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Become a paralegal

Become a Chartered Legal Executive

Gain specialist law and legal practice knowledge

Become a solicitor

Study your CILEx courses with the specialists

Contents

About CILEx Law School

1 Our credentials

Course selection and funding

2 Which course for which qualification

3 Funding your course

Become a paralegal

4 CILEx Level 3 Certificates in Law and Practice


6 Overview of the training routes

8 CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice

10 CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice

12 CILEx Graduate Fast-track Diploma


14 CILEX Level 6 Single Subject Certificates

Become a solicitor

16 Converting from CILEx

Course information

18 About supported distance learning – your contact with us

20 About supported distance learning – flexibility

22 About supported distance learning – course resources

What our students say about us

24 Student survey results 2014

The information in this prospectus is correct at the time of printing in May 2014.

1

About CILEx Law SchoolOur credentials

We are wholly owned by the Chartered Institute of Legal

Executives (CILEx), and have been delivering CILEx courses for

over thirty years.

We describe the mode of delivery of our CILEx courses as

‘supported distance learning’. Essentially this means that you can

study where and when you want, while the structured framework

and excellent resources maximise your chances of success.

We really understand how best to deliver knowledge in this

format. Although you may be physically at a distance from CILEx

Law School, you can be reassured that you will enjoy some of the

best levels of support anywhere in distance education.

Full details of our supported distance learning courses for CILEx

exams are given in pages 18-23 of this prospectus.

This prospectus covers our CILEx courses. We offer a variety of

other courses for the legal market, which are listed at the end of

this prospectus.

“At first, when I decided to embark on the CILEx qualification, I was worried about a distance learning course as I didn’t think the same level of support as a regular college would be available. I am very happy to report that I was wrong and that I feel very supported by all the staff at CILEx Law School. In particular, I have found the Student Area of the website an excellent source of material and advice, via the forum and chatrooms. When I have needed to contact CILEx Law School directly, the help and advice has always been excellent, giving me confidence in continuing with my studies.”

EMMA HASTIE

2

About working in law

There are many opportunities for working in law, and here we

give you an outline of the three main roles that we refer to in

this prospectus.

Role – paralegal (non-graduate)

Someone who has completed some legal training, but is not

qualified as a solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive, is usually

referred to as a paralegal. The term applies to any member of staff

progressing files under supervision, from legal secretaries who have

gained the necessary knowledge to carry out specific practical tasks,

to trained caseworkers who progress a heavy caseload of files from

start to finish. If you want to gain sufficient knowledge to be useful

to a potential employer, or you are a legal administrator seeking

to improve your prospects at work, we would recommend that

you study for one of the ten CILEx Level 3 Certificates in Law and

Practice available in a range of legal practice areas.

Role – paralegal (law graduate)

Law graduates are often employed by firms as paralegals and may

be responsible for progressing a heavy caseload of files under

supervision. This is an ideal starting point for law graduates who

would like to become Chartered Legal Executives and need to build

up their qualifying employment concurrently with studying.

Career goal Recommended qualification Notes Page

Become a paralegal (non-graduate)

CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice This is the entry-level qualification. For higher-level study use the CILEx Level 6 courses.

4


CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice This is the starting point unless you are a law graduate. 8

CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in law and Practice This is the second stage of training unless you are a law graduate. 10

Graduate Fast-track Diploma This is the qualification for law graduates. 12


CILEx Level 6 Single Subject Certificate These courses are ideal for non-qualified and qualified staff. Read more about how they can be used.

14

Become a solicitor via the CILEx route – non-graduate route

Complete the Level 3 and Level 6 professional qualifications listed above and serve the period of qualifying employment to become a Chartered Legal Executive. Study additional CILEx Level 6 units and the Legal Practice Course (LPC).

It is essential that you check the route with the Solicitors Regulation Authority before embarking on any courses with CILEx Law School (www.sra.org.uk).

16

Become a solicitor via the CILEx route – law-graduate route

Complete the Graduate Fast-track Diploma and the period of qualifying employment to become a Chartered Legal Executive and study the LPC.

Role – Chartered Legal Executive

The term ‘Chartered Legal Executive’ can only be used by someone

who has qualified as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal

Executives (CILEx). Being a Chartered Legal Executive is a fulfilling

and rewarding career. In a law firm you could be a senior member

of staff such as a partner or department head with a significant

client following. Opportunities also exist for senior roles in the legal

departments of commercial organisations, charities, government

agencies and local authorities.

Role – solicitor

A solicitor is a lawyer who has been through a training route

specified by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Solicitors have

practice rights granted by statute, although some of these are now

enjoyed by other professionals. For example, only solicitors were

eligible to become partners in law firms, whereas this right has also

now been granted to Chartered Legal Executives.

Find out more

Descriptions of legal roles, and full details of the routes to

qualification for each, are given on our website at www.

cilexlawschool.ac.uk. You may also be interested in finding out

about becoming a legal apprentice, legal administrator or legal

secretary, which are covered in other leaflets and on our website.

Call us on 01234 844300 for advice on career paths.

Which course for which qualification?

TABLE 1: CAREER GOALS AND RECOMMENDED QUALIFICATIONS

3

Funding your course

Our fee structures and flexible course design ensure that you have

the support you need at an affordable cost. We appreciate that you

may be working either full-time or part-time to fund your studies, so

all our courses are offered in a flexible format that allows you to fit

your learning around your other commitments.

How do we help?

Instalment options on all course fees are available, which allow

payment to be spread over a three-month period. Full details are

given on the individual course application forms which can be

downloaded from the course pages on our website. Sometimes

you may find it less expensive to enrol on several courses at once:

for example enrolling for the five units leading to a CILEx Level 3

Certificate in Law and Practice is less expensive than for the five

separate courses. Again, details of these packages are available on

our website and application forms.

What sources of finance might be available?

Professional and Career Development Loans are commercial bank

loans that can be used to help pay for work related learning. You

can borrow between £300 and £10,000 to help support the cost

of up to two years of learning (or three years if it includes one

year’s relevant unpaid practical work). The Government will pay

the interest on the loan while you are learning and for one month

afterwards. You will then need to start repaying the loan as you

would any other commercial loans product. The loan can be used

to pay course fees or other costs such as travel and living expenses.

