THE LEGAL SKILLS ACADEMY

Practice and develop your advocacy and core legal skills in a low-pressure environment, within a structured programme.

Do you struggle to find advocacy opportunities?

Are you nervous when it comes to presenting and public speaking?

Are you unsure what is meant by “commercial awareness”?

Do you want to build your confidence in a friendly, low-pressure environment?

If so, the Legal Skills Academy is for you.

Start Your Legal Skills Journey

WHAT DO YOU GET?

A structured professional development programme integrating legal advocacy, commercial awareness, public speaking and debating under one cohesive academy experience in a low-pressure environment. Designed to support you every step of the way.

Explore the different benefits below.

A structured professional development programme integrating legal advocacy, commercial awareness, public speaking and debating under one cohesive academy experience in a low-pressure environment. Designed to support you every step of the way.

Explore the different benefits below.

Legal Advocacy Practice

Structured sessions covering various forms of advocacy to build clarity, confidence and disciplined courtroom delivery.

Commercial Awareness Sessions

Strengthen commercial awareness and explain business impact with clarity and confidence.

Public Speaking Development

Build controlled, confident communication with clarity, pacing and persuasive professional authority.

Enhance your Reasoning and Debating Step into dynamic debates that push your logic, challenge your thinking and sharpen your responses.

Competitions and Event Access Exclusive priority access to Speed Mooting events and competitions designed to elevate your confidence..

Community and Peer Support

Join a supportive community of motivated aspiring lawyers to learn, grow and progress together.

Accountability and Tracking

Turn consistency into results with guided progress tracking and recognition through certificates.and rewards

Exclusive Video Courses

Access exclusive video course to sharpen frameworks and accelerate progress between sessions.

Legal Advocacy Practice - Structured sessions covering various forms of advocacy to build clarity, confidence and disciplined courtroom delivery.

Commercial Awareness Sessions - Strengthen commercial awareness and explain business impact with clarity and confidence.

Public Speaking Development - Build controlled, confident communication with clarity, pacing and persuasive professional authority.

Enhance your Reasoning and Debating - Step into dynamic debates that push your logic, challenge your thinking and sharpen your responses.

Competitions and Event Access - Exclusive priority access to Speed Mooting events and competitions designed to elevate your confidence..

Community and Peer Support - Join a supportive community of motivated aspiring lawyers to learn, grow and progress together.

Accountability and Tracking - Turn consistency into results with guided progress tracking and recognition through certificates and rewards

Exclusive Video Courses - Access exclusive video course to sharpen frameworks and accelerate progress between sessions.

How Does It Work?

The Legal Skills Academy operates through a structured monthly programme designed for consistent development.

Each month includes two live Zoom sessions: a rotating Core Skills session (public speaking, debating or commercial awareness) and a Legal Advocacy Club session dedicated to practical, courtroom-style advocacy exercises.

Members receive preparatory materials seven days in advance of each session. Progress is tracked through the Legal Skills Development Journal enabling methodical skill development and eligibility for milestone certification.

Alongside the live sessions, members gain full access to a full catalogue of courses covering a range of legal and professional skills. These courses are supported by downloadable resources and entry to a private space within our Community Hub., allowing members to continue developing their skills throughout the month and to connect with other Academy members.

Membership is fully flexible. Because the programme combines standalone sessions with a structured learning framework, members can join at any stage and immediately begin their own guided development journey, working through the course library and live sessions in a way that supports continuous growth from the moment they join.

Core Skills Sessions

Second to last Tuesday of the month

Our Core Skills sessions focus on developing skills that are essential for all lawyers.
Sessions rotate between public speaking, debating and commercial awareness.
Practical interactive sessions where members perform structured exercises in small groups.
Peer-led discussions with constructive feedback to accelerate improvement.

Advocacy Club Sessions

Last Tuesday of the month

Our Advocacy Club sessions cover trial advocacy, submissions advocacy and speed mooting.
Perform live advocacy exercises in small groups, followed by peer feedback in a supportive, low-pressure setting.
All materials are provided with no research or drafting required, meaning the focus is on developing oral advocacy.
Accessible to those at all stages, regardless of whether you are yet to start your legal studies or you are a graduate.

