The Law Society of Scotland Rights of Audience Sub-Committee have agreed that separate Introductory Courses can be offered for civil and criminal extended Rights of Audience. This will allow the timings of the Introductory Course to fit more appropriately with the opening of the Law Society Extended Rights of Audience processes for Criminal and Civil extended rights of audience each year.

Solicitor Advocates Criminal Introductory Course 2025 – Friday 24 January 2025 - This course meets the criteria of an Introductory Course as defined under rule C.4. of the Law Society of Scotland Practice Rules 2011 for Criminal Extended Rights of Audience. Solicitors looking to apply for the 2025 criminal Extended Rights of Audience course of training process who did not attend an Introductory Course in 2024 should attend this course.

Solicitor Advocates Civil Introductory Course 2025 – Friday 16 May 2025 - This course meets the criteria of an Introductory Course as defined under rule C.4. of the Law Society of Scotland Practice Rules 2011 for Civil Extended Rights of Audience.   Solicitors looking to apply in 2025 for the 2026 civil Extended Rights of Audience course of training who did not attend an Introductory Course in 2024 should attend this course.

Attendance at the courses will be in person at the offices of Brodies LLP, 58 Morrison Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8BP or via Zoom (although attendance in person is encouraged where possible.)

These half-day events are intended for all solicitors considering applying for Extended Rights of Audience who would like to know more about the process and require to attend a mandatory Introductory Course as a pre-requisite of application.

Please note that attendance at the Criminal Introductory Course will not meet the criteria for an application for Civil Extended Rights of Audience and, likewise, attendance at the Civil Introductory Course will not meet the criteria for Criminal Extended Rights of Audience. 

Speakers for the criminal course will include the Hon. Lord Scott and a criminal rights of audience course convenor ; for the civil course speakers will include Paul Motion, Civil Convenor; and a member of the judiciary.

Speakers at both the courses will include Sonia Gentile-Mills, the Accreditation Manager of Education, Training and Qualifications at the Law Society of Scotland, and experienced Solicitor Advocates with experience of the training and qualification processes and practice thereafter.

There will also be a panel session dealing with practical and topical matters relative to applying for Extended Rights of Audience and practising as a Solicitor Advocate.

Each course will run from 9.30am sharp until 12pm and costs £75.

If you would like to attend the course, please contact our Administrator, Ellen Wilson, on 07792 586138 or email ellen@solicitoradvocates.org.