cilex level 6 single subject cilex level 6 … 6 qualification...tell us when we are getting it...
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CILEx Level 6 Single Subject
Certificate CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher
Diploma in Law and Practice CILEx Graduate ‘Fast-Track’
Diploma
Qualifications Handbook
Issued: July 2015
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Customer Service Statement
Delivering Customer Service
CILEx aims to support, educate and represent its members throughout their legal career.
CILEx is committed to providing the highest standards of customer service.
CILEx Awards-Operations Customer Service Statement
To provide comprehensive legal education
To develop relationships with all members
To communicate with all customers in a clear and effective manner
To ensure that all CILEx services are subject to quality assurance
To aim to deliver the highest level of customer satisfaction and meet customer
needs in the most effective way
All stakeholders will be treated with dignity and respect
CILEx will comply at all times with its Equality and Diversity Policy
CILEx Awards-Operations will:
Provide clear information to all prospective students about educational
opportunities
Acknowledge enquiries within 1 working day
Ensure all customers are aware of the complaints procedure through regularly
updated information on www.cilex.org.uk. Complaints will be acknowledged within
3 working days and answered within 10 working days
Ensure all students know the examination results enquiries and appeals procedure
through regularly updated information on www.cilex.org.uk
Results enquiries will be acknowledged within 5 working days and answered within
6 weeks, where re-marking or a QA review is required
Make every effort to ensure all documents and guidance given to students,
centres and employers is clear and relevant and available on www.cilex.org.uk
Listen to customers and monitor changing needs
Monitor needs of employers to ensure the CILEx qualification remains relevant
Produce examination certificates within 25 working days of results notification
Review the unit specifications each year
Deal with your queries promptly and courteously
Provide accurate and timely information to help you make decisions
Respond promptly to any issues that you may raise
Our Awards Advisors will:
Be comprehensively trained to provide advice on the CILEx qualifications and
examination and professional skills assessment regulations and processes
Provide accurate and reliable information
Arrange to return your call at an agreed time, if your enquiry requires in depth
research
Be available from 8.45am - 5pm (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday) and
9am - 4pm (Friday), excluding Bank Holidays and the period from Christmas Eve
to New Year's day.
There are several ways in which you can help us to meet the standards:
When you call or email us, please have your membership number available so
that we can clearly identify you
Tell us when we are getting it right, so that we can do more of it
Tell us when we are getting it wrong, so that we can resolve the issue, learn from
our experience and improve the service for all our members
Talk to us rationally, calmly and respectfully, so that we can work together to
resolve your enquiry as soon as possible.
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Conclusion
If you wish to register a complaint regarding standards of service for Awards, please
contact us via email at [email protected] or write to Awards Customer Service, CILEx,
Kempston Manor, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 7AB.
If you are not satisfied with how your complaint has been dealt with, please visit the
Customer Service Feedback page on www.cilex.org.uk where the Customer Feedback
form, policy and procedure is available. Alternatively you can email
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Introduction
This handbook is for CILEx students studying the CILEx Level 6 Single Subject
Certificate, the CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice or the
CILEx Graduate ‘Fast-Track’ Diploma. It is also for tutors and centres delivering these
qualifications.
CILEx is an awarding organisation recognised by the Office of Qualifications and
Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) and the Welsh Government. The Level 6 Single Subject
Certificate, Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice and Graduate ‘Fast-
Track’ Diploma regulated qualifications.
The unit specifications for the Level 6 qualifications are set out separately in the following
document: Unit Specification Handbook - CILEx Level 6 Single Subject
Certificate, CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice,
CILEx Graduate ‘Fast Track’ Diploma. The unit specifications are reviewed annually.
The most up to date versions will be available on the CILEx website.
How to use this Handbook
The handbook has a comprehensive contents page designed to help students and tutors
locate the relevant information they require. The main changes to this handbook, with
the exception of the appendices, are highlighted in yellow.
It is important that both students and tutors familiarise themselves with the information
provided in Section 4: Qualification Administration. This section sets out CILEx
policies and procedures which all students and centres must follow.
Section 5: CILEx Contacts sets out the key areas of work undertaken by different
departments at CILEx. This information is provided to help students and centres direct
their enquiries to the relevant department in order that enquiries can be addressed
efficiently and effectively.
The Appendices A-D, which address key dates and deadlines, fees, the examination
timetable and examination registration regulations, are updated annually. Students can
contact CILEx to request up to date appendices or go to the CILEx website for the most
up to date information.
It is strongly recommended that students and tutors regularly refer to the CILEx
website (www.cilex.org.uk). The website is frequently updated and is used to
communicate key information to students and tutors.
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Contents page
Section 1: Studying with CILEx – an overview
1.1 The route to becoming a Chartered Legal Executive
1.2 CILEx membership
1.3 Qualifying Employment – What is it?
1.4 Accredited centres and courses
1.5 CILEx Code of Conduct
Section 2: Overview of CILEx Level 6 Qualifications
2.1 Introduction to the Level 6 Single Subject Certificate
2.2 Introduction to the Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice
2.3 Introduction to the Graduate ‘Fast Track’ Diploma
2.4 Target Groups: CILEx Level 6 Single Subject Certificate
2.5 Target Groups: CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice
2.6 Target Groups: Graduate ‘Fast Track’ Diploma
2.7 The Level of the qualifications
2.8 Entry requirements
2.9 Exemptions
2.10 Signposting to National Occupational Standards (NOS)
2.11 The Qualifications Framework and the use of Credit
2.12 Changes in the Law
2.13 Ofqual and the Welsh Assembly Government qualification and unit reference
numbers
Section 3: Qualification Structure and Unit Content
3.1 The suite of units for the CILEx Level 6 Single Subject Certificate, CILEx Level 6
Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice and the CILEx Graduate ‘Fast
Track’ Diploma
3.1.1 Table 1: Suite of Level 6 Units
3.2 The structure of the CILEx Level 6 Single Subject Certificate
3.3 The structure of the CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice
3.3.1 Table 2: Links between Law and Practice Units
3.4 The structure of the Graduate ‘Fast Track’ Diploma
3.5 Assessment pattern – Level 6 units
3.5.1 Table 3: Summary of the different methods of assessment
3.6 Qualification outcomes
3.7 Presentation of qualification units – an explanation of the unit specifications
Section 4: Level 6 Qualification Administration
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Registering for examinations – all Law and Practice units (Units 1-21)
