work based learning pilot tim pearce education and training solicitors regulation authority
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Work Based Learning Pilot
Tim Pearce
Education and Training
Solicitors Regulation Authority
Work Based Learning
SRA aims:
• Secure high standards – ensure that new entrants to the profession are competent to practice as solicitors
• Secure consistency in standards of entry
• Based on outcomes not process – allows a diversity of routes, which should increase access and a diversity of entrants to the profession
Work Based Learning Pilot
Pilot will allow real-life assessment of
• development of key materials
• roles, needs and effectiveness of providers, and needs of trainees and employers
• further measures needed on roll-out
• concerns raised by the profession
Participants
Assessment
Review
Review
WBL is being tested on candidates who are:
• In training contracts and being assessed by their employer in-house
• In training contracts and being assessed by a non-employer assessment organisation • Completing an integrated course of work and study in partnership between assessment organisation and employer
• Working as paralegals and being assessed by a non-employer assessment organisation
Participants
Assessment
Review
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WBL is being tested on candidates who are:
• In training contracts and being assessed by their employer in-house (41)
• In training contracts and being assessed by a non-employer assessment organisation (9) • Completing an integrated course of work and study in partnership between assessment organisation and employer (20)
• Working as paralegals and being assessed by a non-employer assessment organisation (59)
Employers assessing their own trainees
• Beachcroft• Dickinson Dees • Freeth Cartwright• Hodge Jones & Allen• Jones Day• Leeds City Council
Participants
Oxford Institute of Legal Practice (Oxford Brookes University) - non-employer
assessor
in partnership with LawNet employers
• Aldridge Brownlee• IBB• Lamb Brookes• Parrott & Coales
Participants
Integrated course of work and study
Northumbria University – providing• Law degree • Legal Practice Course• Student Law Office client-facing work
experience• Work based learning assessment
Employers• Irwin Mitchell• Watson & Burton
Participants
Nottingham Law School - non-employer assessor
in partnership with employers including…
• Birmingham City Council • Criminal Cases Review Commission• Herbert Smith• Leeds City Council • Manchester City Council• McArthurGlen• Pearson Rowe• Price Waterhouse Coopers • The Royal Bank of Scotland• Scott Rees• Speechly Bircham• Transport for London
Participants
Training contract
Unassessed learning experience
Training contract
Unassessed learning experience
Assessed PSC
Training contract
Training contract
Assessed work based learning
Training contract
Assessed work based learning
Non training contract framework
Assessed work based learning
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Practising solicitor
Development plan
Interim Report
SRA are using Middlesex University as independent researchers to provide an objective evaluation of the pilot
Nov 2009 – Interim report focussing on candidates’ experiences
June 2010 – Survey
Oct/Nov 2010 – Full evaluation
Interim Report
Findings
• overall positive
• paralegals 100% positive
• trainees mixed but overall positive
Candidate comments
“Overall I think the work based learning pilot has enabled me to enrich my knowledge and hone my legal skills as well as increase my confidence and ability to deal with a variety of legal matters, recognising what the issues are and how to resolve them, as would be expected of me as a solicitor. I feel the work based learning programme should be the future of training forwould-be solicitors.”
Emmanuel OgundimuParalegal, Transport for London
Employer comments
“I am very impressed with the new method of training which can only be to the general benefit of the profession. We now have a framework against which to judge the competence of a trainee, and clear evidence on which to base our decisions at the end of their training contract.
This is a definite improvement on the existing system with increased consistency and the driving up of standards across the board.”
Julie WalkerPartner, Freeth Cartwright
Timescale
Aug/Sept 2010 – Candidate assessments
Oct/Nov 2010 – Evaluation Report
Nov/Dec 2010 – Education and Training Committee
Jan-May 2011 – consultation
May 2011 onwards – development of plans
If WBL is implemented, a 2 or 3 year transitional period is expected, to allow for firms’ recruitment processes
Questions and answers
The new document sets out questions raised by LETG members and others in the year to date.
It will be updated as new questions are posed or as updated answers are available.
Further information
www.sra.org.uk/students/work-based-learning.page
[email protected] 0797 618 2244
[email protected] 01527 517 141 ext 3212
Work Based Learning Pilot
Tim Pearce
Education and Training
Solicitors Regulation Authority