The Legal Skills Academy provides a structured 12-Month Development Pathway with guided reflection, advocacy training, progress tracking and milestone certification.

Members are recognised at key milestones with formal certification, professional endorsements and exclusive rewards.

For more information, see our FAQs.

Sessions We Run

Speed Mooting

At the speed mooting sessions, you will be provided with all the materials needed in advance – skeleton arguments, case law and legislation. There is no drafting or research involved! All you need to do is read the material in advance. On the night, you will take part in mooting and be a judge if you like!

Plea in Mitigation

The purpose of the plea in mitigation is for a barrister/solicitor to outline the mitigating factors in a case and therefore obtain the best possible sentence on behalf of their client. You will be able to present you plea in mitigation and receive feedback on your performance.

Family Law Advocacy

At the family law advocacy session, you will have the opportunity to present a piece of family advocacy that would commensurate with the level of advocacy typically undertaken in the family court by a pupil barrister or trainee solicitor. You will present your submissions and receive feedback on your performance.

Opening Speech

At the opening speech session, you will have the opportunity to present an opening speech. This is a speech made by a lawyer to the tribunal at the beginning of a trial to explain what the case is about and indicate to the court the evidence it is likely to hear.

Witness Handling

This is possibly the most fun aspect of being a lawyer. You will be able to undertake evidence in chief and cross examination. Your peers will play your witnesses. You will also have the opportunity of being a witness on the night. Effective witness handling is a vital skill for any trial lawyer!

Closing Speech

At the closing speech session, you will have the opportunity to present a closing speech. This is a speech made by a lawyer to the tribunal at the end of a trial to summarise the evidence that has been presented and seek to persuade the tribunal to find in their client’s favour. This can be a very fun form of advocacy.

Employment Law Advocacy

At the employment law advocacy session, you will have the opportunity to present a piece of employment law advocacy that would commensurate with the level of advocacy typically undertaken in the family court by a pupil barrister or trainee solicitor. You will present your submissions and receive feedback on your performance.

Civil Submissions Advocacy

At the civil submissions advocacy session, you will have the opportunity to present a piece of civil advocacy that would commensurate with the level of advocacy typically undertaken in the county court by a pupil barrister or trainee solicitor. You will present your submissions and receive feedback on your performance.

Bail Application

A bail application is an oral submission made in court by a barrister/solicitor to request that their client is released on bail during the course of criminal proceedings leading up to trial rather than being remanded into custody. You will be able to present you plea in mitigation and receive feedback on your performance.

Commercial Law Advocacy

At the commercial law advocacy sessions you will have the opportunity to present a piece of commercial law advocacy that would commensurate with the level of advocacy typically undertaken in the family court by a pupil barrister or trainee solicitor. You will present your submissions and receive feedback on your performance.

Public Speaking / Presentation

This is a chance to have fun with your advocacy. You will have the chance to put together a short speech on any topic of your choosing (legal or non-legal). You will perform this to your group and receive feedback on your performance. If you feel brave, you can also undertake a short impromptu speech on the night!

Debating

This is your opportunity to practise adversarial advocacy. You will be given a topic to prepare in advance for you to research and put across your best points on the night. You can receive intervention in your debate so you will need to be prepare for questions.

Commercial Awareness

At these sessions, you will have the opportunity to present on a practical piece related to commercial awareness and discuss the practical implications.

Date	Session	Activity
Tuesday 24th March 2026	Core Skills Session	Commercial Awareness
Tuesday 31st March 2026	Advocacy Club Session	Trial Advocacy - Closing Speech
Tuesday 21st April 2026	Core Skills Session	Public Speaking - Speaking with Conviction
Tuesday 28th April 2026	Advocacy Club Session	Speed Mooting
Tuesday 19th May 2026	Core Skills Session	Debating
Tuesday 26th May 2026	Advocacy Club Session	Plea in Mitigation
Tuesday 23rd June 2026	Core Skills Session	Commercial Awareness
Tuesday 30th June 2026	Advocacy Club Session	Family Law Submissions
Tuesday 21st July 2026	Core Skills Session	Public Speaking - Techniques for effective speaking
Tuesday 28th July 2026	Advocacy Club Session	Civil Submissions
Tuesday 18th August 2026	Core Skills Session	Debating
Tuesday 25th August 2026	Advocacy Club Session	Speed Mooting
Tuesday 22nd September 2026	Core Skills Session	Commercial Awareness
Tuesday 29th September 2026	Advocacy Club Session	Commercial Law Submissions
Tuesday 20th October 2026	Core Skills Session	Public Speaking - Speech Structure
Tuesday 27th October 2026	Advocacy Club Session	Employment Law Submissions
Tuesday 17th November 2026	Core Skills Session	Commercial Awareness
Tuesday 24th November 2026	Advocacy Club Session	Bail Application
Tuesday 15th December 2026	Core Skills Session	Public Speaking