You can also use the loan to supplement other forms of support such

as grants or bursaries.

As the Professional and Career Development Loan is a commercial

loan product, you should make sure you have investigated all the

funding options that may be open to you to ensure you take an

informed decision about whether the Loan is right for you. For

further information on financial assistance to support your learning

visit www.direct.gov.uk/adult learning or contact the National

Careers Service on 0800 100 900. Our learning provider registration

number is 1816.

Is your employer supporting your studies?

Many of our students are sponsored in their studies by their

employer. If you are being supported in this way, we can enrol you

on a course and send an invoice to your employer. Even if you have

not been put forward for your selected courses by your employer,

it may well be worth asking if some assistance is available. Often

organisations with Investors in People status may have funds that

can be accessed for relevant training. When you ask your employer

for funding, it is always best to put a brief business case forward.

State how the course will help you as an employee and what

benefits the employer would receive in turn. Might you be doing

more fee-earning? If that’s in civil litigation, a law firm could charge

out your time under the summary assessment of costs rates. Will

you be able to negotiate more effectively on the telephone through

having done the CILEx Level 6 Client Care Skills unit? Try to express

what value you can add to your organisation by doing the course.

What about becoming a legal apprentice?

If you find an employer who is interested in enrolling staff on one of

the new apprenticeship schemes, you may have your qualification

fully or partly paid for if you are under 24 at the time of enrolment,

depending on your prior qualifications. The new Level 3 Advanced

Apprenticeship in Legal Services includes CILEx Level 3 courses

within the scheme. Information on the apprenticeship is available

on our website at www.cilexlawschool.ac.uk.

4

The CILEx Level 3 Certificates in Law and Practice are paralegal

qualifications developed to provide legal knowledge and

practical skills.

Who are these qualifications for?

The courses leading to a CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and

Practice are ideal for paralegals and support staff in law firms who

wish to take on a file-handling role in an area of legal practice.

There are ten Certificates to choose from so you can tailor the

qualification to the needs of your role.

You will learn how to progress a straightforward case file in your

selected practice area under the supervision of a qualified member

of staff. The courses are also relevant for staff working outside

the legal profession in organisations dealing with employment or

contractual matters, debt recovery, mortgage lending, personal

injury, insurance or children’s services.

You should have studied to at least GCSE level. If you have no

formal qualifications, or if you wish to continue to work in a purely

administrative function, then you might consider the City & Guilds/

CILEx Level 2 Certificate in Legal Studies which we also offer.

Contact us to request the relevant leaflet or visit the website.

The CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice also contributes to

the first stage of Chartered Legal Executive training, so you could build

on the qualification if you find you have an aptitude for legal study.

What is included in the Certificate?

A Certificate in Law and Practice is a paralegal qualification made

up of five CILEx Level 3 units: an introductory unit, a law unit and

its linked legal practice unit, and two professional skills units. There

are ten variants of the Certificate so that you can select the subjects

most appropriate for your role.

Certificates available, and the CILEx Level 3 units that make up the

Certificates, are listed in table 2 opposite.

Become a paralegalCILEx Level 3 Certificates in Law and Practice

How will my employer benefit?

Once you have achieved a CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and

Practice you will be able to progress a standard file in your selected

practice area under supervision, enabling your employer to charge

out your time. The CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice

assists law firms in complying with Solicitors Regulation Authority’s

Code of Conduct, whereby arrangements must be in place for staff

to be trained to ensure that they are competent to do their work. The

law and practice units of the qualification are assessed by unseen

exam, so success in the qualification will give both you and your

employer confidence in your knowledge.

What if I don’t think all the Certificate units are appropriate?

It is not necessary to buy courses as part of a CILEx Level 3

Certificate in Law and Practice: a course for any CILEx Level 3 unit

can be purchased individually. If you wish to gain knowledge to

assist you at work without achieving a full qualification you may be

interested in selecting specific units to study.

What next?

The CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice is a recognised

paralegal qualification in its own right. However, if you enjoy your

studies and find that you want to do more, then your CILEx Level

3 Certificate in Law and Practice will act as the first year of your

Chartered Legal Executive studies. The full CILEx qualification is

usually achieved over four or five years with CILEx Law School.

You can read about it in the relevant section of this prospectus.

Alternatively you might wish to progress to a CILEx Level 6 Single

Subject Certificate in subjects relevant to your chosen practice area.

How do I apply?

Full details on CILEx Law School’s courses for the CILEx Level 3

units are given on pages 18-23. An application form is available on

our website. If you would like to discuss your training options with

us please call 01234 844300.

5

CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice

Law and linked practice units

Type of work that staff could do under supervision once Certificate achieved

Type of work not covered for which study at Level 6/qualification as a legal executive lawyer is required.

Child Care Practice

Family Law, The Practice of Child Care Law

Work as a member of a local authority children’s services dept (or other public sector agency dealing with child protection) or in a law firm specialising in children’s work. Inter-agency liaison, obtaining emergency protection orders, care orders, adoption and placement orders.

Matters relating to custody etc are included in the Family Law and Family Practice units at Levels 3 and 6.

Civil Litigation (with Contract)

Contract and Civil Litigation Advise on, and progress, straightforward low value contract claims including simple debt recovery matters.

Complicated contractual matters of significant value.

Civil Litigation (with Tort)

Tort and Civil Litigation Advise on, and progress, straightforward fast-track personal injury claims; assist in more complex cases.

High-value claims for loss of life or serious injury; claims with complex liability issues.

Conveyancing Land Law and Conveyancing

Conduct conveyances of domestic freehold registered land including drafting contract, searches, mortgage documentation, completion and registration.

Purchase or sale of leasehold land and unregistered land. Conveying commercial property.

Criminal Litigation

Criminal Law and Criminal Litigation

Advise clients charged with summary offences on legal aid and the criminal justice process including sentencing.

Indictable offences with complex facts and legal issues.

