CILEX Advocacy Skills Course (Family)
This is a specialist programme designed to develop knowledge and understanding of the key elements of family advocacy practice, including technical legal skills, legal submissions, drafting and court advocacy, with a focus on professional conduct and legal ethics. The course is designed to prepare you to step confidently into court-focused legal work.
What you will gain from successfully completing the course
Upon successful completion of the 6-day Family Advocacy Skills Course, and subject to meeting the relevant requirements and obtaining authorisation from CILEX Regulation, a Chartered Legal Executive Advocate (Family) may:
- Exercise rights of audience in Judge’s Room hearings in the Family Court in family proceedings.
- Exercise rights of audience in open court hearings in the Family Court in family proceedings.
- Exercise such other rights of audience as are provided by the relevant Family Advocacy Practice Rights, subject to the scope and conditions of the Advocate’s authorisation.
In addition, a Chartered Legal Executive is authorised as a Commissioner for Oaths, subject to holding a valid practising certificate.
Family Advocacy Practice Rights do not, in themselves, confer Higher Rights of Audience. Higher Rights of Audience require separate authorisation.
Modules included within the course
- Professional conduct
- Fact management
- Negotiation
- Witness statements
- Evidence
- Position statements
- Case analysis and theory
- Skeleton arguments
- Legal submissions and drafting
- Advocacy – oral and written submissions
Through immersive, practice-informed learning, you will:
- Build strong technical legal skills, including drafting, submissions and court advocacy.
- Develop your understanding of procedural requirements and day-to-day case preparation.
- Develop your understanding of legal ethics and audit accountability, gaining a deeper appreciation of how high-quality advocacy functions in practice.
- Enhance your employability and personal development skills sought by firms and employers.
- Gain real insight into how lawyers manage demanding court preparation and caseloads.
- Work through skills-based activities with practical formative assessment.
The course is delivered by CILEX Law School as a six-day programme comprising five consecutive days of training followed by an assessment on a separate date.
To be eligible for this course, you must have:
- Completed the relevant CPQ Professional Stage (Family Pathway).
- Obtained your Certificate of Eligibility, including demonstrating the required litigation and advocacy experience/evidence, where applicable.
On successful completion of the course, and provided you meet the relevant CILEX Regulation authorisation and Work-Based Learning requirements, you will be able to progress your application for authorisation as a Chartered Legal Executive Advocate (Family).
Upon authorisation, you will be able to exercise the relevant Family Advocacy Practice Rights, subject to the scope and conditions of your authorisation.
Register your interest
Register your interest via the ‘CILEX Law School: Advocacy Programme (Family)’ enquiry category on the Contact Us enquiry form.