New regulations that provide a single route for solicitors to qualify to appear in the higher courts come into effect this week, on 1 April.

The Ministry of Justice has approved the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s new system, which will see one route to qualification through an advocacy assessment based on the higher rights of audience competence standards.

Under the Solicitors Higher Rights of Audience Regulations 2010 (SHRAR) there will be separate awards for rights of audience for criminal and civil advocacy.

The new regulations remove the need for mandatory training or experience in the assessment process, which will be run by external organisations that have been authorised by the SRA.

There are currently three routes by which solicitors can gain higher rights qualifications: the exemption route, which allows applicants to qualify if they have appropriate experience and qualifications; accreditation, which requires applicants to undertake an advocacy course and skills assessment; and the development route, where applicants have to pass two courses and have their performance monitored for 12 months.

Solicitors who have already gained rights of audience qualifications will be automatically passported on to the new scheme and will retain their existing rights of audience.

Transitional arrangements have been made to cover those who are taking assessments under the 2000 regulations.

The SRA’s head of education and training Clare Gilligan, said: ‘We have consulted extensively with stakeholders on the new scheme and feel that this is a fairer way of assessing competency.

‘We feel confident that the SHRAR will provide a robust system for qualification in the higher courts,’ she said.

More information is available from the SRA’s website.