PSRA Steps To Success

Become police station reps and advise

suspects at the police station

This guide will provide you with an overview of what the PSRAS
involves, why you should do it, what steps you need to take and a
summary of all of the above.

BY CATHERINE JORDAN This guide will also be of interest to

those who wish to supervise
ebooks by Datalaw candidates undertaking the
PSRAS.
EBOOKS BY DATALAW PAGE01

This guide will provide you with an

overview of what the PSRAS
involves, why you should do it,
what steps you need to take and a
summary of all of the above.

Who is this
guide for?
This guide is aimed at anyone interested
in a career in criminal law, and
specifically those who wish to become
police station reps and advise suspects
at the police station.

The Police Station Representatives

Accreditation Scheme (PSRAS) can be
undertaken by those with little or no
previous experience of criminal law and
procedure.

It is also extremely popular with

students, paralegals and trainee
solicitors who can complete the
accreditation alongside their studies or
day jobs, enabling candidates to earn
money whilst gaining the experience
required to become fully accredited
representatives.

This guide will also be of interest to

those who wish to supervise candidates
undertaking the PSRAS.
 PAGE02
The PSRAS With Datalaw
What is the PSRAS?
The PSRAS has been designed to
ensure potential reps. demonstrate
the necessary level of competence
to undertake police station work
and that the advice provided is of a
sufficiently high standard.
The PSRAS must be undertaken by
anyone who wishes to give advice in
the police station for which
payment is claimed from the Legal
Aid Agency (LAA).
The scheme will also ensure that
your employer or supervisor
considers your training and
development needs and that they
exercise adequate supervision over
you while you complete the
accreditation.
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About Datalaw
We are a company absolutely
determined to bring the most
flexible and price sensitive services
to other solicitors. Our company
was started by two solicitors who
were tired of paying large amounts
for training.
Since then Datalaw has gone on to
train over 26,000 users in legal
CPD and continue to bring legal
training straight to your computer
or mobile phone, so you could
watch them whenever and
wherever you were.
Why become a police
station rep.?
Pursuing a career in law, and crime
particularly is very competitive. As a
police station rep., you will gain a
great amount of knowledge in
criminal law and procedure. When
attending on suspects regularly,
negotiating issues with police,
analysing evidence and advising on
the law you will quickly become more
expert in criminal matters and this
will give you an edge over other
applicants when applying for a
position, or promotion, within a law
firm.
Police station reps. can work as
flexibly as they require. Whether
working for one firm, or freelancing,
you can specify your own hours to fit
around study, work and family
commitments.
 PAGE03
What Do You Need To Do?
Overview
The PSRAS consists of the following stages:
1. Registration with an Assessment Organisation (AO)
2. Written Exam (if applicable)
3. Portfolio Part A
4. Registration with LAA as a Probationary
Representative
5. Portfolio Part B
6. Critical Incidents Test (CIT)
Registration with an AO
Registration with Datalaw occurs when payment for the
first stage of the accreditation and the relevant
administration fee is made. On registration, you will
receive a unique candidate number and a copy of our
regulations, which provide advice and assistance
regarding the accreditation process.
Written Exam
The Written Exam is a two-hour open book assessment
designed to assess your understanding of both the
adviser's role in the police station and the skills that are
needed to perform that role effectively. Your
knowledge and understanding of criminal law, evidence
and procedure will also be assessed.
Exemption from the Written Exam is available to those
who have completed formal training courses such as
the Legal Practice Course or the Bar Professional
Training Course.
The Written Exam must be passed by those who are not
exempt prior to completion of Part A of the Portfolio,
and registration with the LAA.
"Datalaw's SRA Self Assessment
makes this as easy as 1-2-3"
Charles Peter - Bekson Family Law
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Portfolio Part A
Part A consists of 4 summaries of police station cases, in
which you have been involved with both the giving of
advice, and attendance at an interview between the
police and the client, at a police station. Part A must be
completed in the following chronological order:
1. Two cases in which you have observed your
supervising solicitor provide advice to a client in a police
station.
2. Two cases in which you have provided advice to a
client in a police station whilst being observed by your
supervising solicitor.
The purpose of the Portfolio is to:
Enable us to assess your competence to give advice in
police stations
Encourage you to consider and reflect upon your
performance in the police station
Encourage your supervising solicitor to review your
competence and to take steps to address any
deficiencies
Registration with the LAA as a
probationary representative
If Part A of the Portfolio is approved by the AO, you will
be provided with the appropriate form to enable you to
register as a probationary representative with the LAA,
which is necessary if you are to receive payment from the
Legal Aid Fund.
The LAA registration form must be signed by your
supervising solicitor and submitted to the LAA within
three months of the date on which the AO confirms
acceptance of your Part A Portfolio.
The LAA will then provide you with a probationary
personal identification number (PIN) number.
Following registration with the LAA, you may complete
the remaining assessments; Part B and the CIT, in any
order.
 PAGE04
What do you need to do
continued...
Portfolio - Part B
Part B consists of 5 summaries of police station
cases in which you have provided advice to a
client in a police station unsupervised. Once
submitted, the cases from Parts A and B will be
marked for legal content e.g. what you did at the
police station, the quality of the advice provided
and how you interacted with your client, the
police etc.
CIT
The CIT takes the form of a role play assessment
under exam conditions and is designed to assess
your effectiveness in advising and assisting
clients at the police station.
The CIT comprises of several scenarios which
will be presented to you on an audio tape. Issues
will be posed to you, either verbally or in terms
of their behaviour, by police officers, your client
or third parties. You will be required to respond
to the scenario audibly. You will be assessed on
the appropriateness of the responses provided,
your oral communication and assertiveness
skills.
The CIT can only be attempted once you have
been issued with and are in possession of an LAA
PIN number.
Need Specialist Help?
Our accreditations team are on hand to help
you with any PSRAS questions you may have.
To get in touch:
Call 0151 236 2024 or Email
accreditations@datalaw.org
For general enquiries please email
helpdek@datalaw.org
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Why do your
accreditation with
Datalaw?
Flexibility - Datalaw offer portfolio
submission deadlines every month
and we have the shortest turn
around for results. We also offer the
widest range of assessment locations
which means you can complete your
assessments at a time and location
convenient to you.
Cost Datalaw offer the most cost
effective rates on the market
Support - Datalaw have been
delivering the PSRAS for over 15
years and our Accreditation advisors
are always on hand via telephone and
email to provide you with the support
and assistance you require. Training
Datalaw have
Revolutionised Accreditation
training by developing
comprehensive online training
materials, including recorded
webinars and sample assessments,
which you can access on demand
using any internet connected device
Did you know we also provide on-
demand access to over 600 legal CPD
courses for one monthly fee. No
contract. No upfront fees
PAGE05 EBOOKS BY DATALAW

In Summary The PSRAS is a flexible way to enter the legal

profession and boost your career prospects
Depending on your level of formal legal training, the
PSRAS comprises either 2 or 3 assessments; Written
Exam, Portfolio & CIT
Once you register with the LAA you will be able to
claim payment for the work which you undertake
whilst completing your accreditation
Datalaw deliver the most cost effective, supportive and
flexible PSRAS on the market