STEP Advanced Certificate in Trusts: Law and Practice (Scotland)

Master the trust concept and trustee responsibilities required to deliver advice in Scotland. Take a step closer to the STEP Diploma with the STEP Advanced Certificate in Trusts: Law and Practice (Scotland).

Course details

This course provides practitioners with the technical knowledge and practical skills required to deliver holistic advice in Scotland relating to trusts law.

Gain in-depth expertise: Improve your technical knowledge of the issues arising in relation to trusts and the laws and procedures involved.
Practical focus: Practical advice and guidance written by practitioners, for practitioners.
Build valuable connections: Network with like-minded professionals in varied roles and firms.
Industry recognition: A recognised ‘gold-standard’ professional qualification for those working in the industry. Successful completion provides 30 Diploma Level credits towards STEP membership, enhancing your professional standing, and is awarded in association with Alliance Manchester Business School, a School of the University of Manchester.

Course fees: £1000 + local taxes

View the course timetable - Jul 2025

View the Jan 2026 course timetable

Course dates, fees and enrol now:

Entry requirements may apply. Applicable local taxes and discounts will be added to your basket on checkout.

Find out more about The STEP Diploma

Entry requirements

60 Entry Level credits which can be achieved through:

Completion of a STEP Certificate (30 credits)
Previous learning - confirmed through Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) application - 30 credits
Work experience - confirmed through Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) - 30 credits

Note: You do not need to apply for APEL or APCL if you already have confirmed, or if you have studied for at least two STEP Certificates previously.

Apply for APCL or APEL

Become a member of STEP

This is a STEP course/qualification. STEP membership is required to study this course and must be maintained throughout the duration of your studies.

You will need 60 Entry Level credits and if you are not already, you will become an Affiliate member by enrolling on this course. STEP will contact you regarding membership 4-6 weeks after course enrolment.

Successful completion of the course will provide 30 Diploma Level credits as part of the STEP Qualification and Membership framework.

Find out more about STEP Membership

What will I learn?

Download syllabus

The essential features and parties to a trust
The classification of different types of trusts
The requirements and procedure involved for the creation of a trust
The different rules applicable to the formation and operation of the liferent trust, the discretionary trust and the charitable trust
The office, duties and powers of trustees and other fiduciaries
The general principles of liability and appropriate remedies and defences for breach
The means of varying the terms of private and public trusts
The general principles of drafting trust documentation
Matters relating to risk management for trust advisers

Is this course right for me?

This course is suitable for:

legal and trust professionals
support staff and paralegals
accountants and banking professionals
tax advisers
independent financial advisers
executorship administrators

Course format

This course is available for study twice a year.

A flexible, part-time, four-month course, comprising:

online guided study, including self-assessment questions
two full-day online workshops

This course is assessed by a five-hour open-book examination.

Once you have successfully completed this course, you will gain 30 Diploma Level credits towards STEP membership and be awarded the STEP Advanced Certificate in Trusts: Law and Practice (Scotland).

Course dates

Download the course timetable