‌Our Trainee CPD (TCPD) programme is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland. It allows legal trainees to work towards achievement and demonstration of the PEAT 2 prescribed Learning Outcomes.

  • CPD: individual courses; 40 and 60 hour packages

Why this course

  • We provide innovative CPD courses which are developed Law Society of Scotland - Approved TCPD Provider logoby practitioners, created specifically for trainees, and delivered by trained subject experts.
  • Our programmes are designed to suit your individual preferences and to reflect the changing needs of your clients and the legal marketplace.
  • Please note the recent statement issued by the Law Society of Scotland in regards to Changes to Trainee CPD requirements due to COVID-19

    • Individual courses

    All of our courses can be taken and paid for individually. For the individual pricing, please select the relevant course below. If you are planning to take multiple courses, we recommend one of our trainee packages.

    Trainee packages

    We offer two trainee packages designed to help you and your employer get the best value from your investment:

    • Option 1: 40 accredited hours which trainees are required to complete by the Law Society of Scotland over the 2 year period of traineeship; or
    • Option 2: 60 accredited hours which covers the total hours required by the Law Society of Scotland over the 2 year period of traineeship.

    Option 1 - 40 accredited hours of Trainee CPD

    This package allows you to source a total of 40 accredited TCPD hours from our list of courses, enabling you to choose the most relevant courses to your stage and area of practice as you progress through your traineeship. For example, you may wish in the first year to concentrate on core skills, such as team working or technical skills such as advocacy.

    The fee for this option is £1,200 (VAT is not applicable).

    Option 2 - 60 accredited hours of Trainee CPD

    This package allows you to source a total of 60 accredited TCPD hours from our list of courses, enabling you to choose the most relevant courses to your stage and area of practice as you progress through your traineeship.  For example, you may wish in the first year to concentrate on core skills, such as team working or technical skills such as advocacy.

    The fee for this option is £1,800 (VAT is not applicable). 

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    Law Society of Scotland Requirements

    Over the course of a traineeship, you are required to undertake a minimum of 60 hours of TCPD:

    • A minimum of 40 hours of the minimum 60 hours must come from an authorised provider.
    • Between months nine and 15 of a traineeship, you are required to undertake the mandatory ethics course. This is the only mandatory element of TCPD and must be of at least four hours' training and come from an authorised provider.
    • The Society would expect that a minimum of 30 hours of TCPD should normally have been undertaken by month 15 of the traineeship but this is not a requirement.
    • Trainees should note that, should they wish to be admitted as a solicitor after the first year of their training contact has been completed, they will require to have completed a minimum of 20 hours of TCPD.

    Further information on traineeships can be found on the Law Society of Scotland's 'Qualifying and education' webpages.

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    Cancellation Policy

    We require 48 hours notice of cancellation for all TCPD courses.

    In the event of cancellation less than 48 hours in advance of a course, delegates will have the 'accredited hours' applicable to that course deducted from their package.  Similarly if a class has been booked and the delegate does not turn up.

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    Find out what previous attendees said about our courses.

Course structure

Courses can be chosen from any of the courses listed below.  The timetable is subject to change.  If less than four participants register for one course, we reserve the right to cancel that course.

Courses listed by core skills

Our core skills courses are an excellent way to build a strong foundation for practising law.

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Business, Commercial, Financial & Practice Awareness 

Dates:

2024:

Thursday 11 April - Part 1

Thursday 18 April - Part 2

Please contact law-cpe@glasgow.ac.uk if you are interested in this course.
Time 18.00 - 20.00
Training Hours: 4 hours (plus 1 hour individual preparation time - 5 hours in total)
Venue: Online
Course Synopsis:

  • Understand the changes occurring in the legal services sector in the UK in relation to business structures and delivery models

  • Recognise the opportunities that these changes may create for your firm

  • Identify the opportunities that these changes may create for your career
Target Audience: Trainees
Delivered by:

Stephen Vallance, Solicitor and Business Consultant

Stephen Vallance, having run his own practice for 25 years, now has a diverse work portfolio that includes, amongst other things, Legal Sector Development Solicitor at Connect2law (Harper Macleod).  He is also a co-founder of an online legal services business, Legalbot.  He has produced and presented seminars on various management topics for the Law Society of Scotland and is a Founder and Chairman (for 4 years) of the Live@Troon Music Festival.  He tutors in Private Client, PCC and BEFPA at the University of Glasgow as well as teaching on the TCPD programme.
Cost:

£175 (no VAT applicable)

If you have already registered with a trainee package, please email law-cpe@glasgow.ac.uk to reserve your place on this course.

