Work Based Learning Handbook
Work Based Learning Handbook
Handbook
Contents
Introduction…………………………………………………………….…………....3
Compiling a Portfolio……………………………………………………………....7
What are the Competencies and Outcomes?……………………………….........7
How do I complete the logbook sheets?…………………………………..…........8
What supporting evidence do I need? ……………..……………………………...9
When can I use a personal statement ………………………………………......10
How do I put my portfolio together? .................................................... ......... 11
What do I do if I change my employment / role whilst compiling my portfolio? 11
1
Competency 5: Business Awareness .............................................................. 21
Competency 6: Professional Conduct ............................................................. 22
Competency 7: Self Awareness and Development ......................................... 23
Competency 8: Working with Others............................................................... 24
2
Introduction
CILEx Regulation is responsible for assessing Fellowship applications made
by Graduate members of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx).
Before you begin completing the process you may wish to discuss your
application for Fellowship with your employer to ensure that you have their
support and that they are willing to complete the necessary documentation in
connection with your application. You may wish to refer your employer to the
“Information for the supervisor” section of this Handbook. You will need to
discuss with your employer (who will act as your supervisor) how you will
meet the Work Based Learning Outcomes. There is an optional Development
Plan at the back of the Handbook which may assist you.
To apply for Fellowship you must complete and submit for assessment;
3
Qualifying Employment
The first step in the process to apply for Fellowship is to have your
employment assessed to ensure it meets the Qualifying Employment
requirements.
Set out below is the eligibility criteria for applying for Qualifying Employment
and guidance on how to apply to have your employment assessed.
You cannot be credited twice for the same time period, where you have
undertaken an LPC/BPTC course concurrently with employment of a wholly
legal nature.
How much Qualifying Employment do I need?
Breaks in employment
5
What should the supervisor reference include?
Your application will be assessed by us. We may write to ask you for more
information regarding your roles. Once we have received all of the information
required to reach a decision, you will be notified in writing of that decision. You
will be advised of the following:
• when you can apply for Fellowship via the Work Based Learning
Scheme.
If we cannot determine whether you have met the criteria for Qualifying
Employment, your application must be put before the Admissions and
Licensing Committee (ALC) for a decision. The ALC meet approximately
every 6 to 8 weeks. You will be notified of the date upon which your
application will be heard by the ALC and we will write to you to notify you of
their decision.
If you change your employer or role prior to preparing your portfolio, please
see page 14 which sets out what you will need to do.
6
Compiling a Portfolio
Once it has been confirmed that you are in Qualifying Employment you may
wish to begin compiling your portfolio in readiness for applying for Fellowship.
Please note that the evidence you rely on in your portfolio must be dated
within 2 years prior to the date of your application for Fellowship.
For each example you submit to demonstrate achieving an Outcome, you will
need to submit a completed logbook sheet and supporting evidence. The
Outcomes must be achieved whilst you are in Qualifying Employment and
within 2 years prior to the date of your application.
• You should fully explain in the logbook sheet how you have met the
Outcome and how the evidence shows that you have met Outcome. The
evidence you provide simply supports what you say in the logbook sheet.
Box 1- should show the number of the Outcome being met e.g.
Example 1.1 (1), 1.1 (2)
Box 2- should list the evidence being provided e.g. Letter to client
dated 01.01.2017, email from client dated 01.01.2017
Box 3- should fully explain how the Outcome has been met and how
the evidence supports this. You may find it helpful to refer back to the
Outcome and bullet points
Box 5- should be the date you completed the work, not the date the
logbook sheet was signed
8
What supporting evidence do I need?
• The evidence that you provide must be actual photocopies of your work
from your file. Copied and pasted evidence is not acceptable.
• The evidence must not be older than 2 years prior to the date that you
apply for Fellowship. CILEx Regulation may, in exceptional
circumstances only and at their discretion, accept evidence dated 2 to
3 years prior to the date of your application You should fully explain
within your logbook sheet why you have provided evidence that
predates your application by more than 2 years, e.g. for reasons of
ill-health or maternity leave. CILEx Regulation will then consider this.
• The evidence that you provide must be your work. You must leave in
the date, your name and reference where this appears within the
evidence. If the evidence does not contain this information you should
provide an explanation in the logbook sheet.
• You must redact from the evidence all personal information that would
identify your client or any third party in order to comply with Data
Protection obligations. Other non-identifying information should be left
in to assist the assessor. The content of evidence provided will be
shared by CILEx Regulation and the Officers responsible for
assessment of the portfolio with the Admissions and Licensing
Committee and any external assessor to whom the portfolio may be
referred to for assessment and standardisation procedures.
