Continuing Professional Development

AIFL has an active programme of CPD offerings throughout each academic year. The current and recent offerings are shown below with booking links for up-coming events.

We offer short courses (in person day courses, lunch and evening events and online events) covering a range of topics forensic linguistics designed for different audiences, and we offer a longer accredited course in Forensic Inference and Statistics aimed at forensic scientists.

Bespoke Training

Members of the Institute have substantial experience in providing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training for lawyers, law enforcement investigators, and forensic scientists and are very willing to design courses to your own needs.  These can be offered at Aston (Birmingham or London) or in your own premises.

Please contact us if you are interested in us providing a course tailored to your needs by emailing us.

See what people said about our most recent event.

Past bespoke courses have included topics in:

• General forensic linguistics
• Interpreter-mediated interviewing
• Linguistic investigative skills
• Online identity assumption for undercover police officers
• Forensic speech science
• Forensic inference and statistics

Current courses

Short courses

For teachers

Forensic Linguistics for A-level English teachers Date: 29 November 2024 – please contact us if you would like to come to a future iteration of this course   A one-day course designed for teachers of A-level English Language/Language and Literature, and for those interested in EPQs and professional pathways for English • Explore how topics in forensic linguistics can be used to support teaching.  • Develop ideas for NEA projects and EPQs. • Take home classroom materials to support students' learning and research skills.    Max 30 delegates  Tutors: Professor Tim Grant, Dr Emily Chiang Location: John Cadbury House, 190 Corporation Street, Birmingham, B4 6QD Lunch and refreshments throughout the day will be provided Indicative timetable: 09:00-09:30: Tea/coffee and registration 09:30-11:00: Forensic linguistics as an application of language description. Exploring topics in forensic linguistics using examples of real applications of language analysis to forensic problems. 11:00-11:20 Break 11:20-13:00: Authorship analysis. Comparative authorship analysis and sociolinguistic profiling. 13:00-13:45: Lunch 13:45-14:45: Disputed meanings. Legal language, varieties of English and slang in court. 14:45-15:00: Break 15:00-16:00: Forensic linguistic investigations as school projects. Exploring topics and ideas for school projects including sourcing datasets, constructing research questions and exploring linguistic methods. 16:00-16:15: Day close Questions and reflections on the day.

To book a place, please visit the Aston University online shop. For more information, please email us on aifl_cpd@aston.ac.uk

For investigators

Authorship Analysis for Investigators Date: 18 October 2024 – please contact us if you would like to come to a future iteration of this course A one-day introductory course for analysts, investigators and legal professionals but all are welcome. Discover the capabilities and limitations of authorship analysis for investigation and evidence. Using examples from casework, learn what you can do for yourself and when to commission an expert Max 30 delegates  Tutors: Professor Tim Grant, Dr Emily Chiang Location: John Cadbury House, 190 Corporation Street, Birmingham Lunch and refreshments throughout the day will be provided Indicative timetable 09:30 - 11:00: What is forensic authorship analysis? Approaches to and issues in forensic authorship analysis. 11:00 - 11:20: Break 11:20 - 13:00: Contexts and cases An overview of legal and investigative contexts and examples from real cases. 13:00 - 13:45: Lunch (provided) 13:45 - 14:45: Practical walkthrough A guided walk through of the analysis involved in the Nikolaus Karvounakis terrorism case. 14:45 - 15:00: Break 15:00 - 16:00: Investigators’ analysis Your chance to apply the knowledge and skills gained throughout the day to a historical murder case involving an authorship dispute. 16:00 - 16:15: Day close What you can do for yourself and when to commission an expert.

Bookings are now closed For more information, please email us on aifl_cpd@aston.ac.uk

For interviewers

Enhanced Communication Skills for Investigative Interviewing Date 24th January 2025  – please contact us if you would like to come to a future iteration of this course   One-day course designed for all interviewers and trainers Learn new skills and strategies for interviewing in any investigative context Gain insight from linguistic research into how interview communication works (or doesn't work) Identify warning signs and language cues; learn traps to avoid Ensure your interviews produce reliable, robust and fair evidence Max 30 delegates  Tutors: Dr Kate Haworth Location: John Cadbury House, 190 Corporation Street, Birmingham Lunch and refreshments throughout the day will be provided

To book, please visit the Aston University shop For more information, please email us on aifl_cpd@aston.ac.uk

For lawyers

Forensic linguistic evidence in the English and Welsh Legal System Date TBC – please contact us if you would like to come to a future iteration of this course   Types of linguistic evidence admitted to Court Criminal cases – authorship analysis, disputes of ordinary meaning Controversies around slang meanings and drill music Civil cases – copyright infringement and trademark cases Max 30 delegates    Tutors: Professor Tim Grant, Dr Emily Chiang Location: John Cadbury House, 190 Corporation Street, Birmingham Lunch and refreshments throughout the day will be provided

Booking information coming soon For more information, please email us on aifl_cpd@aston.ac.uk

Modules 

For forensic scientists

For Forensic Scientists

This continuing-professional-development (CPD) module will provide you with a conceptual understanding of forensic inference and statistics, including an understanding of the likelihood-ratio framework for interpretation of forensic evidence. The focus of the module is on understanding of concepts rather than practical implementation skills. No prior knowledge of statistics is assumed.  Module Learning Outcomes: On successful completion of this module, you will: Understand how to perform source-level forensic evaluation via quantitative implementation of the likelihood-ratio framework. Understand how to empirically calibrate and validate forensic-evaluation systems.   Module Content: Logical reasoning for evaluation of forensic evidence Concepts of statistical modelling for evaluation of forensic evidence Empirical calibration and validation of forensic-evaluation systems Cognitive bias in evaluation of forensic evidence Standards and guidelines related to evaluation of forensic evidence Legal admissibility of forensic evidence from a scientific perspective Examples from multiple branches of forensic science Understand what cognitive bias is and be familiar with strategies for reducing its potential impact. Be familiar with the requirements and recommendations of standards and guidelines related to evaluation of forensic evidence, and with legal admissibility of forensic evidence.

Key information Credit value: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) Specific level: Master's Mode of delivery: Online learning Course type: Standalone module  Applications: All applications are made online using our online application form.  Start date: January 2025 , September 2025 Application deadline: We accept applications up to the first week of the month in which the module begins. Duration and time commitment: Delivery of the module occurs during 20 weeks spread over a period of approximately 6 months. The expected study time required is the equivalent of approximately one day per week (150 hours total). Your access to all learning resources will last for 12 months. If necessary, this allows for completion of assessment of competency to occur after the first 6 months. Click here for further information on how to apply. For more information, please email us on aifl_cpd@aston.ac.uk