Higher Courts Qualification Regulations 2000 routes to be extended
23 December 2008
Solicitors and registered European lawyers wishing to become higher court advocates will be able to apply for exemptions and accreditation under existing regulations until 31 December 2009 under an extension approved by the Secretary of State.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority applied for the extension to the accreditation and exemption routes which were originally due to cease on 31 December 2008.
The extension will apply until 31 December 2009 to allow new regulations to be developed and approved for introduction from 1 January 2010.
Solicitors will be able to apply for higher courts qualification under the 2000 regulations using their experience of litigation and advocacy. Barristers transferring to become solicitors will continue to be eligible for full rights of audience from the date of admission to the roll under the provisions of section 31c of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990.
The SRA is working on a simplified route to accreditation and details of the proposed new regulations will be published on the SRA website, with specific issues being open for further consultation, in January 2009.
Antony Townsend, chief executive of the SRA, said: "The extension to the current scheme will enable us to develop a robust system of accreditation for the higher rights of audience qualification and to ensure a consistent approach to the competence of all advocates undertaking legal work."
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