Law Society launches
dedicated service for solicitor advocates
Law Society President John
Wotton last night launched a dedicated service for solicitor
advocates.
The Advocacy Section has been
developed for the 5,200 solicitors who have qualified as higher
court advocates in either criminal or civil jurisdictions and are
therefore qualified to represent clients as an advocate in the
higher courts.
The section will provide
mentoring, training and networking opportunities on a circuit and
national level and create the framework to provide the level of
support delivered to barristers by their Inns of Court.
The new service will equip
solicitors with the necessary skills and confidence to appear in
the courts and to prepare for the challenges that lie ahead. The
needs of criminal solicitor advocates are currently most acute and
the section will focus on this sector in the first half of 2012 -
to help solicitor advocates prepare for the introduction of the new
QASA (Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates) assessment
regime.
The service will also cater for
the needs of advocates at the magistrates' and county court levels
and for civil, children and family advocates.
In his speech John Wotton said;
“We are committed to working with solicitor advocates to
ensure that they are fully equipped and prepared to face the future
with the confidence that they deserve. Central to this belief is
our responsibility to ensure that solicitor advocates receive the
necessary robust advocacy training and continuing professional
development.'
Ends
Contact: Steve Rudaini or
Catherine Reed in The Law Society Press Office on
+44 (0)20 7320 5902