Topics: In-house practice

In-house Practice Diploma (February 2026)

Course run: Monday 16 February 2026 – Friday 12 June 2026

Assessment due: Monday 18 May 2026 at 5pm

Course end: Friday 12 June 2026

Solicitors regulated by SRA, have a duty to maintain high standards of service and competence. Unsatisfactory standards of services present a risk to people, business growth and revenue. It can also result in complaints and, consequently, disciplinary actions.

The Diploma covers essential topics from client care, key regulatory requirements for in-house lawyers, to contracts and employment law. Relevant for new and experienced in-house solicitors, this course is underpinned by compliance requirements and good practice guidance for in-house solicitors. It is equally relevant for those who wish to make a move from private practice to an in-house role.

Please note that the course must be completed within the dates specified. It cannot be mixed and matched with other offerings. Due to the nature of the programme, this course has limited space. Enrol now to avoid disappointment!

The Early Bird price ends on the 30 November 2025.

What this will cover

The training will focus on:

Key regulatory requirements for in-house lawyers
Core Legal skills, including, contracts law and management, AI and legal tech as well as essential employment law for in-house practitioners
Core Practice Skills, including commercial awareness, common business risks and influencing skills for in-house lawyers

Learning outcomes

By the end of this diploma, you will be able to:

understand your duty to provide a competent service to clients
identify the most effective forms of communication for client care, evaluate strategies and techniques for promoting effective team-working and for to maintain and enhance your own professional wellbeing
apply knowledge of regulatory and ethical standards to identify appropriate boundaries in client relationships
be familiar with the regulatory obligations and be able to effectively manage the risk of ethical problems arising
identify the elements of a valid contract and how to draft precise and enforceable clauses
consider the main key points when advising businesses on the legal consequences of employment status, employment contracts and the key elements of the SRA Code of Conduct for solicitors in employment matters
gain insights into understanding, managing and building working business relationships across both internal and external stakeholders

How you will learn

Course format

This course is self-paced and provides best-practice guidance by incorporating practical activities, collaborative tools, and interactive scenarios designed to boost your skills and help you remain competitive. It consists of an interactive presentation for each module with knowledge checks, reflection points, and scenarios throughout the course.

Knowledge checks feature throughout the course as an opportunity to test and apply your understanding. Each module also has an optional assessment to boost knowledge retention. Please note, these do not form part of the final assessment.

Assessment

There will be an open-book reflective assessment which provides learners with a proven, structured route from description to action, helping them analyse their learning, surface the emotions that shape performance, and set concrete next steps – an approach shown to deepen learning and support continuous professional development.

You will receive the reflective assessment form at the beginning of the course to allow you to work on your submission throughout the duration.

Your submission should be no more than 500 words in total and must be submitted before the deadline of 5pm on Monday 18 May 2026. You’re only allowed one submission attempt.

Live 1:1 professional development session

After you’ve completed all modules, activities, and submitted your reflective assessment, you’ll book a live 1:1 professional development session with a course facilitator.

In this 1-hour virtual conversation, you’ll discuss the key insights from your reflective submission, explore any questions or areas you’d like to develop further, and discuss ways you can apply your learning in your current role. The session is tailored to you – confidential, focused, and designed to turn reflection into tangible next steps for your ongoing professional development.

Digital credential

Following attending your live 1:1 professional development session you’ll need to complete the feedback form. On submission of your feedback, and providing all prior activities are completed, you’ll be awarded a shareable digital credential as evidence of your achievement that can accompany you wherever your career takes you – a quality mark you can add to your website or promote on social media to show clients that you’re competent and compliant in core legal, professional and personal skills.

Assessment dates

The assessment deadline is 5pm on Monday 18 May 2026.

Online accessibility

Our modules conform to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1. However, some members may require an alternative version for accessibility purposes. This is available upon request via our contact us form.

Also, if you need alternative arrangements for submitting your assessment, please get in touch.

Meet the Experts
This diploma was developed by three industry experts.