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Ethics - PEAT 2 Mandatory element

Please note that in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, you can currently undertake the mandatory ethics course between months nine and 24 of a traineeship.

Ethics Mandatory (evening class)

Dates:

2024:

Wednesday 28 February - Ethics Part 1

Thursday 29 February - Ethics Part 2

Wednesday 22 May - Ethics Part 1

Thursday 23 May - Ethics Part 2

If you are interested in this course, please email law-cpe@glasgow.ac.uk.
Time: 18.00-20.00
Training Hours: 4 hours over 2 sessions (4 hours in total)
Venue: Online

Course Synopsis:

 
  • Problem based sessions covering a range of practice areas
  • Confidentiality
  • Conflict of Interest
  • Money Laundering
Target Audience: Trainees
Delivered by:

John Mackie, Solicitor

John Mackie is a Partner at PRG Partnership Solicitors. John practises in many areas of the law but has a particular interest in entertainment, media and intellectual property law as well as claims based on contract and professional negligence. He acts for a number of high profile clients involved in the entertainment industry as well as from the worlds of construction and commerce. He also maintains a successful private client practice at the firm’s head office in Glasgow and at our branch office in Erskine. He is also a tutor for the University of Glasgow's Diploma in Professional Legal Practice.
Cost:

£150 (no VAT applicable)

If you have already registered with a trainee package, please email law-cpe@glasgow.ac.uk to reserve your place on this course.

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Negotiation Skills & Client Interview Skills

Date:

2024:

Monday 22 April - Part 1 (Introduction to Interviewing)

Wednesday 24 April - Part 2 (Interviewing Roleplay)

Monday 29 April - Part 3 (Introduction to Negotiation)

Wednesday 1 May - Part 4 (Negotiation Roleplay)

If you are interested in this course, please email law-cpe@glasgow.ac.uk.
Time: 18.00-20.00
Training Hours: 8 hours over 4 sessions (plus 2 hours preparation time - 10 hours in total)
Venue: Online
Course Synopsis:
  • Preparation for  negotiation
  • Undertaking a model negotiation
  • Consideration of different negotiating styles
  • How to interview a client
  • How to obtain all relevant information from your client
  • How to build a relationship with your client
Target Audience: Trainees and newly qualified lawyers
Delivered by:

Kieran Burke

Kieran is originally from Northern Ireland and moved to Scotland to study law at the University of Glasgow.  

He was an in-house solicitor at the Scottish Legal Aid for a number of years, before taking up a policy role in the Access to Justice Unit with the Scottish Government, which where he is currently employed.  

He also tutors Commercial Awareness and Public Law on the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice course at the University of Glasgow.   
Cost:

£350 (no VAT applicable)

If you have already registered with a trainee package, please email law-cpe@glasgow.ac.uk to reserve your place on this course.

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Team Working & Delegation with Confident Presentations & Networking

Dates:

2024:

Wednesday 14 February - Team Working Part 1

Thursday 15 February - Confident Presentations & Networking Part 1

Wednesday 21 February - Team Working Part 2

Thursday 22 February - Confident Presentations & Networking Part 2

If you are interested in this course, please email law-cpe@glasgow.ac.uk.
Time: 18.00-20.00
Training Hours: 8 hours over 4 sessions (plus 2 hour individual preparation time - 10 accredited hours in total)
Venue: Online
Course Synopsis:
  • Identify your personal and professional strengths
  • Understand the dynamics of successful teams
  • Be able to influence other stakeholders
  • Receive and give constructive criticism
  • Tackle conflict and build shared responsibility
  • Gain support from other people
  • Build on your communication skills and strengths
  • Manage formality and informality
  • Be able to get your message across
  • Deal with challenging audiences
  • Develop and display fluency and confidence
  • Maximise and practice your personal impact
Target Audience: Trainees
Delivered by:

