Introduction of New and Revised Practice Area Checklists
The Institute has, on 2 June 2026, introduced six new Practice Area Checklists. Practice Trainees may now select the following Practice Area Checklists when undertaking their 12-month practice training period under a practice training contract:
- Employment Law (Solicitor Seat);
- Corporate & Commercial, Restructuring and Insolvency (Solicitor Seat);
- Corporate / Internal Investigation (Solicitor Seat);
- Shipping Law (Solicitor Seat);
- Shipping Law (Advocate Seat); and
- Tax Practice (Advocate Seat).
The Civil Litigation (Advocate Seat) Practice Area Checklist has been revised with effect from 2 June 2026 (referred to as “Civil Litigation (Advocate Seat) Practice Area Checklist Version 1.1”). The revisions are clarificatory in nature and do not introduce any substantive changes to the existing requirements. They are intended to provide greater clarity on the scope of tasks and allow for appropriate flexibility in the manner of training.
Practice Trainees who commence their practice training contracts on or after 2 June 2026 and undertake the Civil Litigation (Advocate Seat) must use Version 1.1 of the checklist.
Practice Trainees who commenced their practice training contracts before 2 June 2026 and elected to undertake the Civil Litigation (Advocate Seat) may continue using the earlier version of the checklist.
The new Practice Area Checklists and the revised Civil Litigation (Advocate Seat) Practice Area Checklist Version 1.1 are available for review and download on the SILE website.