Elderly Client Practice*

Law of Wills and Succession and the Practice of Law for the Elderly Client

Advise on the law of succession; take will instructions and draft wills; register enduring powers of attorney; advise on lasting powers of attorney; prepare applications to the Court of Protection.

Will-writing for high-value estates requiring specialist tax and trust advice.

Employment Practice**

Employment Law and the Practice of Employment Law

Advise employers/employees on straightforward cases involving discrimination (age, disability, religion, sex, race), maternity and paternity rights, unfair dismissal and redundancy. Complete Employment Tribunal forms.

Advise on high-value and/or complicated unfair and constructive dismissal claims. Advise on TUPE matters.

Family Practice** Family Law and the Practice of Family Law

Advise on law relating to separation and divorce including contact and residence of children and distribution of assets; draft and file divorce petition.

Separation/divorce in high-value and/or complicated cases where the value and share of assets is in dispute.

Probate Practice Law of Wills and Succession and Probate Practice

Advise on law of succession; take will instructions and draft wills; advise on IHT threshold and exemptions; administer uncomplicated estates including completing oath forms and IHT forms.

Will-writing for high-value estates requiring specialist tax and trust advice. Administration of high-value estates with complex succession arrangements.

Residential and Commercial Leasehold Conveyancing

Land Law, Residential and Commercial Leasehold Conveyancing

Conduct conveyances of domestic leasehold registered land (existing and new leases) including drafting contract, drafting lease, searches, mortgages, completion and registration. Assist teams working on commercial conveyancing.

Freehold conveyancing of registered land is covered in the Level 3 and 6 land law and conveyancing units. Unregistered land is covered by Level 6 land law and conveyancing.

*Use this Certificate to become an Associate Professional Member of Solicitors for the Elderly. **Use this Certificate to become a Family Law Assistant Member of Resolution.

TABLE 2: TYPE OF WORK THAT STAFF COULD DO UNDER SUPERVISION ONCE CILEX LEVEL 3 CERTIFICATE IN LAW AND PRACTICE ACHIEVED

6

Become a Chartered Legal ExecutiveOverview of the training routes

Paralegal

Quali�ying employment/work-based learningThree years qualifying employment: one must occur after the CILEx Level 6 quali�cation achieved, and the �nal two

years must be consecutive.

CILEx Graduate Fast-track DiplomaTwo Level 6 legal practice units and Level 6

Client Care Skills

Remaining units for CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice

Three Level 3 law plus two legal practice units OR four law and one legal practice unit

CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice

Three Level 6 law units, one linked legal practice unit and two Level 6 professional skills units

Chartered Legal Executive

Senior Paralegal

New to law/Legal Secretary/Legal Administrator

CILEx Level 3 Certi�cate in Law and PracticeThe introductory Level 3 unit, one Level 3 law unit

and its linked practice unit and two Level 3 professional skills units

Entry level: GCSEs/A levels/non-law degree

Graduate Membership of CILEx achieved with

this quali�cation

Fellowship of CILEx achieved at end of this stage.

Graduate Membership of CILEx achieved with this quali�cation

Associate Membership of CILEx achieved with this quali�cation

A�liate Membership of CILEx achieved with this quali�cation

Entry level:law degree/GDL

This page gives you a snapshot of the stages of training that lead to

becoming a Chartered Legal Executive. You should be aware of the

detailed rules of combination of units that need to be followed to

achieve each of the qualifications. These are set out in the relevant

course pages. A period of qualifying employment/work-based

learning is also necessary. Employment must fulfil CILEx’s work-

based learning outcomes which are available on the CILEx website

at www.cilex.org.uk.

Information on each of the stages is given in the following pages

and on our website at www.cilexlawschool.ac.uk.

7

“I would definitely recommend the CILEx route to other people thinking about getting into the legal sector. It is so much better being able to study at my own pace and being flexible as to when I can fit the studying into my private life. The CILEx route is also so much less expensive compared to a law degree and I think that this opens the doors to a lot more people. Having a recognised qualification at the end of it is invaluable when applying for new roles.”

CHARLOTTE BURNHAM

8

The CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice is

the first stage of academic training to become a Chartered Legal

Executive (unless you already hold a law degree). The CILEx Level

3 Professional Diploma is made up of a total of ten units, and is

designed to give prospective Chartered Legal Executives a good

grounding in all core areas of law and the flexibility to tailor the

legal practice element of the qualification to their requirements.

What units do I need to study?

You will study seven mandatory units – Units 1-5, 16 and 17 from

table 3 below. For the remaining three units you can choose either

two practice units from Units 9-15, 18-19 and one law unit from

Units 6-8, or three practice units. Practice units must all relate to

law units that you are studying as part of your Professional Diploma.

For example, you could not study The Practice of Employment Law

as one of your practice units unless you also select Employment

Law as a non-mandatory law unit. All units and their status are

listed in table 3 to the right.

Which Level 3 units should I study in my first year?

You will study ten units in total, and we recommend that you aim

to achieve this over a two-year period by studying five units in each

of two years. CILEx Law School offers package options at a discount

when you purchase multiple units at the same time.

You may choose to study the units in any order. However, specific

combinations of five units lead to a CILEx Level 3 Certificate in

Law and Practice in a number of practice areas. You may wish

to commence your studies with courses that combine to make a

Certificate, so that you achieve a recognised qualification after your

first year of study. Certificates available, and the groups of subjects

that make up the Certificates, are listed in table 2 on page 5.

Alternatively, if you do not have any experience of law and do not

know which subjects will interest you, you may wish to study Unit 1

Introduction to Law and Practice, plus a selection of the mandatory

law subjects in year one to discover which areas interest you most.

Which Level 3 units should I study in my second year?

In your second year you need to select any mandatory units that

you have not already covered. If you have already achieved a CILEx

Level 3 Certificate in your first year, then very often there will be

little choice in your second year. For example, if you have studied

a CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice (Elderly Client

Practice) in your first year, then four of your second year subjects

Become a Chartered Legal ExecutiveThe CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice

Unit Name of unit Type of unit Linked law unit

Rules relating to selection of units

Unit 1 Introduction to Law and Practice Introductory

Units 1-5 are mandatory.