• You may use the same piece of evidence to demonstrate meeting more
than one outcome within your portfolio. For example, the evidence you
submit for Outcome 1.1. could be used to demonstrate meeting
Outcome(s) 2.1, 2.5 and 3.3, where it also demonstrates meeting these
other outcome(s).
9
• However, where an Outcome requires two examples, you must use 2
different pieces of evidence ideally from different matters.
Where possible you should provide a logbook sheet with evidence. Where you
do not have evidence on which to rely you may complete and submit a
personal statement. If you submit a personal statement:
• You must fully explain how you have met the Outcome, using a real
example from your workload, but without providing the evidence.
• You and your supervisor must sign and date the personal statement to
confirm that the example provided is your work.
Box 1- should be numbered with the number of the Outcome being met
(e.g. Example 1.1 (1), 1.1 (2))
Box 2- should explain the reason why you are providing a personal
statement rather than a logbook sheet with evidence
Box 3- should fully explain how you have met the Outcome using an
example from your work. You may find it helpful to refer back to the
Outcome and bullet points
Box 5- should be the date you completed the work not the date of the
logbook sheet
10
• Personal statements should be typed or, if handwritten should be
completed in black ink using block capitals.
• Check that each logbook sheet is correctly numbered, e.g. 1.1 (1), 1.1
(2) etc. up to the last example 8.2 (2)
• Place the evidence for each example behind the relevant logbook
sheet
• Place the examples in order, in one bundle. Then number the bundle
from beginning to end. Attach the portfolio with a treasury tag/rubber
band. You may wish to divide each Outcome with a divider (optional).
Do not staple them, place them in a ring-binder or any other binding or
wallet.
If you change your employer or role whilst compiling your portfolio, please see
page 14 which sets out what you will need to do.
11
Applying for Fellowship
Once you are in Qualifying Employment and eligible to apply (see pages 4-6)
and you have completed your portfolio (see pages 7-11) you should apply for
Fellowship. To do this you should submit:
• your portfolio
The Work Based Learning application form can be found on our website
www.cilexregulation.org.uk under ‘Lawyers’
The reference should include your supervisor’s name and qualification. They
should comment on the following:
Once the non- refundable assessment fee has been processed by CILEx your
application will be passed to us and assessed in chronological order. You will
be sent an acknowledgment letter providing you with information about the
process and estimated timescales for assessment.
If your application is approved we will notify you in writing and you will be
admitted as a Fellow.
If your application is not approved, we will notify you in writing and request
that you provide further information to support your application. Once we
receive this information it will be assessed and you will be notified in writing of
the decision.
If we cannot determine whether you have met the criteria for admission as a
Fellow, then your application must be referred to the Admissions and
Licensing Committee (ALC) for a decision. The ALC meet approximately
every 6 to 8 weeks. You will be notified of the date upon which your
application is to be heard by the ALC and we will write to you to notify you of
their decision.
Reasonable Adjustments
13
What do I do if I change my employment or role?
Changing your employment or role prior to preparing your Work Based
Learning portfolio
If you change your employment or role prior to preparing your Work Based
Learning portfolio, you should apply to have your new employment or role
assessed for Qualifying Employment once you have settled into your new role
and gained some experience and/or built up your caseload. This should be
done by completing and submitting a new Qualifying Employment Application
Form, together with a reference from your new supervisor and any
assessment fee.
It is important to have all your roles assessed for Qualifying Employment as
this may affect your continuity of employment for the purposes of applying for
Fellowship.
Changing your employment or role whilst preparing your Work Based
Learning Portfolio
If you change your employment or role once you have had your Qualifying
Employment assessed, and whilst compiling your portfolio, you are advised to:
We will then assess it and notify you in writing of the outcome. If you
remain in this employment/role until your portfolio is assessed, then you
will be able to amend/replace any examples that you are required to
before you leave. Otherwise, you will have to replace with new examples
from your new employment/role (provided your new role is deemed to be
Qualifying Employment, see paragraph below).
14
Information for Employers and Supervisors
Fellows of CILEx (Chartered Legal Executives) are lawyers specialising in a
particular area of law that are trained to the same standard as solicitors in that
area.
Graduate members of CILEx, who are eligible to apply for Fellowship, are
required to submit a Work Based Learning application together with a portfolio
of their work. CILEx Regulation is responsible for the assessment of
Fellowship applications made by Graduate members of CILEx.