4.2.1 When are the examinations for the Law and Practice units?
4.2.2 The examination registration process for Law and Practice examinations
4.2.3 Examination admission permits
4.2.4 Proof of identity
4.2.5 Examination regulations
4.2.6 Examination centres
4.3 Undertaking the Professional Skills assessments – Client Care Skills (Unit 22) and
Legal Research Skills (Unit 23)
4.3.1 The registration and submission process for the Professional Skills
assessments (Units 22 and 23)
4.3.2 Centres’ responsibilities for the submission of students’ work for quality
assurance by the CILEx-appointed moderator
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4.3.3 Professional Skills Regulations
4.4 Setting and agreeing grade boundaries for the Law and Practice units (Units 1 – 21)
4.5 Dissemination of examination and assessment results
4.5.1 All Law and Practice examinations (units 1 – 21) results
4.5.2 Professional Skills (Units 22 and 23) results
4.6 Re-attempting units
4.7 Reasonable Adjustments
4.7.1 An explanation of reasonable adjustments
4.7.2 How to apply for reasonable adjustments
4.7.3 Appealing the outcome of a reasonable adjustment application
4.7.4 Where to find out more information about reasonable adjustments
4.8 Access arrangements
4.8.1 An explanation of access arrangements
4.8.2 How to apply for access arrangements
4.8.3 Appealing the outcome of an access arrangements application
4.8.4 Where to find out more information about access arrangements
4.9 Special Consideration
4.9.1 An explanation of special consideration
4.9.2 How to apply for special consideration
4.9.3 How are special consideration decisions made?
4.9.4 Appealing the outcome of a special consideration application
4.9.5 Where to find out more information about special consideration
4.10 Results enquiries and appeals process
4.10.1 What are results enquiries and appeals?
4.10.2 The results enquiry and appeals process for all Law and Practice units
(Units 1 – 21)
4.10.3 The results enquiries and appeals process for the Professional Skills units
(Unit 22 Client Care Skills and Unit 23 Legal Research Skills)
4.11 Certification – credit certificates and qualification certificates
4.12 Recommended reading lists, past question papers, examiners’ reports and
suggested answers
4.13 Retention of materials
4.14 Student malpractice
4.15 Missing/lost/damaged scripts
4.16 Release of examination answer scripts
Section 5: CILEx Contacts
Appendices
Appendix A – Annual Schedule – Key dates and deadlines
Appendix B – Fees
Appendix C – Examination Timetable
Appendix D – Examination Registration Regulations
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Section 1: Studying with CILEx – an overview
1.1 The route to becoming a Chartered Legal Executive
To qualify as a Chartered Legal Executive and, hence, become a Fellow of CILEx,
students must satisfy the following requirements:
(i) Achieve the Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice
(ii) Achieve the Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice
(iii) Complete 3 years of Qualifying Employment and evidence their competence
through submission of a logbook and portfolio of evidence, which is assessed
against 27 learning outcomes.
Note: At least 2 years of your Qualifying Employment must be served consecutively,
immediately preceding the application for Fellowship and 1 year must be served in the
Graduate grade of Membership. Graduate membership is achieved after completing
elements (i) and (ii) set out above.
1.2 CILEx membership
All students undertaking courses towards the achievement of the CILEx Level 6
Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice to become Graduate members of CILEx
must be registered as CILEx members.
All students undertaking courses towards the achievement of the Graduate ‘Fast-Track’
Diploma to become Graduate members of CILEx must be registered with CILEx as CILEx
members.
Non-members and all other grades of CILEx membership are permitted to take CILEx
Level 6 Single Subject Certificates.
Registration with CILEx as a member must take place prior to the student starting to
study for any specific qualification units. (See Appendix A: Key Dates and Deadlines)
This process is separate from enrolling with a centre on a course of study. Registration is
available online by visiting the website www.cilex.org.uk.
Membership grades
Student member - for those with no relevant legal qualification and less than three
years fee-earning work.
Affiliate member - for those with at least one CILEx Level 3 unit qualification, or who
have completed a relevant legal qualification or who have completed a relevant legal
qualification at Level 2 or gained at least three years' experience doing
predominantly legal work.
Associate member - for those who have completed their Level 3 Professional Diploma
in Law and Practice or who are graduates with Qualifying Law Degrees. Associate
members are entitled to the designatory letters, ACILEx after their name, and are
required to take 8 hours Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and at least 1 entry
in professionalism.
Graduate member - for those who have completed both their Level 3 Professional
Diploma in Law and Practice and Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice
(or equivalent), or who are Legal Practice Course (LPC) or Bar Vocational Course
(BVC) graduates. Graduate members are entitled to designatory letters, GCILEx, after
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their name, and are required to undertake 12 hours CPD and at least 1 entry in
professionalism.
Fellowship – When Graduate Members have completed the period of Qualifying
Employment and the work based learning outcomes, they may apply to become Fellows
of CILEx and are eligible to use the term “Chartered Legal Executive” and the designatory
letters FCILEx. Fellows are required to undertake 9 CPD outcomes each including at least
1 entry in professionalism.
Information about the membership grades and the application process is available from
the Membership-Operations department [email protected]
1.3 Qualifying Employment – what is it?
A person is in Qualifying Employment if he/she is employed either:
Under the supervision of an authorised person in private practice;
In an organisation where the employment is subject to supervision by an
authorised person employed in duties of a legal nature by that firm, corporation,
undertaking, department or office; and
in each case, you must undertake work that is wholly of a legal nature for at least 20
hours per week.
Further information about Qualifying Employment is available from the Membership
department.
1.4 Accredited centres and courses
All students registering for any unit examination/assessment towards the CILEx Level 6
Single Subject Certificate, the CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and
Practice or the Graduate ‘Fast-Track’ Diploma must have undertaken and completed an
accredited course of study for the unit or units they wish to take.
Accredited courses are offered at colleges of Further Education and by several private
training providers throughout England and Wales. Courses are also available in a limited
number of overseas centres. Most courses start in September and take place in the
evening or on a day release basis, although there are also some accredited full-time
courses. Distance learning courses are also available. Details of course providers are
available from CILEx’s website (www.cilex.org.uk). Students are advised to contact their
local centre to obtain further information.