Unit 2 Contract Law Law

Unit 3 Criminal Law Law

Unit 4 Land Law Law

Unit 5 Law of Tort Law

Unit 6 Employment Law Law Units 6-8 are non-mandatory law units. One of these can be selected instead of a third practice unit.

Unit 7 Family Law Law

Unit 8 Law of Wills and Succession Law

Unit 9 Civil Litigation Practice 2 or 5

You take a minimum of two practice units, and can select a third instead of a non-mandatory law unit. Each practice unit selected must link to a law unit that you are studying.

Unit 10 Conveyancing Practice 4

Unit 11 Criminal Litigation Practice 3

Unit 12 The Practice of Family Law Practice 7

Unit 13 The Practice of Employment Law Practice 6

Unit 14 Probate Practice Practice 8

Unit 15 The Practice of Law for the Elderly Client Practice 8

Unit 18 The Practice of Child Care Law Practice 7

Unit 19

Residential and Commercial Leasehold Conveyancing

Practice 4

Unit 16 Client Care Skills Professional skills Units 16 and 17

are mandatory.Unit 17 Legal Research Skills Professional

skills

TABLE 3: LEVEL 3 UNITS

will be mandatory law units – Contract Law, Criminal Law, Land

Law and Law of Tort. The fifth unit would be a second practice

unit, for example Conveyancing, to ensure that you achieve the

mandatory minimum of two practice units in total.

You cannot select a practice unit if you are not also studying the

related law units within your CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in

Law and Practice. Also, if you are only studying two practice units

because you have selected a non-mandatory law unit, your two

practice units must be from different practice areas, to ensure that

you have breadth in your Level 3 study.

We recommend the units in table 4 opposite to achieve your

Diploma if you have obtained a Certificate.

9

How are the Level 3 units assessed?

The method of assessment for each type of unit is as follows.

Unit 1: Intro to Law and Practice Multiple choice test in January

and June each year (one hour duration).

Units 2-8: Law Examination for each unit in January and June each

year (1½ hours’ duration)

Units 9-15, 18-19: Practice Examination for Units 9-15, 18-19 for

each unit in January and June each year based on pre-released case

study materials ( 1½ hours’ duration)

Units 16-17: Professional skills Tasks set by CILEx and assessed by

CILEx Law School according to assessment criteria set by CILEx.

If you need advice on subject selection at Level 3 do not hesitate

to call us on 01234 844300.

What are the entry requirements?

There are no formal entry requirements, but we recommend that

you have a minimum of four GCSE grades at C or above (or the

equivalent) including English Language or Literature. If you lack

these qualifications then we suggest that you study for a City &

Certificate obtained Mandatory law subjects still to be achieved Recommended further units

CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice (Child Care Practice)

Contract Law, Criminal Law, Land Law, Law of Tort

You have one further practice unit to study. It must relate to a law unit that you are studying as part of your Diploma, so you can select from Civil Litigation, Conveyancing, Criminal Litigation or Residential and Commercial Leasehold Conveyancing. (It would not be possible to choose The Practice of Family Law as this would limit your legal practice study to one practice area.)

CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice (Civil Litigation)

Criminal Law; Land Law; Law of Tort OR Contract Law (depending on which one has been done already)

One of the following two options:• Two practice units to complement the mandatory law units – Criminal Litigation, Conveyancing or Residential and Commercial Leasehold Conveyancing.• One non-mandatory law unit and its linked practice unit eg Employment Law and The Practice of Employment Law.

CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice (Conveyancing)

Contract Law; Criminal Law; Law of Tort

One of the following two options:• Two practice units to complement the mandatory law units – Civil Litigation, Criminal Litigation or Residential and Commercial Leasehold Conveyancing.(Residential and Commercial Leasehold Conveyancing can only be selected if you are doing three practice units in total.) • One non-mandatory law unit and its linked practice unit egFamily Law and The Practice of Family Law.

CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice (Criminal Litigation)

Contract Law; Land Law; Law of Tort

One of the following two options:• Two practice units to complement the mandatory law units – Civil Litigation, Conveyancing or Residential and Commercial Leasehold Conveyancing.• One non-mandatory law unit and its linked practice unit eg Law of Wills and Succession and Probate Practice.

CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice (Elderly Client Practice)

Contract Law; Criminal Law; Land Law; Law of Tort

You have one further practice unit to study. It must relate to a law unit that you are studying as part of your Diploma, so you can select from Civil Litigation, Criminal Litigation, Conveyancing or Residential and Commercial Leasehold Conveyancing. (You cannot select Probate Practice as this would mean that both of your practice units would relate to the same law unit.)

CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice (Employment Practice)


You have one further practice unit to study. It must relate to a law unit that you are studying as part of your Diploma, so you can select from Civil Litigation, Criminal Litigation, Conveyancing or Residential and Commercial Leasehold Conveyancing.

CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice (Family Practice)


You have one further practice unit to study. It must relate to a law unit that you are studying as part of your Diploma, so you can select from Civil Litigation, Criminal Litigation, Conveyancing or Residential and Commercial Leasehold Conveyancing. (You cannot select Child Care Practice as this would mean that both of your practice units would relate to the same law unit.)

CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice (Probate Practice)


You have one further practice unit to study. It must relate to a law unit that you are studying as part of your Diploma, so you can select from Civil Litigation, Criminal Litigation, Conveyancing or Residential and Commercial Leasehold Conveyancing. (You cannot select The Practice of Law for the Elderly Client as this would mean that both of your practice units would relate to the same law unit.)

CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice (Residential and Commercial Leasehold Conveyancing)

Contract Law, Criminal Law, Law of Tort

One of the following two options:• Two practice units to complement the mandatory law units – Civil Litigation, Conveyancing and Criminal Litigation. (Conveyancing can only be selected if you are doing three practice units in total.)• One non-mandatory law unit and its linked practice unit eg Law of Wills and Succession and The Practice of law for the Elderly Client.

