| What are the various advocacy training stages for Barristers? |
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There are currently four ‘levels’ of training for the Bar and three of these stages include advocacy training as a compulsory element:
(1) Vocational Stage of Training: Advocacy is one of six skills taught and assessed on the Bar Vocational Course. It is delivered through small group sessions across a range of civil and criminal scenarios and each student will undertake at least 12 (15 minute) advocacy practice sessions. Advocacy is taught more than any other skill and is assessed through written and oral assessments.
(2) Pupillage Training: Pupils are required to undertake 12 hours of compulsory advocacy training with their Inn or Circuit, in their first 6 months of pupillage (i.e..: prior to exercising rights of audience in court). The aim of this training is to prepare pupils for appearing in court and pupils’ performance during training is continuously assessed against prescribed criteria (the “Dutton criteria”). Only if a proper standard is achieved will a Certificate of Competence in Advocacy be awarded; without this, a barrister cannot offer legal services as such and exercise rights of audience. See Documentation relating to the assessment of pupillage.
(3) New Practitioner Training: during the first 3 years of practice, barristers must undertake 9 hours of compulsory advocacy training with their Inn or Circuit.
(4) Established Practitioner Training: After the first three years of practice, barristers are required to undertake 12 hours of CPD each year. There is currently no requirement as to advocacy training at this stage but active consideration is being given by the profession to introducing a compulsory advocacy training requirement for those of 4 -6 years’ Call
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