Who should join?

Law graduates & undergraduates

Non-law graduates & undergraduates

Master's students & graduates

GDL students & graduates

Bar, LPC and SQE students/graduates

Pupils / trainee solicitors

Qualified Lawyers

a Level students or equivalent

anyone else - all are welcome!

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Academy work?

The Legal Skills Academy sessions take place online via Zoom. At each meeting, members are split into groups. Within your small group, you will perform the set take for that particular meeting. Once you have all performed, you will then discuss your performances within your group – both what went well and what can be improved. This gives you the chance to practise and develop your skills in a friendly environment!

The Legal Advocacy Club sessions take place on the last Tuesday of the month, save for December. Meetings last from 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm.

The Core Skills sessions take place on the second to last Tuesday of the month, save for December. Meetings last from 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm.

In December there will be one meeting on the third Tuesday of the month which will focus on Core Skills.

The relevant papers for the meetings will be made available 7 days prior, so you will have a week to prepare.

What are the key milestones and rewards?

The Academy operates through a 12-month development pathway designed to recognise consistent engagement and skill progression. As members attend sessions and build their advocacy and core skills, they move through four stages: Foundation, Development, Consolidation, and Excellence. Each stage unlocks a milestone certificate recognising their progress within the Academy. At higher stages, members also receive additional recognition, including features in our monthly Development Award announcements, social media recognition, written references, and at the final stage members receive a personalised advocacy video review from John Dove. The pathway is designed to reward steady participation and provide tangible evidence of your continued professional development.

I've finished my legal studies - can I join?

Absolutely. The Dove Academy is open to anybody. Therefore those that have graduated from any course – whether it is the LLB, GDL, Bar Course, LPC, Master’s, PhD etc can join.

I have yet to start my legal studies - can I join?

Yes. Aspiring lawyers that are yet to commence their LLB or GDL are more than welcome to join. This is a great way of building experience prior to starting your studies.

I have no advocacy experience - is the Academy suitable for me?

Yes. The Academy is open to those of all abilities and experience levels. The instructions we provide are very comprehensive and all materials are provided. This means that complete beginners with no experience can join the Dove Academy.

I'm a qualified lawyer - is this suitable for me?

Yes. The bundles that we provide replicate realistic legal problems and therefore the Academy is a great way for practising lawyers to practise and hone their skills.

I'm nervous about advocacy - is this suitable for me?

Certainly! The club has a friendly and inclusive atmosphere. This is the perfect place for those that are nervous or unconfident to practise advocacy and develop their skills in a safe environment.

When will I receive the papers for Legal Skills Academy sessions?

The papers and Zoom link are sent to the email address with which you register for the Legal Skills Academy at least 7 days prior to your session. If you join the Legal Skills Academy within 7 days of a session, we endeavour to send the papers to you as soon as possible after you register.

How much preparation is involved?

We understand how busy you are – whether you are a student or in practice, your time is precious. We therefore ensure that the preparation required from you is limited. Our bundles are comprehensive and therefore include everything that you will need for the session. For the legal advocacy sessions, this will include all legislation, case law, pre-drafted skeleton arguments, sentencing guidelines etc. There is no research or drafting required for the legal sessions. You simply need to read the bundle and prepare your submissions.

Can I join the Academy at any time?

Yes. You can join at any time throughout the year. We have different membership options to suit you needs. You can join on a monthly flexible basis or you can commit to the 12 month programme.