Criminal Litigation Week 9: Mastering the Art of Drafting Charges
Justice Joust Editorial
Legal Content Team
If there is one thing that separates a First Class student from the rest in the Criminal Litigation exam, it is the ability to draft a perfect charge.
Week 9 of the NLS curriculum is entirely dedicated to the Drafting of Charges. It sounds simple until you are in the exam hall and forget whether the "Statement of Offense" comes before or after the "Particulars of Offense."
The 3 Essential Rules of Drafting
Rule 1
Rule against Duplicity: One count, one offense.
Rule 2
Rule against Multiplicity: Do not split one offense into many counts.
Rule 3
Rule against Ambiguity: The charge must be clear and certain.
The Anatomy of a Perfect Charge
A valid charge must contain specific elements in a specific order. Failure to follow this structure can lead to a successful objection by the defense.
Heading
Name of the Court and Judicial Division.
Parties
The Republic/State vs. The Defendant.
Statement of Offense
The name of the offense and the section creating it.
Particulars of Offense
The story: Who, when, where, and what was done.
Signature
The person authorized to sign (e.g., Law Officer or Police Officer).
Download the Master Drafting Guide
We've compiled all the essential charge drafts from Stealing to Armed Robbery into a professional PDF guide. Includes the 2026 updated authorities.
Memory Hacks for the Exam
Try the "S-P-L-A-T" check for your Particulars of Offense:
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