KEBLE Course

The aim of this course is to encourage and develop the highest standards of advocacy amongst practitioners in London and the Southeast. The course is the most demanding and intensive of any advocacy course in the UK, and was described by a former presiding judge of the Circuit as the "Best Advanced Course in the UK".

To qualify for the course, it is recommended that you join the Circuit and be either a tenant or approaching tenancy. The course is massively subsidised by the Circuit. In 2008 the cost to each Circuit member is £1,215.  This is often met by the participant's chambers but our sponsoring bank, HSBC, will offer an interest free loan to any participant accepted by the Circuit on the Course (provided the participant holds or is willing to open an HSBC account): repayments up to a maximum of three years. The Circuit subsidy represents at least the participant cost all over again: i.e. the Circuit is making a large investment in its New Practitioners.

The course usually takes place at Keble College, Oxford. The faculty consists of senior juniors, silks and judges all of whom have undergone teacher training including specific training for this course. The ratio of participant to teacher is approximately 2.5: 1.

Every participant undertakes each piece of work. Each piece of work is filmed. Advocacy takes place in small break-up groups of around 8. There is immediate critique in the class room followed by private one-on-one video critique. The purpose of the sessions during the week is to improve advocacy skills in all areas, including interlocutory work, associated with a trial. On the last day of the course a full trial takes place (also filmed) for criminal practitioners before a judge and jury, and for civil practitioners before a High Court Judge or Deputy. The jury's deliberations are filmed: each participant receives the film. Jurors also complete a confidential questionnaire on each advocate's performance.

Midway through the week a day and a half is devoted to working with experts in a trial setting. The experts will either be specialist consultant endocrinologists and neurologists (a medical negligence/manslaughter case) or accountants from one of the large accountancy firms.

Whilst the work on this course is demanding and difficult, firm friendships are made in the context of a supportive collegiate environment. Participants will be living and working with some of the great advocates of this generation, whose intentions are to help each participant realise his or her true potential.

This course is internationally recognised as arguably the best and most intensive advocacy course in the world.  In recent years we have been fortunate enough to have participants from the War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague, and faculty and participants from the Scottish Bar, the Florida Bar, the South African Bar, and the Bars of Australia, India and Pakistan.  We, and they, all gain immeasurably from this dimension.

David Spens QC, Leader of the Circuit