TABLE 4: LEVEL 3 UNITS TO STUDY IN THE SECOND YEAR

Guilds/CILEx Level 2 Certificate in Legal Studies first (request our

separate leaflet for this qualification) or enrol on CILEx Level 3 Unit

1 Introduction to Law and Practice on its own to begin with.

Exemptions are available from some units if you already have an A

level, or certain other law qualifications. Check the CILEx website at

www.cilex.org.uk to see whether you are eligible.

What next?

The CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice is

the first stage of Chartered Legal Executive training. You will then

progress to the CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law

and Practice. Information is given on page 10.

How do I apply?





10

Become a Chartered Legal ExecutiveThe CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice

This is the second stage of Chartered Legal Executive training and

is appropriate for those who have achieved the CILEx Level 3

Professional Diploma in Law and Practice. Law graduates seeking

CILEx Graduate Membership should study the CILEx Graduate

Fast-track Diploma (see page 12) rather than the CILEx Level 6

Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice.

What will I study?

To achieve the CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law

and Practice, you need to study six subjects in total, comprising

one legal practice unit with its linked law unit, two other law units

of your choice, and the mandatory professional skills units – Client

Care Skills and Legal Research Skills. The full lists of law units,

practice units and professional skills units are given below.

Law units

You select three law units, one of which must be linked to your

practice unit.

Unit 1 – Company and Partnership Law

Unit 2 – Contract Law

Unit 3 – Criminal Law

Unit 4 – Employment Law

Unit 5 – Equity and Trusts

Unit 6 – European Union Law

Unit 7 – Family Law

Unit 8 – Immigration Law

Unit 9 – Land Law

Unit 10 – Landlord and Tenant Law

Unit 11 – Planning Law

Unit 12 – Public Law

Unit 13 – Law of Tort

Unit 14 – Wills and Succession

Practice units

You select one practice unit from the list below, which must be

linked to one of your law units. We have shown the unit number(s)

of the linked law units in brackets after each practice unit.

Unit 15 – Civil Litigation (Unit 2 or Unit 13)*

Unit 16 – The Practice of Company and Partnership Law (Unit 1)

Unit 17 – Conveyancing (Unit 9)

Unit 18 – Criminal Litigation (Unit 3)

Unit 19 – The Practice of Employment Law (Unit 4)

Unit 20 – The Practice of Family Law (Unit 7)

Unit 21 – Probate Practice (Unit 14)

*It is recommended that both these law units are studied with Civil

Litigation.

Professional skills units

Both of these units are mandatory.

Unit 22 – Client Care Skills

Unit 23 – Legal Research Skills

11

Which legal practice unit should I choose?

By the time you are working towards the second stage of your

Chartered Legal Executive training it is likely that you will know

which area of legal practice you want to specialise in. If you are not

yet working in a legal environment, then we recommend that you

choose the legal practice subject that you enjoyed most at Level 3,

unless local employment opportunities lie in another legal

practice area.


This is the second stage of academic training to become a Chartered

Legal Executive, so you should already have completed the CILEx

Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice (see page 8).

What next?

The CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice

leads to Graduate Membership of CILEx. You need to complete a

three-year period of qualifying employment in order to become a

Fellow of CILEx, which is the membership grade for Chartered Legal

Executives. The final year of qualifying employment must occur after

you have achieved Graduate Membership, and the final two years

must be consecutive. Employment must fulfil CILEx’s work-based

learning outcomes which are available on the CILEx website at

www.cilex.org.uk.

How do I apply?





12

Practice units Law subject which links already studied

Unit 15 Civil Litigation Contract Law and Law of Tort

Unit 16 The Practice of Company and Partnership Law Company and Partnership Law

Unit 17 Conveyancing Land Law

Unit 18 Criminal Litigation Criminal Law

Unit 19 The Practice of Employment Law Employment Law

Unit 20 The Practice of Family Law Family Law

Unit 21 Probate Practice Law of Wills and Succession

Become a Chartered Legal ExecutiveThe CILEx Graduate Fast-track Diploma

The CILEx Graduate Fast-track Diploma (GFTD) is the qualification

for law graduates who wish to complete the academic part of the

Chartered Legal Executive qualification. You are also eligible if you

hold a non-law degree and have studied for a Graduate Diploma in

Law (GDL).

If you have a law degree or GDL you do not need to study any

more law subjects: you just need to acquire the legal practice and

professional skills elements of the qualification.

What will I study?

The CILEx Graduate Fast-track Diploma is made up of two Level

6 practice units and one Level 6 professional skills unit – Unit 22

Client Care Skills. One of the practice units must link to a law unit

that you have studied as part of your degree. A list of the practice

units and the law units to which they relate is given in table 5

below. These are for reference only – no law units are studied as

part of the CILEx Graduate Fast-track Diploma.

The three units Civil Litigation, Conveyancing and Criminal

Litigation all relate to a core law degree subject, so if you choose

any one of these three units then you can select freely from the

other practice units for your second choice. You should be careful

if you wish to study two units, neither of which are related to core

law degree subjects, for example The Practice of Employment Law

and The Practice of Family Law. In this case you must have studied

either Employment Law or Family Law as an elective subject within

your law degree.

TABLE 5: LAW SUBJECTS WHICH LINK TO EACH PRACTICE UNIT

How long will it take?

You can enrol on courses with CILEx Law School at any time of

year and each of the three courses is valid for 15 months from

enrolment. There are two exam sessions per year, one in January

and one in June, and you can select which one of these you want to

work towards. Many students do one practice exam in one session

and the other in the next session, for example. You can expect to

complete all three courses within nine to fifteen months, depending

on the amount of time you have available to allocate to study.

13


To be eligible for the graduate fast-track route to becoming a

Graduate Member of CILEx, you must have achieved, within the

last seven years, a qualifying law degree as recognised by the

Solicitors Regulation Authority. You need to register as a CILEx

member in order to be eligible to sit a CILEx assessment, and this

can usually be done just before you wish to submit your application

for exam entry.

If you have already studied both a law degree and an LPC you do

not need to study the CILEx Graduate Fast-track Diploma. You can

become a Graduate Member of CILEx by paying exemption and

membership fees.

What next?

The CILEx Graduate Fast-track Diploma leads to Graduate

Membership of CILEx. You need to complete a three-year period

of qualifying employment in order to become a Fellow of CILEx,

which is the membership grade for Chartered Legal Executives.

