PSRAS Portfolio Guide — Part A & Part B

Where the portfolio sits in PSRAS

The portfolio is the supervised competence evidence between the written examination and the Critical Incidents Test (CIT). It is assessed by Cardiff University or Datalaw against the SRA Standards of competence.

1. Step 1

   Enrol with Cardiff or Datalaw

   Register with an SRA-authorised assessment organisation. You receive regulations, handbook, and timetable.

2. Step 2

   Pass the written exam (or prove exemption)

   The written examination must be passed before Part A portfolio cases begin (Datalaw process). PSRA 2025 also requires written pass (or exemption) before DSCC probationary registration.

3. Step 3

   Complete Part A (four case studies)

   Part A Stage 1: two cases observing your supervising solicitor. Part A Stage 2: two cases where you advise while observed. Submit Part A for assessment; cases must usually be within three months of submission (Datalaw).

4. Step 4

   Probationary registration (ADMIN 2)

   Once Part A and the written exam (or exemption) are passed, your supervising solicitor submits ADMIN 2 to the DSCC. You receive a probationary PIN — typically within 14 days of a complete application (PSRA 2025).

5. Step 5

   Complete Part B (five case studies) and pass the CIT

   After probationary registration you may undertake Part B (five unsupervised cases) and the Critical Incidents Test — in either order (Datalaw). All nine portfolio cases must be submitted within 12 months of your first case (Datalaw).

6. Step 6

   Full accreditation

   When Part B portfolio and CIT are passed, you become a fully accredited police station representative on the Register.

Official case requirements

The portfolio contains nine detailed case studies, each involving advice and attendance at a police interview (Datalaw). This replaces older informal guidance referring to "6 + 10 attendances" — those numbers are not in PSRA 2025 or Datalaw's published requirements.

Probationary rules while building the portfolio

• Probationary representatives must not take on duty cases or indictable-only cases (PSRA 2025).
• Probationary representatives may only advise on own-client cases assigned to the provider where their supervising solicitor is based (PSRA 2025).
• Part A Stage 1 cases may include duty-referred and indictable matters because the supervising solicitor leads (Datalaw).
• Part B cases: own-client summary or either-way offences only for probationary reps (Datalaw).
• Every case must include an interview where the suspect is questioned by a constable (Datalaw).
• You must have a recognised supervising solicitor at all times throughout accreditation (Datalaw / PSRA 2025).

Deadlines and PIN suspension

SRA competence mapping

Each case report should demonstrate the SRA assessment outcomes. Map your sections as follows:

Case report blueprint

Breadth matrix (spread across 9 cases)

Datalaw requires a good range of issues and offences across the portfolio — not nine identical shop-theft files. Plan breadth from case one:

• Violence / public order: Assault, ABH, affray, domestic incident
• Dishonesty: Theft, fraud, handling, burglary
• Drugs / road traffic: Possession, supply, drink/drug drive
• Youth / vulnerability: Juvenile with AA; mentally vulnerable adult
• Identification: Code D procedure; VIPER; street ID challenge
• Adverse inference: No comment or prepared statement with s.34 explanation
• Samples / forensic: Fingerprints, DNA, non-intimate samples

Supervisor feedback

Part A Stage 2 requires signed written feedback from your supervising solicitor (Datalaw — upload as PDF for cases 3 and 4). Part B feedback sessions are recommended even when not mandatory in the submission. Supervisors must meet PSRA Crime Category Supervisor standards — see our Find a Supervising Solicitor guide.

Submission workflow

1. Confirm case order (usually descending date order for Datalaw online submission).
2. Part A: upload each case PDF with UFN, date, supervisor name and roll number. Cases 3–4 require supervisor feedback PDF (Datalaw).
3. Await technical compliance pass on Part A before DSCC probationary application (Datalaw workflow).
4. Part B: upload five cases with probationary PIN, UFN, and dates.
5. Full portfolio enters multi-stage assessment — expect feedback rounds before final pass.
6. Cardiff candidates: follow Cardiff handbook submission method and deadlines.

Common fail patterns (assessor board)

• Failing to record or test arrest/detention grounds (PACE ss.24, 37; Code G) — Datalaw assessment board.
• No record of initial telephone contact or unexplained delay during rest periods — Datalaw.
• Assessors inferring competence from unwritten assumptions — everything material must appear in the case study.
• Generic advice paragraphs copied between cases without case-specific analysis.
• Missing breadth across the nine cases (single offence type repeated).
• Weak reflection — no learning point or self-criticism.

Self-assessment checklist

• ☐Nine cases total: 2 observe + 2 observed advising + 5 unsupervised
• ☐Each case includes advice and a constable-led interview
• ☐Client anonymised; UFN and dates correct
• ☐Arrest/detention tested where relevant
• ☐Disclosure chased and analysed
• ☐Interview strategy explained with s.34 where applicable
• ☐Supervisor feedback attached for Part A Stage 2 (Datalaw)
• ☐Breadth of offences and issues across the portfolio
• ☐Reflective learning in every case
• ☐Submitted within provider deadline and case-age rules

Tips for success

• Keep contemporaneous attendance notes — you cannot reconstruct disclosure weeks later.
• Plan breadth across nine cases from the start; do not leave identification or vulnerability to the last case.
• Apply supervisor feedback before resubmitting — first submissions often need amendment.
• Treat each case report as CIT preparation: explain what you would do and why.
• Use the golden rule (Datalaw): if an issue arises in the case, deal with it in the write-up.
• Extra real attendances beyond nine may help your skills, but only nine assessed cases go in the portfolio.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Treating portfolio minimums as "6 + 10 attendances" — the regulated structure is nine case studies (2+2+5)
• Starting Part A before passing the written exam (Datalaw requirement)
• Taking indictable-only or duty cases as probationary lead adviser
• Copy-pasting advice without case-specific disclosure analysis
• Submitting without supervisor sign-off or mandatory feedback documents
• Assuming assessors will infer PACE knowledge you did not write down

FAQs

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