1.5 CILEx Code of Conduct
Everyone who registers as a member with CILEx is bound by its rules and regulations,
which include the CILEx Code of Conduct and the Investigation, Disciplinary and Appeal
Rules. The Rules establish three panels which are the Professional Conduct Panel (PCP),
The Disciplinary Tribunal (DT) and the Appeals Panel (AP).
The PCP has the power to consider the conduct of anyone who wishes to become a
member of CILEx and the conduct of anyone who is already an existing member of
CILEx. If a person has declared at membership application stage a Prior Conduct, (for
example a bankruptcy judgement or a criminal conviction) the matter may be put to the
PCP to consider. The PCP will then decide if that person has the suitable character to
become a member. The PCP may refuse or approve a person’s application to become a
member.
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The PCP will also deal with Prior Conduct declarations made by anyone who is an existing
member (of any grade) or authorised person of CILEx in addition to any complaints made
against them.
The DT considers matters referred to it by the PCP and there is an Appeals Panel which
deals with all matters that are being appealed from the PCP and the DT.
The PCP and the DT consider a member’s conduct against the standards set out in the
CILEx Code of Conduct. They decide if allegations of misconduct are found proved and
therefore, breach the CILEx Code of Conduct and is unbefitting to the profession. The
PCP and the DT have the power to sanction an existing member for any misconduct that
is found proved. If the PCP does not refer the member’s conduct matter to the DT they
have the power to require a member to give undertakings as to their future conduct,
impose conditions in regard to their employment, reprimand and/or warn a member. The
DT has the same powers as the PCP but they also have the power to fine or exclude
members from CILEx membership.
The AP will consider any appeals for example where a person has been refused
membership of CILEx or where a member is fined.
A person may also be ordered to pay the costs of any investigation into their conduct if
the matter is found proved.
The standards which all members are required to observe are set out in the CILEx Code
of Conduct. It sets out nine principles CILEx members must follow. It is our core
guidance on the conduct, practice and professional performance expected of you and is
sent to all students on enrolment and also to newly admitted Fellows. A copy of the Code
is available at:
http://www.cilexregulation.org.uk/lawyers/conduct
All conduct matters including any that are declared at membership application stage are
dealt with by CILEx Regulation Ltd.
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Section 2: Overview of CILEx Level 6 Qualifications
2.1 Introduction to the Level 6 Single Subject Certificate
The CILEx Level 6 Single Subject Certificate recognises students' achievements in a
specific area of law or legal practice. The qualification is best suited for students who do
not wish to go on and become Chartered Legal Executives and Fellows of the Chartered
Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx), but who do require recognition in a specific
professional area of law or legal practice.
Students can choose from a broad range of law, legal practice and legal skill areas (23
units in total), and each unit is a current and self-contained body of relevant, knowledge,
understanding and skill at a level commensurate with legal professional requirements.
The Certificate qualification is a valuable asset to any professional paralegal or individual
working in a legal firm and specialising in an area of law or legal practice which requires
a qualification that demonstrably recognises their abilities at this level in that specific
area.
The qualification is formally awarded as the CILEx Level 6 Certificate in Law and is
endorsed with the legal area in which it is undertaken, eg CILEx Level 6 Certificate in Law
(Contract Law). This means that students who successfully complete a Single Subject
Certificate will receive a certificate confirming they have completed the CILEx Level 6
Certificate in Law with an endorsement setting out the legal area in which it is taken. This
title appears on the student’s certificate because it is the accredited qualification title
agreed by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual).
2.2 Introduction to the Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice
The CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice represents the final
academic stage towards becoming a Chartered Legal Executive.
Building on CILEx's Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice, students are
required to demonstrate a broad and detailed understanding of the law in three specific
areas. For one of these areas, the student must also demonstrate a sound practical
understanding of the legal practice that arises from the law. The student must also
demonstrate the required level of underpinning professional legal skills by undertaking
two mandatory Professional Skills units.
Whilst the Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice consolidates the
elements making up the academic competence of the Chartered Legal Executive, it also
seeks to build on this foundation by placing a greater emphasis on the professional
aspects of the role.
The Professional Skills units take up themes and skills developed at Level 3, and
progresses them into more realistic and non-straightforward areas and contexts. For
example, this might be through the student addressing a variety of quite subtle client
care-based issues; it may be, alternatively, through them demonstrating the ways in
which it is best to locate information in response to the need to explore a complex legal
research problem. Both these Professional Skills units, however, have a common
objective. They are designed to equip students with the ability to be more proactive,
reflective, resourceful, and, hence, more employable legal professionals.
2.3 Introduction to the Graduate ‘Fast-Track’ Diploma
The Graduate ‘Fast-Track’ Diploma is designed solely to accredit legal practice knowledge
and understanding. For those students with a sound and relevant background in law, the
Graduate ‘Fast-Track’ Diploma offers students a streamlined and cost-effective way to
achieve access to CILEx membership. Care has been taken to ensure that students are
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required to undertake a combination of Practice units and Professional Skills that fits
relevantly and appropriately both with the anticipated level of legal knowledge
underpinning study and with the requirements of CILEx membership.
Students have 7 mainstream practice areas from which to build their qualification. In
keeping with CILEx’s focus on Professional Skills, each student must also complete a unit
in Client Care Skills. Whilst CILEx anticipates that the qualification will be a favourite with
law graduates, the qualification is not exclusively reserved for this cohort. Although, only
law graduates with a qualifying law degree can access the qualification as a route
through to membership of CILEx.
The qualification is formally awarded as the CILEx Level 6 Diploma in Legal Practice. This
means that students who successfully complete the Graduate ‘Fast Track’ Diploma will
receive a certificate confirming they have completed the CILEx Level 6 Diploma in Legal
Practice. This title appears on the student’s certificate because it is the accredited
qualification title agreed by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation
(Ofqual).
2.4 Target groups: CILEx Level 6 Single Subject Certificate
The CILEx Level 6 Single Subject Certificate enables students to achieve recognition for
the study of a discrete area of Law, Legal Practice or Legal Skill. A valuable achievement
in its own right, the Level 6 Single Subject Certificate can be used to build achievement
towards the CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice.
