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A legal traineeship lasts two years, during which time the trainees must attend a Professional Competence Course, record their progression in log books and have quarterly reviews, which are monitored by the Law Society. The aims of the Professional Competence Course (PCC) are to:
- Develop the knowledge and skills learned on the Diploma and in the first stages of traineeship.
- Enhance trainees' knowledge of key areas of current legal practice.
- Enable a deeper understanding of the ethics, values and attitudes of the Scottish legal profession.
- Facilitate the development of legal skills and the integration of these with legal knowledge and ethical behaviour.
The PCC is normally taken between 6 and 18 months into a traineeship and its focus is on the skills and knowledge essential to the competent performance of trainees. It consists of a Core Curriculum (taught over seven working days) and 18 hours of Electives.
At Edinburgh School of Law, the Core Curriculum is run three times a year in March, May and June and the Electives are offered between April and June. The course is taught by experienced solicitors whose knowledge and experience is invaluable. The trainees have ample opportunity to gain from this knowledge and indeed there are Expert Panel Sessions running through the course.
As part of the Law Society of Scotland's move to Professional Education and Training stage 2 (PEAT 2), all trainees starting after 1st September 2011 are required to undertake Trainee Continuing Professional Development (TCPD). However, during the transition phase, the PCC is deemed to be TCPD until 31st August 2013.
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