NALA ACP Criminal Litigation study plan

Map the full ACP Criminal Litigation syllabus into a one-page outline showing every stage of a criminal case from pre-charge investigation to appeal, so you can locate any topic quickly

Define and write plain-language explanations of the core concepts: actus reus, mens rea, burden and standard of proof, and the presumption of innocence

Identify the criminal courts and their sentencing powers, and classify offences as summary, either-way, or indictable

Build a personal glossary of at least 40 key terms with a one-line definition each

Explain the powers of the police to stop, search, arrest, and detain a suspect, and state the legal basis for each power

Apply the rules on detention time limits, reviews, and the right to legal advice to three short fact patterns

Distinguish the caution given on arrest from the caution given in interview and explain the consequences of each

Draft a checklist of procedural defects that could lead to exclusion of evidence or a stay of proceedings

Describe the role, duties, and ethical obligations of the advocate in criminal proceedings, including duties to the court and to the client

Summarise the rules on disclosure of unused material by the prosecution and the defence's disclosure obligations

Explain the defendant's right to silence and how adverse inferences may be drawn

Prepare a short written advice on a client's options at the police station stage

Outline the allocation and sending procedure for either-way offences and identify the factors that influence venue

Explain bail law: the presumption of bail, grounds for objection, conditions, and appeal routes against bail decisions

Describe the plea before venue and Newton hearing processes

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of trial in the magistrates' court versus the Crown Court

Sequence the steps of a Crown Court trial from arraignment to verdict

Explain the rules on examination-in-chief, cross-examination, re-examination, and leading questions

Identify the grounds for objecting to inadmissible evidence and the correct form of objection

Describe the rules on hearsay, bad character, and identification evidence and when each is admissible or excluded

Explain the burden and standard of proof as applied at trial and in voire dire hearings

Draft a skeleton closing speech for a mock trial using the facts from an earlier fact pattern

Summarise the judge's summing-up duties and the directions that must be given to the jury

Identify the grounds for appeal against conviction and sentence and the applicable time limits

Explain sentencing principles: the purposes of sentencing, aggravating and mitigating factors, and the relevant guidelines

Describe the available sentences from discharge to custody and the rules on credit for guilty pleas

Apply sentencing principles to three short scenarios and justify your proposed sentence

Outline the youth justice framework and how it differs from the adult system

Complete a full timed mock examination under exam conditions and self-mark against the syllabus outline

Review every weak area flagged in the mock and create a targeted revision sheet for each

Recite from memory the key case-flow stages, time limits, and procedural checkpoints

Consolidate all weekly deliverables into a single indexed revision pack for final review