The qualification has two main target groups:
i) students working towards specific professional achievements
Primarily, it offers recognition of achievement to legal professionals working within a
specific area of law or legal practice. CILEx recognises that not every student of law and
legal practice wishes to go on to become a Chartered Legal Executive and Fellow of
CILEx. The CILEx Level 6 Single Subject Certificate enables students with specific
interests to achieve a recognised national qualification for their achievements in respect
of a chosen area of study.
ii) students working towards becoming a Legal Executive and Fellow of CILEx
The CILEx Level 6 Single Subject Certificate is a step on the road towards achieving the
CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice. Each Single Subject
Certificate achieved is carried forward towards achievement of the CILEx Level 6
Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice. In this respect, the CILEx Single
Subject Certificate is a way of rewarding ongoing achievement on the road to the larger,
broader qualification.
2.5 Target Groups: CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and
Practice
The CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice is CILEx’s second
stage of Professional training (after the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and
Practice). It is designed for students who want to ultimately become Fellows of CILEx.
The qualification offers students an opportunity to specialise in a Legal Practice area,
whilst at the same time demonstrating knowledge and understanding of an underpinning
series of Law subjects and Legal Skills. The qualification aims to create the complete
Chartered Legal Executive, both academically competent in respect of their chosen legal
area, and also suitably professional to be easily employable in a fast-evolving legal
workplace. The qualification prepares students for further professional development
above and beyond Level 6.
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2.6 Target Groups: Graduate ‘Fast-Track’ Diploma
The CILEx Graduate ‘Fast-Track’ Diploma is designed solely to accredit legal practice
knowledge and understanding. It is aimed at those individuals (such as qualifying law
degree graduates) with significant and broad experience of the law who need a
qualification specifically in relation to Legal Practice.
For law graduates (with a qualifying law degree) wishing to claim exemptions against
CILEx Law units, achievement of the Graduate ‘Fast Track’ Diploma will offer students a
route into graduate membership of CILEx.
2.7 The Level of the qualifications
The CILEx Level 6 Single Subject Certificate, the CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher
Diploma in Law and Practice and the CILEx Graduate ‘Fast-Track’ Diploma have been
designed to assess knowledge, understanding and skills at Level 6 of the Qualifications
and Credit Framework (QCF)*. All 3 qualifications have been designed to be comparable
to Honours degree level qualifications.
* see section 2.11 below for changes to the Qualifications and Credit Framework
2.8 Entry requirements
There are no formal entry requirements for the qualifications as such. However, all 3
qualifications are at Level 6 of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) (see 2.11
below), and CILEx recommends that students embarking on a programme of study
towards any one of the qualifications have an appropriate Level 3 and/or above
qualification.
More specifically, students embarking on programmes of study towards the CILEx Level 6
Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice, intending to qualify as a Chartered
Legal Executive must complete the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and
Practice.
Currently, students embarking on programmes of study towards the Graduate ‘Fast-
Track’ Diploma, intending to qualify as a Chartered Legal Executive must have completed
a qualifying law degree within the last 7 years. This policy is under review and a decision
is expected by the end of 2015.
2.9 Exemptions
CILEx offers exemptions from units of the new CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma
in Law and Practice for students with a range of qualifications. Please see full details of
CILEx’s current exemption arrangements by visiting the exemption pages on the CILEx
website at (http://www.cilex.org.uk/study/exemptions.aspx).
CILEx will also consider granting exemptions to students from Level 6 units where they
can demonstrate that they have passed examinations in Law and/or Practice at a
comparable standard and with substantially similar subject content. Exemptions cannot
be granted from part of a unit.
Eligibility for exemptions can be checked by viewing the exemption criteria on
http://www.cilex.org.uk/study/exemptions.aspx. Fees are charged for exemptions.
2.10 Signposting to National Occupational Standards
Signposting to the National Occupational Standards for Legal Advice is provided in the
specification for each individual unit.
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2.11 The Qualifications Framework and the use of Credit
The CILEx qualifications were developed to meet the design requirements of the
Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). Ofqual is proposing to replace the QCF with a
simplified qualifications framework during 2015. The simplified framework will retain a
number of key features of the QCF, including the existing qualification levels. CILEx is
closely monitoring Ofqual’s proposals and will take all necessary steps to ensure that the
CILEx qualifications meet any additional requirements associated with the new
qualifications framework. Any further requirements are expected to be announced later in
2015.
The Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) required that all accredited qualifications
were “credit-based”. Credit, as well as being an expression of the transferable value of
the qualification, also indicates the size of the qualification. For example, a ‘15’ credit
qualification also informs you that the qualification should take the average learner
approximately 150 hours to achieve (ie 1 credit = 10 hours of learning time). This is the
amount of ‘learning time’ for the qualification. Learning time is the total amount of
learning the learner on average spends in order to achieve the qualification. It includes
teaching time, private study time and time spent on assessments. CILEx will continue to
calculate the credit value of its qualifications in this way for the 2015/16 academic year.
Each of the unit specifications set out in the: ‘Unit Specification Handbook - CILEx
Level 6 Single Subject Certificate, CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in
Law and Practice, CILEx Graduate ‘Fast Track’ Diploma’ has a credit value. To
achieve the:
CILEx Level 6 Single Subject Certificate – the student is required to achieve 15
credits (ie 1 unit x 15 credits) (please note: to achieve the CILEx Level 6 Legal Skills
Certificate, the student is required to achieve 14 credits (ie 2 x professional skills
units at 7 credits each = 14 credits))
CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice – the student is
required to achieve 74 credits (ie 4 x 15 credits + 2 x 7 credits)
CILEx Graduate ‘Fast-Track’ Diploma – the student is required to achieve 37 credits
(ie 2 x 15 credits + 7 credits)
It is noted that the Welsh Government is currently proposing to retain the Qualifications
and Credit Framework. CILEx is monitoring the proposals of the Welsh Government (and
the introduction of Qualifications Wales, the body which will, in due course, regulate
qualifications in Wales).
CILEx will inform learners, accredited centres and other key stakeholders about any
changes to the regulatory requirements for qualifications when further information
becomes available.
