Professional Skills Course

The Professional Skills Course (PSC) must be completed to qualify as a solicitor.

Who needs to attend?

If you want to be a solicitor, you must pass the Professional Skills Course. Law graduates – and non-law graduates who have completed the Common Professional Examination or a Graduate Diploma in Law – attend the PSC during the course of the training contract.

What does the course consist of?

The PSC requires the equivalent of 12 days of full-time attendance, building on the vocational training provided in the Legal Practice Course. It comprises three core modules, and elective courses relevant to specific types of practice and areas of law.

Core modules

• Client care and professional standards (two days)
• Advocacy and communication skills (three days)
• Financial and business skills (three days, plus exam)

Electives

You must complete 24 hours of elective courses, of which no more than half may be by distance learning. You can choose from a range of subject areas. Elective courses may be completed at any time during the training contract.

How is the PSC run?

The standard course consists of eight days of face-to-face tuition, spread over a number of months, interspersed with periods of normal work in the office. On the fast track course, the core modules are covered over eight consecutive days.

The PSC is offered by accredited external course providers.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority provides further details about the structure and accreditation of the PSC [PDF 74KB].