Annex I Knowledge, skills and attributes – currently prescribed
As curricula may state learning outcomes in considerable detail, this is necessarily a simplification. Nor does it map detailed content, .e.g. whether one profession’s syllabus for contract law is identical to, or at the same level of complexity as, another’s.
| Knowledge (mandated subjects) | Skills | Optional subjects enabling specialisation | 'Ethics/professional conduct' components | NQF level (if any) | |
| JASB statement (QLD/GDL) | Sources of law, institutions and personnel Public law (constitutional, administrative and human rights) EU law Criminal law Obligations (contract, restitution and tort) Property Equity and trusts |
Legal research, analysis and application 'to the solution of legal problems' Oral and written communication 'to the needs of a variety of audiences' General transferable skills including problem solving, use of language 'with care and accuracy', electronic research, communication and word-processing |
QLD: Yes (range available will vary by provider) GDL: one optional subject (may be a research project) |
'a wide range of legal concepts, values, principles and rules' | QLD: 4-6 GDL: 6 |
| BPTC | Civil litigation, evidence and remedies Criminal litigation evidence and remedies |
Advocacy Opinion writing Drafting Conference skills Resolution of disputes out of court Legal research (embedded in the curriculum: writing skills, casework skills, fact management, legal research, management and interpersonal skills.) |
Yes (range available will vary by provider) | Professional Ethics Note also that 3 hours on ethics appears in the new practitioners programme. |
6-7 |
| BTT (BSB, 2012b) | The QLD Foundation subjects plus BPTC knowledge subjects | BPTC skills | No | As BPTC | |
| CILEx level 3 (professional diploma) | Introduction to law and practice Contract Criminal Land Tort |
Client care Legal research |
Yes | Key professional values embedded in client care unit and referred to in other units | 3 |
| CILEX level 6 (professional higher diploma) | Additional law and practice units | Client care Legal research |
Yes | Key professional values embedded in client care unit and referred to in other units | 6 |
| Knowledge (mandated subjects) | Skills | Optional subjects enabling specialisation | 'Ethics/professional conduct' components | NQF level (if any) | |
| Costs lawyers (ACL course) | General and Civil Costs. introduction to the English Legal System, Contact, Tort, Civil Procedure, General Costs Law and Practice, Litigation Funding and Costs Pleadings. Solicitor and Client Costs, Special Courts and Tribunals. Introduction to the English Legal System, Property, Ethics and Professional Standards, Solicitor and Client Costs, Costs in Special Courts, Costs in Arbitration Proceedings and Tribunals and Legal Accounts. Public Funding/Legal Aid. introduction to the English Legal System, Family Law, Criminal Law, Costs in Family Law Proceedings, Costs in Criminal Law Proceedings (non Legal Aid), Civil Legal Aid, Family Legal Aid and Criminal Legal Aid. |
Critical and analytical skills are identified. Some element of drafting present. |
No | Ethics and professional standards in module 2 | |
| Licensed conveyancers (CLC, 2011a, 2011b) |
Foundation level: Introduction to conveyancing Introduction to law and legal method Land law Contract Final level: |
Legal method includes research and settling disputes Accounts involves some elements of book-keeping |
No | CLC accounts and a section on 'the licensed conveyancer'. | 4-6 |
| Notaries (see also Society of Scriveners, 1998) | Constitutional/Public Law The Law of Property The Law of Contract Equity and the Law of Trusts Private International Law Conveyancing Business Law and Practice The Law of the European Union Roman Law as an Introduction to Civil-Law Systems Wills Probate and Administration |
Notarial Practice (including Bills of Exchange) | No | The function of a notary as a public certifying officer The Notaries Practice Rules and other rules and regulations |
7 |
| Knowledge (mandated subjects) | Skills | Optional subjects enabling specialisation | 'Ethics/professional conduct' components | NQF level (if any) | |
| Patent attorneys (domestic qualification) (IPReg, 2011)For European qualifications, see EPO (2011). | Basic United Kingdom Patent Law and Procedure Basic Overseas Patent Law and Procedure Basic United Kingdom Trade Mark Law Basic Overseas Trade Mark Law and Practice United Kingdom Designs and Copyright Law Basic English Law Patent Agent's Practice Preparation of Specifications for United Kingdom and Overseas Patents Amendments of Specifications for United Kingdom Patents/Applications in Prosecution, Revocation Proceedings or Otherwise Infringement and Validity of United Kingdom Patents |
Some elements of drafting and searching | No | Not apparent in publicly available materials | |
| Registered trade mark attorneys (IPReg, 2011) |
Academic stage Foundations of Law for Trade Mark Practice Trade Mark Law & Practice A Trade Mark Law & Practice B Designs and Copyright Law Vocational stage Introduction to trade mark practice and client relationships skills (including interviewing) |
Advocacy Interviewing Trade mark filing/searching Negotiation Reflective learning (assessed) |
No | Ethics included in client relationships skills and advocacy at vocational stage | Academic stage: 7 Vocational stage: 6-7 |
| LPC (see also SRA, 2012a) | Business law and practice Property law and practice Litigation (civil and criminal) Wills and administration of estates Taxation |
Practical legal research,Writing,Drafting, Interviewing and advising, Advocacy (problem solving embedded)[1] |
Yes (range available will vary by provider) | Professional Conduct and Regulation (including solicitors' accounts) | 6-7 (will vary by provider) |
| PSC |
Advocacy and communication skills Client care and professional standards Finance and business skills
|
Yes (range available will vary by provider) | Client care and professional standards. Also coverage of FSMA and related issues of professional conduct | ||
| QLTS | Foundation subjects as for QLD/GDL Knowledge of the regulatory and fiscal frameworks within which business, legal and financial services transactions are conducted LPC subjects[2] |
Intellectual analytical and problem solving skills are assumed and not tested. LPC skills[3] |
No | Knowledge of the rules of professional conduct, including the SRA Accounts Rules |
[1] Reflective learning is identified as an outcome, but not assessed.
[2] However as the LPC outcomes and day one outcomes are not identical, some element of mapping and attribution to learning in the training contract has been necessary.
[3] See previous footnote.