2.12 Changes in the Law
CILEx will review its unit specifications (see 3.7 for an explanation of unit specifications)
annually to identify and advise on any aspects of Law and Practice which are going to be
amended or introduced during the course of the upcoming academic year.
As a rule, CILEx will not expect Level 6 students to show knowledge in assessment of a
change in the Law or Practice of the Law which has been implemented 6 months or less
prior to the date of the assessment.
Up to date unit specifications will be posted on the CILEx website (www.cilex.org.uk).
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2.13 Ofqual and Welsh Government accreditation and unit reference numbers
Qualification title Ofqual accreditation number
CILEx Level 6 Single Subject Certificate 601/3412/4
CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and
Practice
601/3408/2
CILEx Level 6 Diploma in Legal Practice (Graduate
‘Fast-Track’ Diploma)
601/3411/2
Unit Title Ofqual unit reference
number
Unit 1 Company and Partnership Law A/504/7059
Unit 2 Contract Law Y/504/7067
Unit 3 Criminal Law H/504/7072
Unit 4 Employment Law M/506/2402
Unit 5 Equity and Trusts D/504/7054
Unit 6 European Union Law A/507/3077
Unit 7 Family Law A/504/7062
Unit 8 Immigration Law A/506/2404
Unit 9 Land Law K/504/7056
Unit 10 Landlord and Tenant Law F/504/7063
Unit 11 Planning Law Y/504/7070
Unit 12 Public Law Y/504/7053
Unit 13 Law of Tort H/504/7055
Unit 14 Law of Wills and Succession M/504/7074
Unit 15 Civil Litigation M/504/7060
Unit 16 The Practice of Company and Partnership Law D/504/7068
Unit 17 Conveyancing J/504/7064
Unit 18 Criminal Litigation T/504/7061
Unit 19 The Practice of Employment Law T/506/2403
Unit 20 The Practice of Family Law K/504/7073
Unit 21 Probate Practice R/504/7052
Unit 22 Client Care Skills T/504/7058
Unit 23 Legal Research Skills L/504/7065
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Section 3: Qualification Structure and Unit Content
3.1 The suite of units for the CILEx Level 6 Single Subject Certificate, CILEx
Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice and the CILEx
Graduate ‘Fast-Track’ Diploma
Table 1 below sets out the type of units available for the CILEx Level 6 Single Subject
Certificate, CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice and Graduate
‘Fast–Track’ Diploma. These units are the building blocks towards each qualification.
There are specific qualification rules which govern the structure of each qualification and
describe how each qualification must be built.
Each of the units 1 - 21 in Table 1 has been designed to be delivered by tutors in
approximately 50 hours. Units 22 and 23 in Table 1 have each been designed to be
delivered in 25 hours. Tutors will use a variety of styles to deliver the units and it is likely
that each unit will be delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials and
supervised study or other appropriate modes of delivery.
3.1.1 Table 1: Suite of Level 6 Units
Unit Title Type of unit
Unit 1 Company and Partnership Law Law
Unit 2 Contract Law Law
Unit 3 Criminal Law Law
Unit 4 Employment Law Law
Unit 5 Equity and Trusts Law
Unit 6 European Union Law Law
Unit 7 Family Law Law
Unit 8 Immigration Law Law
Unit 9 Land Law Law
Unit 10 Landlord and Tenant Law Law
Unit 11 Planning Law Law
Unit 12 Public Law Law
Unit 13 Law of Tort Law
Unit 14 Law of Wills and Succession Law
Unit 15 Civil Litigation Practice
Unit 16 The Practice of Company and Partnership Law Practice
Unit 17 Conveyancing Practice
Unit 18 Criminal Litigation Practice
Unit 19 The Practice of Employment Law Practice
Unit 20 The Practice of Family Law Practice
Unit 21 Probate Practice Practice
Unit 22 Client Care Skills Professional Skills
Unit 23 Legal Research Skills Professional Skills
3.2 The structure of the CILEx Level 6 Single Subject Certificate
To achieve a Level 6 Single Subject Certificate in a specific area of Law or Legal Practice,
students must achieve 1 unit from units 1 – 21 above. A student achieving a single Law
or Legal Practice unit will achieve an CILEx Level 6 Single Subject Certificate for that area
of Law or Legal Practice.*
For students looking to receive recognition specifically for Legal Skills development, they
can achieve the CILEx Level 6 Legal Skills Certificate by taking both units 22 and 23.
Each Level 6 Single Subject Certificate achieved will count towards achievement of the
CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice.
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*This will be formally awarded as the CILEx Level 6 Certificate in Law with the unit achievement recorded as an
endorsement to the qualification. For example, a student achieving a CILEx Level 6 Single Subject Certificate in Employment Law will receive the CILEx Level 6 Certificate in Law (Employment Law). The CILEx Level 6 Legal Skills Certificate will be formally awarded as the CILEx Level 6 Certificate in Law (Legal Skills).
3.3 The structure of the CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and
Practice
To achieve the CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice, students
must achieve 1 x Level 6 Legal Practice unit, 3 x Level 6 Law units and both Professional
Skills units.
1 Law unit must be in an area of Law which underpins the Practice area taken. The
following table (Table 2) identifies the relevant areas of Law which “link” with each
relevant Practice unit.
3.3.1 Table 2: Links between Law and Practice units
You must do the following Law unit … … if you intend to do this Practice unit:
Unit 1 Company and Partnership Law Unit 16 The Practice of Company and
Partnership Law
Unit 2 Contract Law or Unit 13 Law of Tort Unit 15 Civil Litigation
Unit 3 Criminal Law Unit 18 Criminal Litigation
Unit 4 Employment Law Unit 19 The Practice of Employment Law
Unit 7 Family Law Unit 20 The Practice of Family Law
Unit 9 Land Law Unit 17 Conveyancing
Unit 14 Law of Wills and Succession Unit 21 Probate Practice
Please note: where students are studying a Practice unit and its linked Law unit, CILEx
strongly recommends that the student studies the Law unit, where possible, before
studying the linked Practice unit. In this way, the student understands the legal
foundation upon which rests the practical application of the Law.
Students achieving the required combination of units will be awarded the CILEx Level 6
Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice.
