Advanced Criminal Litigation
The Advanced Criminal Litigation elective is designed to provide
for those students who have an interest in, or wish to further
develop their knowledge and skills of, procedures relating to
criminal litigation in a practical, lively and stimulating way. The
course will be of particular relevance to those employed, or who
propose to be employed, within the Magistrates' Courts Service, the
Crown Prosecution Service, or private practice undertaking criminal
defence work.
The elective encompasses:
- The role of the solicitor at the police station
- Preparing a case for trial in the Magistrates' Court
- Preparing a case for trial in the Crown Court, including
briefing Counsel
- Appellate procedure and jurisdiction
The section of the course dealing with the role of the solicitor
at the police station will be of a standard consistent with the
requirements of the Solicitors Regulation Authority Police Station
Accreditation Scheme. The workshop sessions deal with a range of
situations which may be encountered at the police station and use
case studies and role-play to simulate both practice and the
accreditation scheme.
The course and conduct of a trial both in the Magistrates' Court
and the Crown Court will be by single case study and will involve
subjecting the prosecution and defence case to careful analysis,
and identifying and considering numerous evidential and legal
issues. Opening and closing addresses will be discussed. A
practical approach will be adopted to the preparation of a case for
trial in the Crown Court, which will include consideration of
drafting a brief to Counsel.
The course will also examine the various avenues of appeal which
may exist in respect of a convicted defendant and will consider the
constraints and advantages in pursuing such avenues.
The content of the full-time and part-time course is identical,
but they are structured differently.