Stephen Vallance, Solicitor and Business Consultant

Stephen Vallance, having run his own practice for 25 years, now has a diverse work portfolio that includes, amongst other things, Legal Sector Development Solicitor at Connect2law (Harper Macleod).  He is also co-founder of an online legal services business, Legalbot.  He has produced and presented seminars on various management topics for the Law Society of Scotland and is a Founder and Chairman (for 4 years) of the Live@Troon Music Festival.  He tutors in Private Client, PCC and BEFPA at the University of Glasgow as well as teaching on the TCPD programme.
Cost:

£350 (no VAT applicable)

If you have already registered with a trainee package, please email law-cpe@glasgow.ac.uk to reserve your place on this course.

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Time Management & Prioritisation

Date:

Wednesday 20 March

Please contact law-cpe@glasgow.ac.uk if you are interested in this course.
Time: 18.00-20.00
Training Hours: 2 hour session (2 hours in total)
Venue: Online
Course Synopsis:
  • Utilise appropriate techniques to ensure timeous completion of tasks
  • Appreciate the need to utilise time as a scarce resource
  • Understand how to prioritise tasks
Target Audience: Trainees and qualified lawyers
Delivered by:

Stephen Vallance, Solicitor and Business Consultant

Stephen Vallance, having run his own practice for 25 years, now has a diverse work portfolio that includes, amongst other things, Legal Sector Development Solicitor at Connect2law (Harper Macleod).  He is also co-founder of an online legal services business, Legalbot.  He has produced and presented seminars on various management topics for the Law Society of Scotland and is a Founder and Chairman (for 4 years) of the Live@Troon Music Festival.  He tutors in Private Client, PCC and BEFPA at the University of Glasgow as well as teaching on the TCPD programme.
Cost:

£70 (No VAT applicable)

If you have already registered with a trainee package, please email law-cpe@glasgow.ac.uk to reserve your place on this course.

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Courses listed by technical skills

Our technical courses are taught wholly or partially in our mock courtroom to give trainees a taste of what it's like to be in court.

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Advocacy Skills for Courts & Tribunals

This course has been reinstated but is not now taking place in evenings.

Instead, it is being run during the day from 11am-4pm over two consecutive Thursdays.

Dates:

2024:

Thursday 28 March - Part 1

Thursday 4 April - Part 2

The course is now fully booked on these two dates. Due to demand, an additional course is being run on:

Thursday 21 March - Part 1

Wednesday 3 April - Part 2
Time: 11am - 4pm
Training Hours: 8 hours over 4 sessions (plus 2 hours individual preparation time) - 10 accredited hours total
Venue:

In person on the University of Glasgow main campus.

The course will mostly take place in the Alexander Stone Court Room (Moot Court Room) at Glasgow to replicate as far as possible real court conditions.

Course Synopsis:

These highly practical sessions will be fully interactive, allowing participants to practice and hone their presentational skills.

The course will cover:

  • The dos and don’ts of effective presentation

  • Essential advocacy skills

  • Examination in chief and cross examination

  • Presenting a motion/plea in mitigation

  • How to frame and present legal submissions in both the criminal and civil courts.
Target Audience: Trainees and newly qualified lawyers. The course will be run in small groups to allow each trainee full participation in developing Advocacy Skills.
Delivered by:

Peter Galletly

  • Graduated MA, LLB from Glasgow University

  • Legal Assistant for five years after traineeship, then set up own firm, Galletly & Co

  • Managing Partner of Galletly & Co for 20 years; a four-partner firm dealing with mixed work, mainly criminal court work but also conveyancing and family law

  • Sold firm to two existing partners in 2009

  • Procurator Fiscal Depute 2009-2011

  • Continued to work as sole practitioner in criminal courts 2011-2017

  • Began to work on a part-time basis as Legal Adviser in JP courts in sheriffdoms of Glasgow and Strathkelvin; North Strathclyde and South Strathclyde in 2017 and continue to do so

  • Became involved in legal education in 2010 when the University of Glasgow commenced own Diploma in Legal Practice