3.4 The structure of the Graduate ‘Fast-Track’ Diploma
To achieve the CILEx Graduate ‘Fast-Track’ Diploma, students must achieve 2 Level 6
Practice units plus the Level 6 Client Care Skills unit.
For law graduates (with a qualifying law degree obtained within 7 years) seeking to use
their Graduate ‘Fast-Track’ Diploma to become Fellows of CILEx, it is a requirement that
at least one of the Practice units attempted is in an area of law that the candidate can
demonstrate was a constituent part of their Law degree.
The Graduate ‘Fast-Track’ Diploma is formally awarded as the CILEx Level 6 Diploma in
Legal Practice (see section 2.3).
3.5 Assessment pattern – Level 6 units
Units 1 – 14 (the Level 6 Law units)
Each of the units covers a mainstream area of Law at honours degree level. Each unit
covers all the main theoretical issues and topics relevant to the study of Law at this level
and requires that students apply their understanding to a practical set of circumstances.
Each unit is designed to both move the student on from study undertaken at Level 3 and
be also a stand alone unit containing all the necessary pre-requisite knowledge and
understanding for those just beginning study at Level 6.
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Assessment is by a conventional 3 hour examination taken in either January or June of
each year. Results are graded: Fail, Pass, Merit and Distinction.
Notional* grade boundaries are set as follows:
Pass grade – 50% of total available marks
Merit grade – 65% of total available marks
Distinction grade – 75% of total available marks
Units 15 – 21 (the Level 6 Legal Practice units)
Each of the units covers a mainstream area of Legal Practice at honours degree level.
Each unit requires that students understand the way in which the Law is applied in the
real world and the practical issues that are associated with this. The emphasis here is on
requiring the student to demonstrate their ability to advise the client. Again, each unit is
designed to both move the student on from study undertaken at Level 3 and be also a
stand alone unit containing all the necessary pre-requisite knowledge and understanding
for those just beginning study at Level 6.
Assessment is by a 3 hour examination taken in either January or June in response to a
realistic case study scenario released to students approximately 6 weeks in advance of
the examination. Results are graded: Fail, Pass, Merit and Distinction.
Notional* grade boundaries are set as follows:
Pass grade – 50% of total available marks
Merit grade – 65% of total available marks
Distinction grade – 75% of total available marks
Units 22 and 23 (the Professional Skills units)
These two units cover the main legal skills required by Chartered Legal Executives to
become employable, adaptable legal professionals. The main skills covered across the
units are: legal writing, interviewing and negotiation skills, legal ethics and practical legal
research. The emphasis is on placing the student in realistic situations where they are
expected to demonstrate their knowledge and skill in a way that most appropriately
addresses the requirements of a situation.
Assessment is by CILEx-set tasks, administered and assessed by the centre, and quality-
assured by CILEx. Results are graded Pass, Fail only.
*Notional grade boundaries offer tutors and students the opportunity to understand
approximately the level of achievement necessary to pass and achieve certain grades of
success in an assessment. Notional grade boundaries, however, are not fixed boundaries,
and, as a part of its ongoing quality assurance of the assessment process, CILEx reserves
the right to amend its notional grade boundaries for individual examination sessions.
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3.5.1 Table 3: Summary of the different methods of assessment
Unit Title Assessment method
for each unit and its
availability
Notional Grade
Boundaries
Unit 1 Company and Partnership Law Examination twice a
year in January and
June (3 hours duration
and 15 minutes
reading time)
Pass: 50%
Merit: 65%
Distinction: 75% 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 Law of Wills and Succession
Unit 15 Civil Litigation Examination twice a
year in January and
June (3 hours duration
and 15 minutes
reading time) based on
pre-release case study
Pass: 50%
Merit: 65%
Distinction: 75% Unit 16 The Practice of Company and
Partnership Law
Unit 17 Conveyancing
Unit 18 Criminal Litigation
Unit 19 The Practice of Employment
Law
Unit 20 The Practice of Family Law
Unit 21 Probate Practice
Unit 22 Client Care Skills Series of skills-based
tasks set by CILEx,
undertaken with centre
and quality assured by
CILEx
Pass or Fail
grades only Unit 23 Legal Research Skills
3.6 Qualification outcomes
Overall results for both the CILEx Level 6 Single Subject Certificate, CILEx Level 6
Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice and the CILEx Graduate ‘Fast-Track’
Diploma are not graded. Students, who achieve those units which meet the rules of a
qualification, will be issued with a certificate confirming achievement of the qualification.
3.7 Presentation of qualification units – an explanation of the unit specifications
A unit specification is available for each of the units for the CILEx Level 6 Single Subject
Certificate, CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice and the CILEx
Graduate ‘Fast-Track’ Diploma. The unit specifications are set out in the Unit
Specification Handbook - CILEx Level 6 Single Subject Certificate, CILEx Level 6
Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice, CILEx Graduate ‘Fast Track’
Diploma. The unit specifications are reviewed annually. The most up to date versions
will be available on the CILEx website.
Each unit specification is presented in the same way:
Title: each unit has its own title which seeks to succinctly convey the legal subject or
skill area to be studied and assessed.
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Level: each unit has a level which identifies its difficulty. All the units in this Qualification
Handbook are set at Level 6. This means that they are each equivalent to Honours
Degree level standard in terms of difficulty.
Credit Value: as stated in section 2.11, each unit has a credit value. Please see 2.11 for
a definition of this value and the purpose of credit. Units 1 – 21 are rated at 15 credits
each, and units 22 and 23 are rated at 7 credits each.
Learning Outcomes: this column expresses the key aims of the unit. It is expressed in
terms of a series of outcomes (i.e. “the learner will”) that the student should know or
understand by the end of their learning programme.
In all the qualification assessments, CILEx will always be attempting to understand
whether the student has demonstrably achieved these outcomes.
Assessment Criteria: this column expresses the ways in which the student should be
able to demonstrate their achievement/understanding of the learning outcome (“the
learner can”).
In all the qualification assessments, CILEx will use these assessment criteria to try and
determine the extent to which the student has demonstrated achievement/understanding
in respect of the learning outcomes.
The student and tutor will notice that the assessment criteria have been written in a
certain style. For any given learning outcome, there are a number of assessment criteria
for which the key ascending verbs are: to “Describe”, “Explain”, “Identify”, “Analyse” etc.
