DPSI Law: the exam unit by unit
The DPSI Law is the CIOL qualification for Interpreters working in courts, police stations, tribunals and prisons. It's a Degree-level recognised qualification (Level 6), and it runs twice a year, in June and November.
Under the Ministry of Justice contracts, court work and complex hearings are tied to Level 6, the Professional Standard. The DPSI Law sits at Level 6, and it's how most Interpreters reach that tier.
How is the exam structured?
The CIOL DPSI Law exam has 5 units: 1 oral unit, 2 sight translation units and 2 written translation units. Each unit is marked separately, so you can pass some units and resit others, rather than repeating the whole exam.
Unit 01: Interpreting
The oral unit. It tests consecutive and simultaneous interpreting in legal settings, where accuracy matters as much as speed.
Units 02 and 03: Sight translation
You read a written legal text and interpret it aloud. It combines reading speed, legal terminology and spoken delivery all at once.
Units 04 and 05: Written translation
You translate written legal texts. Accuracy, terminology and register all count.
For the exam, you choose a single language pair direction, even if you consider yourself bilingual, so decide that early.
What do you need to know for it?
Specialist legal terminology, an understanding of the UK legal system and how its courts and services fit together, and the Interpreter's role itself: the code of conduct, professional ethics, and where your role starts and stops.
How do you prepare?
CIOL recommends around 80 Guided Learning Hours, plus your own study. Our students spend an average of 4 to 6 months on the DPSI Law course, with 12 months' access from enrolment.
Our DPSI Law course has 37 modules, 81 exercises, past exam papers, a LanguagePartner™ session and full team support. For extra practice before the exam, we offer Mock Exams for Units 02 to 05, Sight Translation Papers for Units 02 and 03, and Translation Practices for Units 04 and 05, all marked against the CIOL's assessment criteria, with full feedback.
When should you start?
Count back from the June or November exam you're aiming for. Starting at least 6 months ahead gives you time to work through the course properly. You can pay in full, use Klarna or Clearpay at checkout (where offered), or spread the cost with our own payment plan.
We provide the course and the exam preparation; CIOL sets and awards the qualification. Check the current exam languages and registration dates with CIOL before you register.