  • Began tutoring in 2010 in Criminal Law, Commercial Awareness and Advanced Criminal Law and continue to do so

  • Began supplementing tutoring commitments and in 20I7 became Senior Tutor in Advanced Criminal Law at the University of Glasgow involving writing and delivering lectures in addition to tutoring. Also began tutoring in a Business Management Course at Strathclyde University’s Diploma called Tomorrow’s Legal Industry (now renamed Project Management for Lawyers) in 2017

  • In addition to these courses have become involved in creating and delivering other TCPD courses

  • Have now created and deliver TCPD in Mandatory Ethics to COPFS trainees under auspices of the University of Glasgow

  • Assist on an ad hoc basis in delivery of TCPD in Mandatory Ethics at the University of Glasgow's School of Law

  • New addition is this TCPD course in Advocacy Skills bringing number of courses involved in to seven
Cost:

£350 (no VAT applicable)

If you have already registered with a trainee package, please email law-cpe@glasgow.ac.uk to reserve your place on this course.  

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Civil Litigation - Practical Aspects

Dates:

 

2024:

Tuesday 9 April - Part 1 (online)

Wednesday 10 April - Part 2 (online)

Tuesday 16 April - Part 3 (online)

Wednesday 17 April - Part 4 (in person)

Please contact law-cpe@glasgow.ac.uk if you are interested in this course.
Time: 18.00-20.00
Training Hours: 8 hours over 4 sessions (plus 2 hours preparation time - 10 hours in total)
Venue: Online and in person for the final session
Course Synopsis:
  • Taking precognitions
  • Drafting
  • Preparation for proof
  • Civil advocacy
Target Audience: Trainees and newly qualified lawyers
Delivered by:           Gerry McWilliams
Cost:

£350 (no VAT applicable)

If you have already registered with a trainee package, please email law-cpe@glasgow.ac.uk to reserve your place on this course.  

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Essential Criminal Law Skills

Dates:

2024:

Part 1: Thursday 9 May

Part 2: Wednesday 15 May

Part 3: Thursday 16 May

If you are interested in this course, please email law-cpe@glasgow.ac.uk.
Time: 6pm-8pm
Training Hours: 6 hours over 3 sessions (6 hours in total)
Venue:

Evening class taking place in person on the University of Glasgow main campus.
Course Synopsis:

Part 1

  • Structure of the court
  • Taking instructions from a client
  • The difference between meeting a client in the office and meeting a client in Custody
  • Interactive meeting with the client role play; interview ‘the client’ and tender a plea in Court
  • The bail application process

Part 2

  • The need for communication and recording, preparing for trial
  • The importance of recording and ‘The Spectre of Anderson’
  • The Steps for Preparation: Crown case and Defence case
  • The Written Record and where it lies in the process
  • The shape and content of the Record
  • The Crown Record, The Defence Record and how they work together
  • Going through the Record
  • Issuing the papers for the Record

Part 3

  • ‘Legal Pot-Luck’ role play: prepare and represent the client at the First Diet
  • Instructing Counsel
  • How to apply for legal aid
Target Audience: Trainees and newly qualified solicitors
Delivered by:

Martin Morrow, Solicitor-Advocate and Director, MTM Defence Lawyers Limited

Martin is a Solicitor Advocate with MTM Defence in Falkirk. He trained in Glasgow from 1986-1988 exclusively in criminal court work before moving to Falkirk. In 1993 he was a founding partner of MTM which is now one of the largest criminal firms in Central Scotland. In 1997 he became the youngest elected member of the Law Society Council and was re-elected thereafter. He has been involved in many test cases, challenging in 1998 the admissibility of interviews of accused conducted out with the presence of a solicitor.

In 1992 he brought a challenge to the validity of the use of the Intoximeter in drink driving cases. In 2006 he qualified as a Solicitor Advocate and has appeared in the High Court and the Appeal Court on charges ranging from murder to drug supply.
Cost:

£210 (no VAT applicable)

If you have already registered with a trainee package, please email law-cpe@glasgow.ac.uk to reserve your place on this course.

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Courses listed by specialist expertise

Our specialist courses focus on particular aspects of the law and show both the theoretical and practical side of each area.