You will note that the final assessment criteria nearly always follow a similar convention
depending on the type of unit.
Where the unit is a law unit, the final assessment criteria for each learning outcome is
always a requirement both to “apply” and “critically evaluate”. This marks a convention
adopted in the writing of the units. At Level 6, the key legal skill for the student is not
only to understand the specific topics of a subject, but to apply that understanding in
realistic and complex contexts, and critically engage with each of these topics in an
academic and theoretical way. The word “critical” here identifies the strength of the
evaluation expected from students. To “critically” evaluate or engage with an issue or
argument, you need to not only be capable of performing a relevant analysis, but, in
addition, be able to form a considered and supported view on the basis of that analysis.
Where the unit is a practice unit, the final assessment criterion for each learning outcome
is always a requirement to “analyse” a given situation “in order to offer practical advice
and assistance”. This marks a similar convention in the writing of the units. At Level 6,
the key legal practice skill for the student is not only to understand the topics of a
subject, but to be able to analyse a given practical, realistic situation which is often quite
complex and subtle in order to then offer realistic and appropriate advice and guidance.
CILEx has chosen to describe these skills of application, critical evaluation and practical
analysis in each unit specification in this way (ie as a single operation within each
learning outcome) so as to remind students and tutors of the possible cognitive level of
engagement expected of students in relation to each subject or topic within a unit
specification. This means, of course, that each of the prior assessment criteria, which will
always deal with the more detailed explanation/interpretation of a topic or issue, must be
thought of as being subject to these generic, cognitive requirements.
Knowledge, Understanding and Skills (KUS): this column attempts to describe the
knowledge, understanding and skill that are relevant to the application of the assessment
criteria.
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CILEx anticipates that tutors delivering units towards the new qualifications will utilise
this column in order to build their schemes of work towards the delivery of units.
It should be noted that the knowledge, understanding and skill identified in this column is
indicative and not intended to be exhaustive. CILEx has attempted to be as full as is
possible in its knowledge, understanding and skills columns. However, the need for
brevity will always mean that the content is indicative and needs careful “unpacking” by
tutors and students. CILEx often uses examples to try and aid understanding in this
situation. Where you see an example (usually indicated as “eg”) this normally means that
you should not only be aware of the example identified, but also look to identify some
others. Alternatively, where CILEx often uses the abbreviation “ie”, this normally means
that CILEx is content that this specific list is an exhaustive one and no more need to be
identified.
Students and tutors will note that each knowledge, understanding and skill section ends
with a specific sentence/phrase, depending on whether it is a law or practice unit. These
relate to each of the generic assessment criteria explained above. They state what the
student should be capable of doing in relation to the learning outcome under
consideration.
So, for example, in the case of the law units, one finds the following Knowledge
Understanding and Skills (KUS) for each learning outcome:
1) “Application of understanding to a complex scenario” and
2) “A reasoned opinion of likely legal implications, including remedies and defences,
where appropriate”
Whilst 1) is self-evident, ie the student should be able to apply their understanding to a
complex scenario, 2) is a statement that explains what the exercise of “critical
evaluation” should produce. The likelihood of discussing possible “remedies and
defences” particularly in respect of the scenario-based questions explains the inclusion of
this clause, although, of course, in the evaluation of a purely academic topic or
argument, one would not expect to see these features.
In the case of the practice units, one finds a single sentence at the foot of each
knowledge, understanding and skill section:
“Analysis of a complex scenario to offer advice and assistance”
Again, this relates to the assessment criterion that immediately precedes it. It is a simple
statement of what the student should be capable of performing in relation to the topic
and issues evoked by a specific learning outcome. Of course, because this is a practice
unit, the emphasis is on understanding complex, practical legal problems with a view to
offering sensible and realistic advice and guidance.
One will also find that where a practice unit has a practical requirement (this may be a
form of drafting, form filling etc), then these requirements will be addressed immediately
after this particular part of the KUS. This is to ensure that the unit specification is
absolutely clear on what practical documentation students are expected to know about
and understand (spelt out in the main part of the KUS section) and what practical
documents students can then be expected to draft and complete in the course of the
examination.
Students and tutors will also note that there are requirements for students to have a
good understanding of case law throughout each of the units. Case law is underlined in
the units to make it more readily identifiable. CILEx has adopted the following view on
the place of case law within its Level 6 units and assessments:
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Most case law listings in the unit specifications are not exhaustive and are purely
indicative of key cases that represent a specific point or legal argument. These
listings are usually prefixed with “eg” to denote this. Students and tutors should
read beyond these examples in an attempt to understand the wider case history
behind a specific point or legal argument. On some occasions, no case law
examples may be listed but the phrase “any relevant case law” used. Again, this
is an instruction to read examples from the underpinning case history. Whilst,
generally, examiners will award marks in answers for a student’s understanding of
any relevant case history, it is permissible, at this level, for examiners to expect
understanding of an area or aspect of case law that is not explicitly listed in the
unit specification. In this respect, care must be taken to ensure that case law
teaching and study is relevant, broad and current.
Some case law is simply listed. This will either appear without the prefix ‘eg’ as a
part of the KUS being described, or will be introduced by the prefix ‘ie’. In these
instances, CILEx is referring to the key case or cases which it is important to know
and understand. CILEx will not then expect the student or tutor to have read
beyond this case. That is, the student will only potentially be tested on the case
law listed in the unit specification.
Candidates will be expected to know case names and dates in Level 6
examinations. In quoting from decided cases, Candidates should be able to
identify the appropriate ratio decidendi, using this and the facts from the case in
support of the arguments they make.
CILEx believes that this system for the delivery and assessment of case law will help
clarify the teaching of case law and its assessment.
When statutes are used as authorities, students will be expected to know the short title,
or where appropriate, the title most commonly used to describe the statute, which will
invariably include the date.
Additional information about the unit: this grid of boxes at the end of each unit
summarises key background information about the unit, e.g., who owns the unit, its start
and expiry date, the unit’s links to National Occupational Standards.
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Section 4: Qualification Administration
4.1 Introduction
The suite of Level 6 units consists of Law units (Units 1-14), Practice units (Units 15-21)
and Professional Skills units (Units 22 and 23).
