PSQ - FAQS
- How long does a candidate have to complete Part A once they have passed the written exam?
- There is no set time limit. Once a candidate has completed the written exam, they may begin attending at the police station with their supervising solicitor for Stage One of Part A.
- Can a candidate use attendances where they have observed an Accredited Police Station Representative provide advice and assistance at the police station as part of their portfolio?
- No. Candidates may only observe their supervisor solicitor during Stage One of Part A. A candidate’s supervisor must either be a current duty solicitor or a solicitor who is acceptable to the LSC and who meets the Crime Category Supervisor Standard.
- How long does a duty solicitor need to be qualified for before being able to supervise a candidate for Part A?
- Is it possible to change supervising solicitors’ part way through the accreditation process?
- Yes. It is possible for a candidate to change their supervising solicitor, as long their new supervisor also meets the required criteria.
- Can a candidate use indictable-only cases for the portfolio?
- Indictable-only offences can only be included in the 'observing a solicitor' section of Part A (Stage One)
- Can a candidate use duty cases for their portfolio?
- Duty cases can only be included in the 'observing a solicitor' section of Part A (Stage One)
- Can a candidate use an attendance involving co-defendants and write this up as two separate cases for the portfolio?
- No. Each case used in the portfolio must involve a different client. Co-defendants must not be included as separate clients. The same client may appear more than once in the portfolio, but not more than twice, as long as different issues are dealt with.
- Is there a minimum period over which the four Part A cases must cover i.e. could a candidate write up four police station attendances which occurred on the same day?
- Part A is initially checked for technical compliance only and there is nothing to prevent a candidate from completing all four of their police station attendances on the same day or over a relatively short period of time.
- However, when Part B is marked for legal content, the assessment board may reach the conclusion that the candidate did not received sufficient training from their supervisor due to the limited time between the candidate observing their supervisor, and the candidate providing advice themselves. Candidates should select Part A cases which deal with a range of offences and which provide a sufficient number of issues to enable the candidate to actively observe and discuss what took place during the observed Stage One cases and should provide evidence of feedback, reflection and discussion with their supervising solicitor as part of their text.
- Ultimately it is the candidate’s decision which cases they choose to submit and the length of time their Part A covers. Candidates should be aware that if their Part A cases fail at the Part B stage they will be required to re-attend at the police station with their supervising solicitor in order re-do those Part A cases before they can re-submit their portfolio.
- How many cases must candidates submit for Part B of the portfolio?
- Nine in total – four from Part A and five for Part B
- If a candidate has failed an assessment, can they appeal the decision?
- Datalaw has appointed external moderators who will review all assessments that have failed to demonstrate sufficient competence on initial assessment, as well as a random selection of submissions that have been certified as passing the necessary competence standards. Where, in the opinion of an assessor, a candidate has failed to demonstrate the required level of competence, the submission will be passed to Datalaw’s external moderator for re-assessment prior to the result being communicated to the candidate.
The external moderator will reconsider the submission and may:
- Confirm the assessor’s findings
- Vary the assessor’s findings or feedback, or
- Overturn the assessor’s findings
- An assessment board meeting is then held where all results must be agreed before they can be released. Due to the three tier marking process, which Datalaw has put in place, there is no appeal against the academic judgement of the assessors.
- Does Datalaw issue candidates with a certificate on completion of the PSQ/PSRAS?
- If requested Datalaw can provide candidates with display certificates. Alternatively, candidates should retain copies of their pass letters from each stage of the accreditation process as proof of their result.
- Not all Assessment Organisations require nine cases. Why does Datalaw?
- In the past, solicitors who had completed the LPC used to be exempt from completing Part A of the portfolio. However, there is now a distinct difference between the Legal Services Commissions Rules and those set out by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Whereas the SRA states that solicitors are exempt from completing Part A of the portfolio, the LSC does not. In order to ensure compliance with the more stringent set of rules, Datalaw requires solicitors to submit both Parts A and B of the portfolio for assessment.
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