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Data Protection & Freedom of Information 

Dates:

2024:

Part 1 - Wednesday 31 January
Part 2 - Thursday 1 February
Part 3 - Wednesday 7 February

Please contact law-cpe@glasgow.ac.uk if you are interested in this course.
Time: 18.00-20.00
Training Hours: 6 hours over 3 sessions (plus 4 hours individual preparation time - 10 hours in total)
Venue: Online

Course Synopsis:

Part 1 - An introduction to the Data Protection Act 1998

Part 2 - An introduction to the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations.

Part 3 - The interface between Data Protection and Freedom of Information
Target Audience: Trainees, newly qualified lawyers and professionals
Delivered by:

Daradjeet Jagpal, Director and Legal Consultant, Information Law Solutions Limited

Daradjeet Jagpal is Director and Legal Consultant at Information Law Solutions Limited, an independent consultancy providing advisory, training and audit services in Data Protection, Freedom of Information and Direct Marketing laws to private, third and public sector clients across the UK. He has advised clients of all sizes from start-up businesses, well-known commercial brands to UK Government Departments and Scottish Government Directorates.  He was single-handedly responsible for advising the Organising Committee of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games on Information Law issues associated with the organisation, management, broadcasting and delivery of the Games.    

He is a regular contributor to legal and industry publications and has been asked to comment on developments in Information Law for: LexisNexis; the International Bar Association; Workplace Law Magazine; The Herald and The Scotsman newspapers; Scottish Legal News; Scottish Housing News; Inside Housing; and Third Force News, amongst others.

He has two Masters' level degrees in Information Law (with distinction) and has completed the Information Systems Examinations Board's certificate course in Data Protection Law.

He speaks widely at client and third party events.  In 2010, he was invited by the first Scottish Information Commissioner to address the Commissioner on the scope of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 and their possible application to the private sector in Scotland.  His submissions to the Commissioner resulted in the Regulations being extended in application to registered social landlords in Scotland in June 2014.  He has separately been commissioned by the University to write and produce online training videos and associated test questions for University staff on data security matters. 
Cost:

£350 (no VAT applicable)

 If you have already registered with a trainee package, please email law-cpe@glasgow.ac.uk to reserve your place on this course.  

 

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Family Law

Dates:

2024:

Part 1 - Tuesday 7 May

Part 2 - Wednesday 8 May

Part 3 - Tuesday 14 May

If you are interested in this course, please email law-cpe@glasgow.ac.uk
Time: 18.00-20.00
Training Hours: 6 hours over 3 sessions (6 hours in total)
Venue: Online
Course Synopsis: Part 1:  Family mediation.
Parts 2 and 3:  Investigation and collation of information, the preparation of a schedule of matrimonial assets and liabilities, the consideration and negotiation of a scheme of division and the drafting of a Minute of Agreement.
Target Audience: Trainees and newly qualified lawyers
Delivered by:

Nicos Scholarios, Senior Partner, MSM

Nicos Scholarios is the Senior Tutor in Family Law and a Tutor in BEFPA on the Diploma in Legal Practice at the University of Glasgow.  He qualified as a Solicitor in 1983. He is Senior Partner of MSM Solicitors, with offices in Paisley and Glasgow. Nicos is a general practitioner with extensive experience in Family Law and has been an accredited Family Law Mediator since 1995.  He is currently Secretary of CALM, an association of Lawyer Mediators in Scotland.
Cost:

£210 (no VAT applicable)

If you have already registered with a trainee package, please email law-cpe@glasgow.ac.uk to reserve your place on this course.

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Human Rights Law

Dates:

2024:

Part 1 - Tuesday 12 March

Part 2 - Wednesday 13 March

Part 3 - Tuesday 19 March

Please contact law-cpe@glasgow.ac.uk if you are interested in this course.
Time: 18.00-20.00
Training Hours: 6 hours over 3 sessions (6 hours in total)
Venue: Online
Course Synopsis:

Part 1 - Strasbourg and UK Systems

Part 2 - Life, inhuman treatment and liberty

Part 3 - Qualified rights - privacy, religion and expression
Target Audience: Trainees and newly qualified solicitors
Delivered by:

Julie Clarke

Julie is a Scottish Solicitor with rights of audience in the higher courts. She did her traineeship with a private firm. After completing her traineeship, she was made an associate and then partner, appearing in courts all over Scotland and in Strasbourg. She specialised in criminal law and human rights with a particular interest in Art 3, specifically prison conditions and the rights of those in custody.  
 
