How long does each core PSC module take?

Overall, the core modules of the Professional Skills Course make up 48 of the total of 72 hours you are required to complete, or eight days’ worth of training. There are three compulsory modules that you’ll need to take, as well as the four electives that complete the remaining 24 hours of the course.

Module by module breakdown...

Financial and Business skills, as well as Advocacy and Communication skills, take 18 hours to complete, or three days of lessons each. The third module, Client Care and Professional Standards, only takes 12 hours and doesn’t include any assessment at the end of it.

The Financial and Business skills mini-course will include a 90-minute exam on the final day, which will test your knowledge of all of the elements of the module barring the first - Accounting and Financial Issues. Advocacy and Communication skills will be assessed through an oral and written appraisal of the skills you’ve developed during this component of the course.

What if I complete a fast-track course?

You can either study all three modules as part of a fast-track course, in which you would undertake the PSC over a 12-day period at one point during your training contract. On the other hand, many providers such as The University of Law allow you to take individual modules on separate occasions, so that you can study at your own pace and finish the PSC over a longer period of time - providers will usually have multiple sessions over the year, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to take it.

When should I complete the PSC?

There are no strict requirements as to when you should take the PSC during your period of recognised training, but the Solicitors Regulation Authority states that your employer should take this into consideration. For example, it’s recommended that you take Client Care and Professional Standards at least six months into your placement.

Next article How are the core modules on the PSC assessed?