Over 30 years’ experience as a leading provider of legal education
Specialist training, from newly qualified to senior levels
A trusted in-house HRA training provider for several leading law firms
Higher Rights of Audience
(HRA)
Higher Rights of Audience (HRA) allows you to represent clients as a solicitor-advocate in the senior civil or criminal courts throughout England and Wales. Helping you to develop not only your skills, but your career too in a fast-moving legal marketplace.
Course overview
Expand your career into the courtroom.
Prepare to excel in the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) advocacy assessments, covering advocacy skills, legal procedure, and ethical standards. You’ll gain rights of audience in the Crown Court, High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court, enhancing your ability to work with clients at the highest levels.
- Duration
Four days training plus assessment days
- Study methods
Online Classroom Live
- Regulatory Body
Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
Why BPP for HRA?
Give your clients more, while enhancing your professional capabilities, standing and fee-earning potential
Opportunities to practice skills and receive constructive feedback to help you develop
Taught by experienced Solicitor Advocates and Barristers – taught by professionals for professionals
Develop analytical and advocacy skills
Learning and study notes based on the SRA's written standards
Book your HRA course today
To book complete and return the booking form or call us on 0330 603100.Course structure
Our four-day training courses give you the foundation you need to prepare for the civil and criminal assessments and earn your Higher Courts Advocacy Qualification.
Modules
Our HRA courses are designed to prepare you for either the Civil & Criminal Assessments which lead to the HCAQ. You must pass both assessments if you wish to practice in both areas.
The preparation course for each assessment is structured into two modules, plus an additional ethics element:
Evidence and Litigation (two days)
Build your knowledge of the law, procedure and rules of evidence in a practical setting
Based on practical exercises to help you get the most from the course and apply to your own practice
Advocacy (two days)
Hone and enhance your case analysis and case theory skills
Develop your advocacy and presentation and case theory skills
Develop your advocacy and presentation skills including interim applications, examination in chief, cross examination and trial speech skills
Receive guidance and feedback from our experienced tutors.
Developing your ethics and professional standards is continuous throughout the course. Our experts will ensure you are fully versed in potential ethical situations that may arise and how to deal with them.
Assessments
The assessment for both the Civil and Criminal HCAQ is in two parts:
Part 1 – Computer Based Written Examination – 2 hours (40% of overall marks)
Part 2 – Oral Examination consisting of an interim application, witness handling exercise and a trial speech – each 15 minutes (55% of overall marks) plus the submission of a written skeleton argument (5%)
The pass mark is 60%. You are required to achieve 60% in each of the written and oral component parts to achieve an overall pass. Ethics is pervasive throughout the assessment and can be tested in any part.
Learning support
We offer a number of support options to help professionals from any background achieve their potential.
See how we support you
HRA FAQs
Higher Rights of Audience (HRA) is a qualification that allows solicitors to represent clients as advocates in the higher courts of England and Wales, including the Crown Court, High Course, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court. This means that solicitors can conduct complex litigation without needing to instruct a barrister.