The final year of qualifying employment must occur after the CILEx

Graduate Fast-track Diploma has been achieved, and the final two

years must be consecutive. Employment must fulfil CILEx’s work-

based learning outcomes which are available on the CILEx website

at www.cilex.org.uk. If you are already working as a paralegal, it is

likely that your current employment will count towards the required

three-year period of qualifying employment, but you need to check

this with CILEx.

How do I apply?

Full details on CILEx Law School’s courses for the CILEx Graduate

Fast-track Diploma are given on pages 18-23. An application form is

available on our website. If you would like to discuss your training

options with us please call 01234 844300.

14

Gain specialist law and legal practice knowledgeCILEX Level 6 Single Subject Certificates

In-depth training in individual law and practice subjects

CILEx Law School offers a wide range of courses providing in-

depth training in specialist areas of law or legal practice. They can

be studied simply to gain knowledge, but they can also lead to a

recognised qualification if you wish to sit an exam. Success in the

relevant CILEx exam leads to the award of a CILEx Level 6 Single

Subject Certificate in the subject studied, for example, a CILEx

Level 6 Certificate in Employment Law. The courses are delivered

by distance learning supported by face-to-face tuition and ongoing

contact with our academic team.

Who are these courses for?

The courses are pitched at the equivalent to honours-degree level

(law subjects) or LPC-level (legal practice subjects). As well as

contributing to the Chartered Legal Executive training they are an

excellent resource if you:

– are a Chartered Legal Executive wishing to satisfy the Solicitors

Regulation Authority’s academic stage of training (see page 16)

– are a qualified practitioner and are looking to re-train in order to

switch to a new area of legal practice

– are a qualified lawyer and you need a refresher if you are

returning to work after a career break

– are a law graduate who has not studied the LPC but is looking for

a recognised qualification in a specific area of legal practice

– wish to undertake training to work as a will writer

– are a solicitor, a barrister or law graduate and you wish to qualify

as a Notary Public.

What subjects are available?

Courses are available in the law and legal

practice subjects listed below.

Law Subjects

– Company and Partnership Law

– Contract Law

– Criminal Law

– Employment Law

– Equity and Trusts

– European Union Law

– Family Law

– Immigration Law

– Land Law

– Landlord and Tenant Law

– Planning Law

– Public Law

– Law of Tort

– Wills and Succession

Practice Subjects

– Civil Litigation

– The Practice of Company and Partnership Law

– Conveyancing

– Criminal Litigation

– The Practice of Employment Law

– The Practice of Family Law

– Probate Practice

To give you an idea of the topics that you

will study, tables of contents and sample pages

from the course manual for each subject are

given in the CILEx Level 6 section on the page

titled ‘Course manuals for CILEx exams’ on

our website.

15

What standard are the courses?

The academic standard is roughly equivalent to honours-degree

level, so you are most likely to benefit from the courses if you have

already studied at ‘A’ level, ‘AS’ level, NVQ Level 3 or equivalent.

If you have not studied for a long time, or perhaps are still building

the confidence to attempt higher level study, then try our CILEx

Level 3 Certificates in Law and Practice (see page 4).

How do I apply?


exams are given on pages 18-23. An application form is available

on our website. If you would like to discuss your training options

with us please call 01234 844300.

16

Become a solicitorConverting from CILEx

Who are these courses for?

If you are a Graduate Member or Fellow of CILEx then your

qualifications will contribute towards solicitor training. An outline

of the CILEx route to qualification as a solicitor is given opposite.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority governs entry to its profession

so you should contact the SRA before embarking on a particular

qualification route. The SRA can be contacted at info.services@sra.

org.uk or 0870 606 2555 to confirm your eligibility and applicable

time limits.

If you do not hold a law degree and you have studied the CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice

The subjects that the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) requires

all prospective solicitors to complete for its academic stage of

training are the Law of Tort, Equity and Trusts, the Law of Contract,

Land Law, Public Law, European Law and Criminal Law (the core

subjects), plus one elective law subject. If you have studied any of

these subjects for your CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma

in Law and Practice (or equivalent former qualification), then you

do not need to repeat them. A CILEx Level 6 law unit that is not

one of the SRA’s core subjects can count as your elective subject.

For example, if you have studied units in Land Law, Conveyancing,

Landlord and Tenant Law and Equity and Trusts for your CILEx Level

6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice then you have

already studied two of the SRA’s core subjects (Land Law and Equity

and Trusts), and you can allocate Landlord and Tenant Law as your

elective subject. All that remains is to gain passes in CILEx Level 6

Single Subject Certificates in the five remaining units to complete

the SRA’s academic stage of training. Course information is given

on pages 18-23. After that you need to complete a Legal Practice

Course and Professional Skills Course. CILEx Law School offers

a Legal Practice Course in association with Leicester Institute of

Legal Practice at De Montfort University. Your period of qualifying

employment to become a Chartered Legal Executive may exempt

you from the training contract specified by the SRA but this is

always,subject to approval by the SRA.

Law graduates who have studied the CILEx Graduate Fast-track Diploma

Law graduates have already completed the SRA’s academic stage of

training. If you also complete the period of qualifying employment

which meets the required learning outcomes to become a Chartered

Legal Executive (see page 13) before completing the Legal Practice

Course you may be exempt from the solicitors’ training contract,

subject to approval by the SRA. We recommend that you discuss

this route with the SRA before embarking on any courses with CILEx

Law School.

17

Paralegal

Chartered Legal ExecutiveSolicitor

Senior Paralegal

ProfessionalSkills Course

LegalPractice Course

New to law/Legal Secretary/Legal Administrator

Entry level: GCSEs/A levels/non-law degree

CILEx Level 3 Certi�cate in Law and Practice

Remainingunits for

CILEx Level 3 Prof. Dip. in

Law & Practice

CILEx Level 6 Prof. Higher Dip.

in Law & Practice

CILEx Graduate Fast-track Diploma

Entry level:law degree/GDL

Quali�ying employment/work-based learning

18

Course informationAbout supported distance learning – your contact with us

Although you may be physically at a distance from CILEx Law

School, the level of support and quality of the resources available to

you will ensure that you never feel that you are on your own.

