SRA Handbook

Accreditation for current practitioners

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Version 15 of the Handbook was published on 01/11/2015. For more information, please click 'History' Above

Part 3: Accreditation for current practitioners

Regulation 5: Application of Part 3

5.1

Part 3 of these regulations applies to you if you were admitted as a solicitor or became an REL before 1 September 2015 .

Regulation 6: Accreditation at level 1

6.1

You may register with the SRA to conduct criminal advocacy at level 1 by submitting an application in the manner prescribed by the SRA.

6.2

After you have registered with the SRA under regulation 6.1, you will be granted full accreditation at level 1.

Regulation 7: Registration and Provisional accreditation at level 2, 3 or 4

7.1

You may register to conduct criminal advocacy at levels 2, 3 or 4 by submitting an application in the manner prescribed by the SRA.

7.2

After you have registered with the SRA under regulation 7.1, you will be granted provisional accreditation at your chosen level.

7.3

Subject to regulation 8.2 below, if you have been granted provisional accreditation at level 2, 3 or 4 you must apply to the SRA for full accreditation at your chosen level within 24 months of the date you were granted provisional accreditation.

7.4

If you do not apply for full accreditation or for an extension of time under regulation 18 within 24 months of the date you were granted provisional accreditation, you will not be accredited under these regulations.

Regulation 8: Full accreditation at level 2

8.1

Subject to regulation 8.2, if you do not intend to undertake trials, you may apply for full accreditation at level 2 by submitting an application in the manner prescribed by the SRA.

Guidance note:

(i)

A list of approved assessment organisations is available via our website - www.sra.org.uk. The assessment shall be in the form approved by us for the purpose.

8.2

If you do not intend to undertake trials and you have obtained your higher courts advocacy qualification for criminal advocacy by assessment in accordance with the SRA Higher Rights of Audience Regulations, you will automatically be granted full accreditation and will not be required to apply for re-accreditation until such time as is prescribed by the SRA.

8.3

If you intend to undertake trials you may apply for full accreditation at level 2 by submitting:

(a)

an application in the manner prescribed by the SRA; and

(b)

the prescribed number of CAEFs obtained in the prescribed manner in accordance with the QASA demonstrating that you have met the level 2 competencies set out in the QASA in level 2 trials.

Regulation 9: Full accreditation at Levels 3 and 4

9.1

You may apply for full accreditation at levels 3 or 4 by submitting:

(a)

an application in the manner prescribed by the SRA;

(b)

the prescribed number of CAEFs obtained in the prescribed manner in accordance with the QASA demonstrating that you have met the required competencies set out in the QASA in trials at that level.

Regulation 10: Level 2 advocates intending to undertake trials

10.1

If you are provisionally accredited in accordance with regulation 7 or fully accredited in accordance with regulation 8.1 or 8.2 at level 2 and intend to undertake trials, you must:

(a)

notify the SRA of your intention to undertake level 2 trial work in the manner prescribed by the SRA; and

(b)

within 24 months of the SRA accepting such notification submit the prescribed number of CAEFs obtained in the prescribed manner in accordance with the QASA demonstrating that you have met the level 2 competencies set out in the QASA in level 2 trials.

Regulation 11: Progression to level 3 or 4

11.1

If you are fully accredited in accordance with regulation 8.3 at level 2 or are fully accredited at level 3, and in either case you intend to progress to the level above, you must:

(a)

notify the SRA of your intention to progress in the manner prescribed by the SRA; and

(b)

within 12 months of the SRA accepting such notification submit the prescribed number of CAEFs obtained in the prescribed manner in accordance with the QASA demonstrating that you have met the required competencies set out in the QASA in trials at the level at which you are fully accredited.

11.2

After you have complied with the requirements of regulation 11.1 above, you may be provisionally accredited at the next level and you may apply for full accreditation under regulation 9 above within 12 months of the date you were granted provisional accreditation.

11.3

If you do not apply for full accreditation or for an extension of time under regulation 18 within 12 months of the date you were granted provisional accreditation, you will revert to the level at which you were fully accredited.