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Welcome to the Edinburgh Centre for
Professional Legal Studies
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The Edinburgh Centre for Professional Legal Studies is part of The University of Edinburgh's Law School. The Centre is based at 7 Bristo Square, in the heart of Scotland's legal centre, just a few minutes from the Sheriff and Justice of the Peace Courts, the Scottish Parliament and Parliament House where the highest criminal and civil courts in Scotland sit.
Since the middle ages, Edinburgh has been a major centre for Law and for over 300 years the University of Edinburgh has trained generations of the finest legal minds.
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For over 30 years the Edinburgh Law School has been offering the professional Diploma qualification,
required to practice law in Scotland. In 2010, the Edinburgh Centre for Professional Legal Studies
(Edinburgh CPLS) was established to provide a centre dedicated to the delivery of first-class
professional legal education and training for the emerging lawyer. The main role of Edinburgh CPLS is to deliver this postgraduate professional training and it is accredited by The Law Society of Scotland to deliver Professional Education and Training Stage 1 (PEAT 1) and also, Trainee CPD required in Professional Education and Training Stage 2 (PEAT 2).
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- PEAT 1 is the vocational education stage and is achieved
by studying for the postgraduate Diploma in Professional Legal
Practice, the professionally-qualifying postgraduate qualification that
forms the link between an undergraduate LLB and the legal profession in
Scotland. Edinburgh CPLS offers both a full-time Diploma over one
academic year, or a part-time Diploma over two academic years.
- PEAT 2 is the new work-based stage where legal and
practical skills are learned and further developed during the actual
traineeship. It also requires completion of 60 hours of Trainee
Continuing Professional Development (TCPD) at least 40 hours of which
must be delivered by an authorised TCPD provider. From September 2011,
trainees are required to undertake TCPD, but during the transition phase
the completion of the Professional Competence Course (PCC) will be
treated as TCPD until 31st August 2013. CPLS offers the Core PCC course
three times per year, plus a wide range of electives. In addition,
Edinburgh CPLS will be offering TCPD courses. Information on these can
be found here.
- Further opportunities for CPD and TCPD are offered
through the University's Office of Lifelong Learning and Edinburgh Law
School. Information on these can be found here.
Edinburgh CPLS is also home to the Free Legal Advice Centre
which delivers free legal services to members of the public. This
hugely-popular service is provided by Diploma students who are
supervised by qualified solicitors, and gives students the opportunity
to take part in hands-on legal work for the benefit of the wider
community. The Centre provides an unparalleled opportunity for students
to put their legal education and skills into practice. It is now an
integral part of the Diploma for each student and gives our students the
chance to real life experience in interviewing clients, drafting
letters and researching live legal issues. |
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For more information on all of these opportunities, please follow the links below:
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