Face-to-face induction

Upon enrolment with CILEx Law School you will be invited to

attend a face-to-face induction day. There is a separate induction

for Level 3 and Level 6, and although not mandatory, we strongly

recommend that you attend if you are new to distance learning, or

if you are progressing from Level 3 to Level 6. The induction day is

designed to introduce you to studying with CILEx Law School, to

equip you with key study skills and show you how to get the most

from the course resources.

Tutor support

For each CILEx law, practice and professional skills course you

will be allocated a tutor who will mark your study exercises or

assignments. Your tutor will be a subject specialist so that you will

get expert tuition, whatever you are studying. When you submit a

piece of work you will get detailed feedback which will help you to

improve your understanding of topics.

Support from our Academic Team

As well as course-specific tutors, our Academic Team based at our

head office in Kempston are available during office hours to take

your calls and answer any queries that you may have. If you need

help in understanding a topic in your course manual, or if you are

struggling with a question in your study exercise, you can give them

a call. You will also be contacted by a member of our team at the

beginning of your Level 3 studies to offer help with timetabling and

academic support.

Support on the course forums

These are course-specific electronic bulletin boards where our

designated tutors will answer any query that arises while you

are studying. Very often you will have the same query as another

student and you can find the answer to your question without even

having to submit a posting yourself. You can post questions when

you are studying in the evening or at weekends, for us to pick up

and respond to when we are back in the office.

“I was slightly nervous about studying from a distance but the induction course made me prepared and ready!”

“All feedback received on the study exercises has been most helpful in helping me realise the gaps in my answers. The responses I have received via telephone and email have been prompt and very helpful.”

“Using the Forum has been very helpful and the Tutors give good sound feedback in clear, understandable ways.”

ALL QUOTES FROM COMMENTS IN OUR JANUARY 2014 STUDENT SURVEY

19

Revision for law and practice units

We offer face-to-face revision sessions where specialist tutors

work through exam-style revision questions. On occasion these

may be offered by webinar. These questions, and the answers, are

also provided on the Student Area for those who cannot attend

the sessions.

Professional skills workshops

The professional skills workshops offer face-to-face tuition in

a choice of locations to prepare you for writing your mock

and assessed assignments. On occasion these may be offered

by webinar.

“The tutor gave valuable pointers to what types of questions might appear in the exam and where easy marks could be gained or lost.”

“Revision tutors are fab at helping you in areas you may be stuck.”

“The information provided on the revision day was very concise and really focused on what I needed to know for the exam. Really glad I attended.”

“I like the flexibility that distance learning offers. I also enjoy the study and revision days which give you a chance to meet other students.”

20

Course informationAbout supported distance learning – flexibility

Our CILEx courses are delivered by supported distance learning.

What do we mean by that? Essentially these courses allow you to

study where and when you want, while the structured framework

and excellent resources maximise your chances of success.

Flexibility

You can enrol and start your studies at any time of year. There are

no fixed enrolment dates. Flexibility is the key – you fit your studies

around your personal and professional commitments, not the other

way round. The course resources provide you with a specified

programme of study for you to work through at your own pace.

Timetabling

We recommend that you allocate time to study each week, taking

account of the CILEx exam session that you wish to aim for. We

send you a proposed timetable that is tailored to your chosen start

date, and a template for you to adjust or amend to take account

of holidays and other factors influencing the time you may have

available in a particular week or month.

Duration

Each course is valid for fifteen months, which means that your study

exercises/assignments need to be completed within this period,

but you can work as quickly or as slowly as you like within the

allocated time to fit around your other commitments. The table

opposite shows the typical number of hours that the average learner

would need to spend to complete each unit, including initial

reading, writing and reviewing study exercises/assignments/mock

exams and revising for the unseen exam where relevant.

“I am very happy with all aspects of the course, I think CILEX Law School provides me with all the help possible to enable me to be successful, it’s just down to me now!”

“It’s a good course to study especially when you have other commitments e.g. work. You can manipulate it to fit around your own schedule as there are no set times you have to study/attend a college.”

Course Hrs

Level 3 Unit 1 70

Level 3 law unit 70

Level 3 practice unit 70

Level 3 client care skills 70

Level 3 legal research skills 70

Level 6 law unit 150

Level 6 practice unit 150

Level 6 client care skills 70

Level 6 legal research skills 70

TABLE 7: TYPICAL NUMBER OF STUDY HOURS PER CILEX COURSE

“I like the format of the course, the pace and content.”

“The flexibility of being able to study modules either together or separately is a key factor for me.”


21

“Fantastic set-up with lots of support available.”

“I think it is a great way to study, gain qualifications and still be able to work.”

STUDENT SURVEY JANUARY 2014

CILEx assessments

The speed at which you study will often be determined by the exam

session that you want to aim for, and the period between your

enrolment and the next available exam session. CILEx exams take

place in January and June each year for all law and practice subjects

at Levels 3 and 6.

All professional skills units are marked by CILEx Law School on

behalf of CILEx and passed to CILEx for moderation and inclusion

in the exam pass lists. CILEx Law School’s final submission dates

for the January and June exam sessions are in mid-September and

mid-March respectively. This allows time to ensure that successful

submissions can be marked, and the result advised to CILEx, for

inclusion in the January and June exam pass lists.

Key dates and procedures

We issue guidance on the procedures for exam entry on law and

practice units and assignment submission on professional skills

units. We also send regular email reminders to ensure you do not

miss key deadlines.

Unit Type of assessment Date

Level 3 Unit 1 Unseen multiple choice exam at a CILEx exam centre

Select from January or June session each year

Level 3 law and practice

Unseen 1½-hour exam for each unit at a CILEx exam centre


Level 6 law and practice

Unseen three-hour exam at a CILEx exam centre


Level 3 and 6 professional skills

Assessed Assignment done at home in your own time and submitted to CILEx Law School for marking

Submission deadlines are published by CILEx Law School

TABLE 8: DETAILS OF ASSESSMENTS ON CILEX UNITS

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Course informationAbout supported distance learning – course resources

If you are studying at a distance, it is essential that you have the

resources available when and where you need them to enable you

to study efficiently and achieve success. The resources that we offer

are designed to do just that.

