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District Court Advocacy Skills For Local Authority Solicitors
Are you a local authority solicitor engaged in District Court Advocacy? Are you confident in your skills to make speeches and question witnesses at hearings?
Online / In Person
1 day
About this course
This highly interactive and experiential one day course will enable solicitors to learn new and enhance existing skills fostering confidence in their ability to perform in court. The afternoon session provides a supportive forum during a mock trial skills session facilitated by an experienced lawyer and followed by feedback.
Why choose this course
Advocacy skills form a fundamental part of the skillset of solicitors with many having to “learn on their feet”. This course is open to Local Authority Solicitors with varying levels of experience from beginners to the more seasoned advocate with an interest in developing their advocacy skills resulting in increased confidence. A consultation with the trainer will be organised prior to the training to assess specific group needs.
The course will enable solicitors to learn new and enhance existing skills fostering confidence in their ability to perform in court. The afternoon session provides a supportive forum during a mock trial skills session facilitated by an experienced lawyer and followed by feedback.
Course specifically designed for local authority solicitors engaged in District Court advocacy.
Course syllabus
This course is an interactive and highly practical day. The morning session is designed to cover all aspects of district court advocacy including:
- fundamentals of court procedure,
- considerations in assessing evidence,
- preparing for hearing and legal case analysis,
- court etiquette,
- basic principles of examination in chief and cross examination,
- questioning techniques and compiling skeleton arguments.
The second half of the day will involve a mock trial which is an important public speaking experience allowing delegates to implement their relevant and practical knowledge.
Even if you have a wealth of experience a confident and competent presentation is vital. It is an opportunity to overcome nerves and hone advocacy skills before a supportive audience.
Key Learning Points
This intensive one-day course is aimed at covering all aspects of District Court advocacy, including:
- Overview of the law and rules of evidence,
- Case analysis, strengths and weaknesses,
- Advocacy techniques,
- Conducting both a direct and a cross-examination of witnesses,
- Development of a personal style.
Who should attend
This course is designed specifically for local authority solicitors engaged in District Court advocacy.
Your Trainer – Our expert trainers
La Touche Training Legal Experts
We work with a wide panel of specialist trainers, all chosen based on their experience and knowledge, experience both in practice and as trained trainers. The majority of our trainers are experienced...
Read BioPractical training with small groups to ensure quality.
Our training sessions are not lectures—they're practical, interactive experiences. The small group format allows every attendee to ask questions, take part in discussions involving practical exercises and role-plays.
This method of training allows attendees to put the skills learned into practice immediately. Course participants benefit from the focused attention and guidance of an independent expert.
Develop your District Court Advocacy Skills
FAQs
This course provides practical training on presenting cases in the District Court. It is designed to help professionals develop the skills needed to advocate effectively, including case presentation, legal submissions, and courtroom communication.
The course is aimed at local authority staff, enforcement officers, and professionals who represent their organisation in the District Court. It is particularly useful for those involved in prosecutions who may need to present cases without being legally qualified.
Not always. In certain regulatory or enforcement matters, authorised officers or representatives may present cases. However, they must understand court procedures and advocacy techniques, which this course is designed to develop.
Key skills include structuring a case, presenting evidence, making legal submissions, examining witnesses, handling objections, and responding to questions from the judge.
The District Court deals with summary offences, minor criminal matters, licensing issues, and a wide range of regulatory prosecutions taken by public bodies such as local authorities.
Preparation involves understanding the facts, reviewing the prosecution file, organising evidence, knowing the relevant legislation, and anticipating potential challenges from the defence.
An advocate presents the case on behalf of their organisation, calls and questions witnesses, introduces evidence, and makes legal arguments to support the prosecution or application.
Yes. The course includes practical guidance on how to question witnesses effectively, including both examination-in-chief and handling cross-examination scenarios.
Common issues include poor organisation of evidence, unclear submissions, lack of familiarity with the case, and difficulty responding to judicial questions. The course helps participants avoid these pitfalls.
It is a highly practical course, typically involving exercises, case studies, and advocacy practice tailored to the types of cases participants are likely to encounter in the District Court.
