Civil) | Thursday 22 May 2025 |
| Advocacy in Person (Criminal and Civil) | Friday 23 May 2025 |
| Revision session 1 (Criminal) (online - MS Teams) | Tuesday 3 June 2025 |
| Revision session 1 (Civil) (online - MS Teams) | Tuesday 3 June2025 |
| Assessments (Written) | Tuesday 17 June 2025 |
| Assessments (Advocacy) | Wednesday 18 June 2025 |
This online programme means that face to face teaching, whether via MS Teams or on campus, can focus on practical skills such as advocacy or drafting. In total, you should allow for approximately 50 hours of online preparation time in addition to attendance at the live sessions.
How you're assessed
There are two assessments:
- Written Paper in Evidence, Procedure and Ethics (Civil or Criminal)
- Advocacy Assessment (Civil or Criminal)
A candidate wishing to qualify with rights to appear in all courts must, therefore, complete four assessments. A student wishing to qualify for either the criminal or the civil qualification must just take both the relevant Written Paper and Advocacy Assessment
Campus and facilities
Entry requirements
This course and all assessments are for qualified solicitors admitted in England and Wales only. You do not need to complete the course in order to take the assessments.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form
This course and all assessments are for qualified solicitors admitted in England and Wales only. You do not need to complete the course in order to take the assessments.
Fees and funding
| Start date | Course fee |
|---|---|
| November 2024 | £1,500 |
| March 2025 | £1,500 |
| Start date | Course fee |
|---|---|
| November 2024 | £1,500 |
| March 2025 | £1,500 |
How to apply
Applications are made through the NTU Applicant Portal. This can be accessed via the Apply button at the top of the page.
If you are interested in this course and/or the HRA Assessment, please contact the Course Team, either by email, or phone +44 (0)115 848 6096.
Applications are made through the NTU Applicant Portal. This can be accessed via the Apply button at the top of the page.
If you are interested in this course and/or the HRA Assessment, please contact the Course Team, either by email, or phone +44 (0)115 848 6096.