15
• Work together with the applicant to discuss each of the Outcomes, to
consider whether the applicant is able to demonstrate that they can
meet the Outcomes and to determine what documentary evidence can
be used in support of the application.
• Provide the applicant with a reference when they apply for Qualifying
Employment, and again if required when they apply for Fellowship.
The reference should include:
CILEx Regulation appreciates the help and guidance provided by you to the
applicant during the application process.
16
Competencies and Outcomes
By the end of the period of Qualifying Employment you must be able to:
1.1 Apply the law to a matter
1.2 Apply the relevant legal procedures to a matter
1.3 Identify and deal with the issues arising in a matter
1.4 Undertake legal research
Evidencing Competency 1.
Outcomes
1.1 Apply the law to a matter
• Identify the applicable law
• Describe how the law applies to the matter you are dealing with
• Explain how the evidence you have supplied demonstrates your
application of the law to the matter
17
Competency 2: Communication skills
By the end of the period of Qualifying Employment you must be able to:
2.1 Communicate legal issues using appropriate methods
2.2 Use suitable language in communication
2.3 Address all issues in communication
2.4 Seek appropriate information through communication
2.5 Represent a client through effective use of communication and other
skills
Evidencing Competency 2
Outcomes
2.1 Communicate legal issues using appropriate methods
• Identify the most suitable method by which to communicate with the
parties/organisations involved in the matter (e.g. telephone, email etc.)
• Explain why this method is the most effective communication in the
matter
• Provide supporting documentation of the communication
For applicants that work in-house the definition of client may include
colleagues within your department and those in other departments
within your employer’s organisation. In the case of the CPS the
definition of service user may include the Court, parties to the action
and the Police.
By the end of the period of Qualifying Employment you must be able to:
Evidencing Competency 3
Outcomes
This Outcome relates to the risks, costs and benefits to the client.
• Identify situations in which it was appropriate to consider any
alternative courses of action that might be available to your
19
client/service user in dealing with their legal matter
• Evaluate and communicate the options (including the costs, risks and
benefits of each option) to the client/service user
• Provide evidence of the identification and evaluation of alternative
courses of action available to your client/service user
By the end of the period of Qualifying Employment you must be able to:
4.1 Progress matters expeditiously
4.2 Plan your workload and deliver a good legal service to clients/service
users
4.3 Maintain files and records in accordance with procedures
Evidencing Competency 4
Outcomes
20
You should demonstrate meeting these Outcomes ONCE
4.2 Plan your workload and deliver a good legal service to clients or
service users
• Demonstrate planning and prioritisation of your workload including
managing your files/tasks concurrently, making the best use of
available resources and seeking support where necessary
• Provide evidence which demonstrates planning your workload
including managing a number of tasks concurrently
• Demonstrate exercising judgement and being realistic about how long
it will take to achieve tasks to ensure you can provide the legal services
you have agreed to provide
By the end of the period of Qualifying Employment you must be able to:
5.2 Evaluate the risks, costs and benefits of alternative courses of action to
the business
Evidencing Competency 5
Outcomes
You should demonstrate meeting these Outcomes ONCE
21
5.2 Evaluate the risks, costs and benefits of alternative courses of
action to the business
This Outcome relates to the risks, costs and benefits to the business.
By the end of the period of Qualifying Employment you must be able to:
Evidencing Competency 6
Outcomes
22
You should demonstrate meeting this Outcome ONCE
By the end of the period of Qualifying Employment you must be able to:
Evidencing Competency 7
Outcomes
You should demonstrate meeting these Outcomes ONCE
23
Competency 8: Working with Others
By the end of the period of Qualifying Employment you must be able to:
Competency 8
Outcomes
CILEx
Manor House, Manor Drive
Kempston
Bedfordshire
MK42 7AB
T: +44(0)1234 845770
F: +44(0)1234 840989
24
Logbook Sheet Template
Name: Membership no:
3. Explain how the example meets the learning Outcome and how the
evidence shows this
Date
7. Supervisor’s Name Supervisor’s signature
Please print name I confirm that I supervised the
applicant’s work referred to within
the logbook sheet and the evidence
25
Personal Statement Template
Name: Membership no:
3. Explain in your own words how you have met the Outcome by using
an example from your work (without evidence)
Date
7. Supervisor’s Name Supervisor’s signature
Please print name I confirm that I supervised the
applicant’s work referred to within
the logbook sheet and the evidence
26
Work Based Learning Development Plan
Description of
Learning Timeframe for
Task/responsibility how Outcome Date achieved
Outcome completion
will be achieved
27