TCPD Tutor Opportunities – Refreshed Trainee CPD Programme for 2027

The Royal Faculty is refreshing its Trainee CPD programme for 2027 and we're looking for experienced legal practitioners to get involved!

For the past 14 years, the Royal Faculty has delivered a comprehensive TCPD programme, helping trainee solicitors develop the knowledge, confidence and practical skills needed for professional practice.

Our updated programme will continue to meet the Law Society of Scotland's PEAT 2 requirements, with a renewed emphasis on practical, interactive learning and drawing on the experience of practitioners from across the profession.

Could you share your knowledge and experience with the next generation of Scottish solicitors?

Whether you could deliver a single session or contribute more extensively to the programme, we'd be delighted to hear from you.

Expressions of interest for the new TCPD programme

We are keen to grow the number of tutors contributing to our new TCPD programme so that we have broad representation from the profession. Whether you are interested in contributing materials and/or teaching (from as little as 1 hour upwards), please get in touch.

We are particularly keen to hear from anyone interested in contributing to the following modules,  all of which will have a practical focus and be suitable for trainee level: 

Professionalism: becoming an effective trainee - this module will cover topics like reflective practice, personal organisation, time management, risk management (including some general AI risk awareness, especially around legal research). There will also be training in professional relationships, duties to the profession and team work.

Client Care: duties to clients, interview techniques, drafting and communication are key to this module and we plan to centre it around a case study of a Power of Attorney client.

Mandatory Ethics Course: many of you will know that this is the only mandatory element of TCPD and must cover confidentiality, conflict of interest and AML.

Sheriff Court Practice and Procedure (Criminal): from procedure to appearances commonly undertaken by trainees and specific ethical scenarios for criminal practice and duties to the court.

Adults with Incapacity: this module will draw together some key aspects of  client care, ethics, drafting and communication from start to finish on specific scenarios such as advising on and applying for guardianship orders for a young person with learning disabilities reaching 18, advising on suitable course of action for an older person with cognitive decline without a PoA etc.

Financial Commercial Awareness (internal): covering what trainees really need to know about law as a business (budgeting, WIP, feeing, how their role contributes to marketing and more). Whilst most modules will cover the practice of law in context from a client's perspective or a procedural perspective, this focusses on the business context within which solicitors operate. 

Financial Commercial Awareness (transactions):  trainees will already be aware that law is not practised in a context free environment and this module will help develop knowledge around identifying the client's aims, attitude to risk and  budget. A second part will focus on tax implications of transactions so that trainees can flag the need for further input in a range of scenarios.

Business Practice 1: this module further develops the trainee's understanding of context and in particular, the regulatory and business context within which business clients operate. Again, we will be looking at a range of scenarios to illustrate this such as compliance issues, licensing, data protection etc.

Business Practice 2: a substantive law module looking at a specific transaction such as commercial leasing or terms of business to develop legal knowledge but also communication with business clients.

Negotiation skills: this will be offered once trainees are well into 2nd year and able to develop their skills through discussion and practice of negotiation skills.  

Tribunals: we are keen to include coverage of a range of settings that a trainee might be exposed to ( e.g., First-Tier Tribunal for Scotland, aspects of Employment Tribunals and other settings such as the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority)

Interested in Getting Involved?

You don't need to commit to delivering an entire module. Contributions of any size are welcome, whether that's preparing teaching materials, leading a practical workshop or sharing your expertise in a one-hour session.

This is an opportunity to contribute to the professional development of Scotland's future solicitors while sharing the knowledge and experience gained throughout your own career.

We'd love to hear from you!

If you're interested in contributing to the new programme, please contact the Royal Faculty at library@rfpg.org, indicating which area or areas you would be interested in supporting.