Some materials are in printed format, others are made available

through our virtual learning environment, known as the Student

Area. The Student Area will be central to your studies and we

encourage you to log on and see what is available as soon as you

have enrolled.

As well as the course materials, our resources include academic

and administrative support, which is described under ‘Your contact

with CILEx Law School’ on page 18.

Course manual

All courses are based on a printed course manual, which is the

cornerstone of your studies. Each course manual is written to deliver

the CILEx syllabus, and is updated annually to ensure it reflects

current law and practice. We also issue updates in the autumn and

spring each year so that your knowledge is really up to date for

your exams.

Webcasts

Webcasts complement the course manuals by covering key topics

in an aural format to assist understanding. Webcasts are also used to

deliver mini-lectures to guide you through the study exercises.

Study exercises for law and practice units

These are the key learning tool on law and practice courses. You

will be prescribed reading from your course manual and asked to

listen to a webcast before tackling questions on the relevant area

of law or legal practice. The questions are designed to test your

understanding of topics and are an excellent preparation for the

CILEx exam. There are a number of questions in each study exercise

requiring answers of up to 1,500 words in total. Level 3 courses

have two study exercises, and Level 6 have five. Your course tutor

will mark your work and provide feedback on how you can improve

your answers.

“Brilliant and well-structured course materials”

“The manuals are well structured and step through the important points at a level that makes them understandable.”

“These manuals convey some conceptually complex material in an accessible and engaging way.”

“I listen to them on my iPod in the car so I can study when on the move.”

“Found hearing topics as well as reading topics assisted learning.”

“Very helpful when studying to hear it verbally rather than just reading it.”

“The feedback was very detailed in that it pinpointed exactly where I had made errors.”

“Exercises and feedback ensure that I’m learning the topic not merely reciting laws and regulations.”

“The study exercises help the coursework stay in mind by repetition, also practising on what is needed for the exams.

“Without the study exercises and the comments you would never be properly prepared for your exam.”

“The feedback on study exercises is always concise and helpful.”


Course resources law and practice units

Level 3 Level 3/6 Level 3 Level 6

Unit 1Law and Practice

units

Client Care Legal Research

Online student handbook • • • • •

Online study skills guide • •

Suggested timetable and template • • • • •

Course manual • • • • •

Spring/Autumn update • •

Webcasts/mini-lectures • • • •

Study exercises •

Online lessons •

Course Forum • • • • •

Mock exam/assignment • • • •

Filmed/recorded client scenarios •

Course summary •

Revision questions and answers •

Face-to-face/webinar revision sessions •

Face-to-face /webinar professional skills workshops • •

TABLE 6: RESOURCES FOR OUR SUPPORTED DISTANCE LEARNING CILEX COURSES

Course summary

Course manuals for law and practice units are supplemented by a related course

summary which is an invaluable revision tool. Course summaries are published before

each exam session to relate to the current edition of each course manual.

Mock exams for law and practice units

In addition to the study exercises, we also provide a mock exam for you to use at

revision time to test your ability to answer exam-style questions against the clock. This

is also sent to your tutor for marking and comment, and suggested solutions are made

available for you to compare your performance against model answers.

Preparation for professional skills assessed assignments

The professional skills units are assessed by a piece of written coursework (the

Assessed Assignment) which is marked by us and the results are passed to CILEx. To

prepare you for the client care assessed assignment, you will read the course manual

and undertake a mock assignment on which we give you feedback. The assignment

is based on a filmed ‘client’ scenario at Level 3, and on a recording of a telephone

negotiation at Level 6. For legal research you will also submit a mock assignment at

Level 3, based on completing tasks using internet research and the LexisLibrary legal

resource database, which is included as part of all our courses. At Level 6 you will

work through a series of online lessons before progressing to the assessed assignment

“The course summary is the most valuable feature of the course.”

“It is important to know what format the exam will take in order there are no surprises on the day.”

“I have just completed client care skills and the feedback on my mock assignment was excellent and very encouraging. The tutor pointed me in the right direction and, as a result, saved me a lot of time and aggravation.”

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Strongly agree/Agree

I would recommend CILEx Law School to my friends/colleagues

Very good/Good

How would you rate CILEx Law School’s customer service?

What our students say about usStudent survey results 2014

We conducted a survey in January 2014 amongst our CILEx

students. The results show a very high level of satisfaction from

students on our supported distance learning courses.

97%

Level 3

94%

95%

Level 6

93%

“I love studying with CILEx Law School – I find the courses very well structured, the revision day tutors excellent and the telephone support friendly, efficient and helpful.”

“The level of service is brilliant I can do things at my own pace and any questions I have get answered quickly – I think it’s really good that contact can be made in many ways!”

“Excellent service.”

“Incredibly helpful and friendly. Nearly every time I talk to someone I feel much better about my course and progress.”

“I have really enjoyed the studying so far. The course manuals are well written and easy to understand. I use the forum regularly to check on other students’ posts and tutors’ comments and have used the information as part of my study. In my opinion, completing the study exercises is crucial to understanding the law and the tutors’ feedback is most helpful, as it allows you to reflect where you need to improve or what you need to improve on. I also attended the revision sessions recently and felt that this was a great help with my revision studies and preparation for the exams.”

LISA WRIGHT

This prospectus covers our courses for CILEx

exams. To find out about the other courses that

we offer, have a look at our website at

www.cilexlawschool.ac.uk, or contact us on

01234 844300 to request a leaflet:

– Legal secretary and legal administrator

qualifications through City & Guilds

– The LLB (Hons) in Legal Practice in association

with Manchester Metropolitan University

– Courses for the University of London

International Programmes LLB

– The Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal

Practice Course in association with Leicester

Institute of Legal Practice at De Montfort

University.

CILEx Law School, College House

Manor Drive, Kempston, Bedford MK42 7AB

Telephone 01234 844300

Fax 01234 841373

E-mail [email protected]

www.cilexlawschool.ac.uk

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