work based learning pilot

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

Review

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

Development cycle

Assessment

Review

Review

Development cycle

Assessment

Review

Review

Review

Development cycle

EvidenceReview

Development cycle

EvidenceReviewDevelopment

plan

Development cycle

Evidence

Evidence

Review

Review

Development plan

Development cycle

Evidence

Evidence

Evidence

Review

Review

Review

Development plan

Development cycle

Assessment

Evidence

Evidence

Evidence

Review

Review

Review

Development plan

Development cycle

Assessment

Evidence

Evidence

Evidence

Review

Review

Review

Development plan

Development cycle

Assessment

Evidence

Evidence

Evidence

Review

Review

Review

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

tim.pearce@sra.org.uk 0797 618 2244

richard.morrin@sra.org.uk 01527 517 141 ext 3212

Work Based Learning Pilot

Tim Pearce

Education and Training

Solicitors Regulation Authority