Higher Rights of Audience (HRA)
The Higher Rights of Audience (HRA) qualification allows you to represent your clients as a solicitor-advocate in the civil or criminal courts throughout England and Wales. This not only means a convenient, cost-efficient and complete service for your clients, it enhances your professional capabilities, standing and fee earning potential too. Our course presenters are experts in their field, with a proven track record in preparing candidates for the both the criminal and civil assessments. Their experience and expert guidance will ensure you are fully prepared.
A certificate of completion will be provided by BPP Professional Education Limited following attendance, which should then be submitted to the appropriate professional awarding body. This is not a BPP University College programme or award.
Key Information
- Higher Rights of Audience can enhance your professional capability and fee-earning power
- BPP is an in-house Higher Rights training provider for several leading law firms
- Expert tutors with hands-on, professional experience
- Learn from an experienced provider of Higher Rights of Audience courses
- Learning and study notes are based on the SRA's written standards
Important changes to Criminal Higher Rights of Audience the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA)
QASA (Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates) may eventually affect the awarding of Criminal Higher Rights of Audience Qualification (HRAQ). It was planned by the Solicitor's Regulatory Authority (SRA) that these changes would come into force in January 2013. This may now not be an effective date due to a number of factors affecting the process and therefore the current system remains in place. Accordingly, BPP continues to offer the Criminal HRAQ assessments and training until such time as any changes are officially put in place by the SRA. Delegates successfully passing these current assessments will thus still obtain their Higher Rights of Audience and it is anticipated that delegates with a current HRAQ will be “passported” into any new scheme that is implemented by the SRA.
For further information on QASA, contact the SRA or see the QASA website.
Please note that the Civil HRAQ are not currently affected by the introduction of QASA.
Give your clients more
The BPP Higher Rights of Audience courses will help you develop your career and stay competitive. Once qualified, you'll be able to exercise rights of audience in the Senior Courts of England and Wales, thus enhancing the service you can offer to clients.
Our courses take place over four days - Evidence and Litigation (two days) and Advocacy (two days) and are currently held mainly in London. We also offer the Civil course in Manchester. In addition, there is an online element (Ethics & Performance) which can be studied in your own time.
The courses prepare you for separate assessments for the civil and the criminal courts – you must pass both assessments if you wish to practise in both areas.
Both Civil and Criminal Higher Rights courses share the same broad structure with modules that include:
- Evidence and Litigation: (key rules of evidence and procedure)
- Advocacy (essential practical advocacy skills)
- Assessments
- Ethics and Performance (one hour online only – covers both civil and criminal advocacy)
Civil or Criminal Higher Rights – Assessment
The assessment for both the Civil and Criminal Higher Rights of Audience Qualification is in three parts:
- Part 1 – Written Examination 2.5 hours (40% of overall marks)
- Part 2 – Oral Examination 30 minutes (20% of overall marks)
- Part 3 – Advocacy Exercises 2 x 15 minutes (40% of overall marks)
The pass mark is 60%. You are required to achieve 60% in each of the written (Part 1) and oral (Parts 2 and 3) component parts to achieve an overall pass.
Improve your chances of success
Although there is no requirement for candidates to take specific Higher Rights training for either the civil or criminal assessments, BPP offer training courses that are tailored to the requirements of the assessments.
Most Higher Rights candidates are planning to take the assessments – so we gear the content towards the requirements of the SRA's Standards.
Study modules
Our study programme comprises two separate study modules - Evidence and Litigation (2 days) and Advocacy (2 days). We offer courses as a 4-day package scheduled to coincide with the next round of assessments. Packages cover either all civil subjects or all criminal subjects – they can't be mixed. You can opt to study only one module if you wish.
Higher rights courses are delivered by BPP Professional Education Ltd on behalf of BPP Law School. This is not a BPP University College programme or award.
Dates and prices
BPP run comprehensive preparation courses to assist candidates planning to attempt the Higher Rights assessments.
You can purchase either the Civil pack, or the Criminal pack, or both - but cannot 'swap' modules between packs.
The relevant study notes are included in all course bookings (except if buying the ethics online module only).
Entry requirements
In order to be awarded the Higher Courts Advocacy Qualification by the SRA you must first be a qualified solicitor and have passed the BPP assessments. You will then need to make an application to the SRA to be awarded the Qualification.
Trainee solicitors can take Higher Right assessments during the training contract, but can only apply to the SRA for the Qualification once they have been admitted as a solicitor.
Study modules
Our study programme comprises two separate study modules - Evidence and Litigation (2 days) and Advocacy (2 days). We offer courses as a 4-day package scheduled to coincide with the next round of assessments. Packages cover either all civil subjects or all criminal subjects – they can't be mixed. You can opt to study only one module if you wish.
Study locations
We offer the Higher Rights of Audience course in convenient locations in London and Manchester.