She joined the Crown in 2009 and have prosecuted summary and solemn cases specialising in crimes of domestic and sexual violence.  
 
In 2021 in the immediate aftermath of Brexit she moved into international law, leading the Extradition Team dealing with requests for the surrender of fugitives from justice.  
 
She also tutors Criminal Litigation and Human Rights courses on the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice course at the University of Glasgow. 
Cost:

£210 (no VAT applicable)

If you have already registered with a trainee package, please email law-cpe@glasgow.ac.uk to reserve your place on this course.

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CPD Training Calendar

View our calendar to find out when the next courses are taking place.

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Calendar 2024

Wednesday 31 January Data Protection and Freedom of Information Part 1
Thursday 1 February Data Protection and Freedom of Information Part 2
Wednesday 7 February Data Protection and Freedom of Information Part 3
Wednesday 14 February Team Working and Delegation with Confident Presentations and Networking (Team Working Part 1)
Thursday 15 February Team Working and Delegation with Confident Presentations and Networking (Confident Presentations Part 1)
Wednesday 21 February Team Working and Delegation with Confident Presentations and Networking (Team Working Part 2)
Thursday 22 February Team Working and Delegation with Confident Presentations and Networking (Confident Presentations Part 2)
Wednesday 28 February Ethics Part 1
Thursday 29 February Ethics Part 2
Tuesday 12 March Human Rights Law - Part 1
Wednesday 13 March Human Rights Law - Part 2
Tuesday 19 March Human Rights Law - Part 3
Wednesday 20 March Time Management and Prioritisation
Thursday 28 March Advocacy Skills for Court and Tribunals Part 1
Thursday 4 April Advocacy Skills for Court and Tribunals Part 2
Tuesday 9 April Civil Litigation - Part 1
Wednesday 10 April Civil Litigation - Part 2
Thursday 11 April Business, Commercial, Financial and Practice Awareness - Part 1
Tuesday 16 April Civil Litigation Part 3
Wednesday 17 April Civil Litigation Part 4
Thursday 18 April Business, Commercial, Financial and Practice Awareness - Part 2
Monday 22 April Negotiation Skills and Client Interview Skills – Part 1 (Introduction to interviewing)
Wednesday 24 April Negotiation Skills and Client Interview Skills - Part 2 (Interviewing Roleplay)
Monday 29 April Negotiation Skills and Client Interview Skills – Part 3 (Introduction to Negotiation)
Wednesday 1 May Negotiation Skills and Client Interview Skills – Part 4 (Negotiation Roleplay)
Tuesday 7 May Family Law - Part 1
Wednesday 8 May Family Law - Part 2
Thursday 9 May Essential Criminal Law Skills - Part 1
Tuesday 14 May Family Law - Part 3
Wednesday 15 May Essential Criminal Law Skills - Part 2
Thursday 16 May Essential Crimninal Law Skills - Part 3
Wednesday 22 May Ethics - Part 1
Thursday 23 May Ethics - Part 2

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Course alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all courses as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a course. For more information, please see: Student contract.

Fees & funding

Fees

  • 40 accredited hours: £1,200
  • 60 accredited hours: £1,800
  • Individual courses: for the price of individual courses, please select the relevant course above

VAT is not applicable.

How to apply

To apply for any individual course(s) or to register for one of our CPD packages, please email law-cpe@glasgow.ac.uk and make sure to include the following information:

  1. Full name and email address
  2. Whether you would like to attend any individual course(s), or if you would like to sign up for one of our CPD packages (please specify whether you are registering for the 40-hour or 60-hour contract in your email).
  3. Invoicing details (this includes the full name and address of your firm, as well as the full name, contact number and email address of who will receive the invoice).

If you are registering for a CPD contract, our TCPD administrator, Zoma Choudary, will send out the relevant paperwork to you on receipt of your email.

More information about this programme