The Law and Practice units are assessed by examinations and section 4.2 sets out CILEx
procedures for examination registration for both the Law and Practice units.
The Professional Skills units (Unit 22 Client Care Skills and Unit 23 Legal Research Skills)
are assessed through the completion of a number of skills tasks, which students
undertake during their course of study with their accredited centres (colleges). These
units are quality assured by CILEx and centres are required to submit the students’
successfully completed assessments for these tasks to CILEx for quality assurance checks
before results are certificated. Students must register directly with CILEx in order that
their Professional Skills assessments can be considered. The procedures for registration
for Professional Skills assessments are set out in section 4.3.
CILEx also has in place procedures for supporting students who have difficulties
attempting CILEx assessments due to disability or other factors. An overview of the
reasonable adjustment policy and procedures is set out in section 4.7 and an overview of
the access arrangements policy and procedures is set out in section 4.8.
The special consideration policy and procedures are set out in section 4.9 for students
who experience difficulties or illness during their examinations or near to the time of their
examinations.
This section of the handbook also addresses the rules and regulations which govern
CILEx Level 6 qualifications including:
the results enquiries and appeals policy (section 4.10) which sets out how
students can challenge the results of their examinations or assessments
the examination regulations (section 4.2.5)
the examination and professional skills registration regulations (section 4.2.2 and
Appendix D)
the malpractice policy (section 4.14)
the missing script policy (section 4.15)
4.2. Registering for examinations - all Law and Practice units (Units 1-21)
4.2.1 When are the examinations for the Law and Practice units?
The examinations for the Law and Practice units take place in January and June of
each year.
Students should refer to the Key Dates and Deadlines table in Appendix A for the
actual dates of each examination session.
Students should also refer to the Examination Timetable in Appendix C.
4.2.2 The examination registration process for Law and Practice examinations
Level 6 students must be registered as members of CILEx (and have their
subscriptions fees paid up to date) in order to take the Level 6 examinations OR apply
under the Single Subject Certificate Scheme and regulations whereby Fellows,
qualified Members and non-members take CILEx Level 6 Single Subject Certificates.
Students must register and pay to sit their examinations with CILEx online by visiting
www.cilex.org.uk and logging onto their myCILEx account. Students should refer to
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the Key Dates and Deadlines table in Appendix A for the actual dates of each
examination and assessment session intake. No entries will be accepted or amended
after the closing date.
The fees for examination registration are set out in Appendix B.
An electronic pdf version of the examination and assessment registration form, is
available for group registrations of 5 candidates or more with one payment for all
entries and for students with credits on their CILEx Account. Students must ensure
that they request the form in sufficient time to be returned by the session intake
closing date by emailing [email protected]. Students must sign the examination
and assessment entry form even if their entry is being administered or submitted by
another party. Applications not signed by students are invalid and will be returned as
null and void. Offline paper forms are not issued.
Students must select the correct accredited centre (your course/learning provider),
examination venue and examination unit when entering examinations. Students
must check their acknowledgement emails received from CILEx immediately and
contact [email protected] without delay if there are any queries regarding their
entry. These emails are generated automatically and confirm details of your entry.
Any changes to the original entry are subject to an administration fee per
amendment.
It is essential that students taking resits first check with their accredited centre that
these can be accommodated and examinations can be sat with them. Students will be
required to gain written confirmation from their centre to be sent to CILEx
[email protected] before the session intake closing date, confirming that resit
examinations can be accommodated by them. Where an accredited centre cannot
accommodate the student’s resit, the student must select an external centre on the
form and pay the external centre fee before the session intake closing date. No
change request to centres will be accepted after the session intake closing date and
each change is subject to an administration fee.
Students sitting/submitting at more than one centre will need to complete a separate
entry for each centre they are sitting at or submitting work through.
Where students wish to enter more than one examination scheduled at the same
time, please be aware that examinations will be rescheduled to take place back to
back on the same day with minimal breaks. Students will be supervised at all times.
Students must be in a position to accommodate any examination clashes and once
registered, no credits will be given where students are unable to sit exams due to the
clash.
Students must ensure that their valid examination and assessment entry and
payment are received by CILEx by the deadlines set out in the Key Dates and
Deadlines table in Appendix A.
No entries will be accepted after the session intake closing date. Under no
circumstances will students be registered for examinations if their examination and
assessment registration and valid payment are received by CILEx, or if their entry is
incomplete, after the examination and assessment registration deadline.
All students must comply with the Examination and Professional Skills
Registration Regulations in Appendix D. Please read these carefully as they form
the rules of entry for examinations and assessments.
No amendments will be made after the session closing date and students will be
unable to sit examinations where incorrect information has been provided to CILEx.
Refunds and credits are not given.
4.2.3 Examination admission permits
Examination admission permits are available online before the examination session.
The published dates are set out in the Key Dates and Deadlines table in Appendix
A.
Permits can be accessed by visiting www.cilex.org.uk and logging onto the myCILEx
area of the site. Permits are distributed by post where requested by the student and
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these are sent to each student who has registered to take an examination, in advance
of the examination session.
The permits set out:
the address of the examination centre
the date and time of the examination/s the student is sitting
the student’s candidate number/s for the examination/s
Students must present their admission permit at each examination for checking by
the invigilator/s.
Please note that while the permit will list details of Professional Skills assessment
submissions, these are not live examinations. These assessments are submitted
through your centre.
4.2.4 Proof of identity
Students are required to present proof of identity at the examination centre in
addition to their examination admission permit.
A list of the various forms of ID which can be presented appears on the CILEx website
and is sent to the students with their examination admission permit.
Students with queries about the identity checks should contact the Awards-
Operations department [email protected].
4.2.5 Examination regulations
The Examination Regulations are posted on the CILEx website and are made available
to students with their admission permits.
All students are required to comply with the Examination Regulations.
The Examination Regulations are available at www.cilex.org.uk.
Alleged breaches of the examination regulations may result in a malpractice
investigation.
4.2.6 Examination centres
Students who are attending an accredited centre (college or private training provider)
will normally take their examinations at their accredited centre.
Students studying with a distance learning accredited centre (for example Cardiff
College Online or ILEX Tutorial College) take their examinations at a CILEx external
examination centre.
Students taking examinations at an external examination centre must pay the
external examination centre fee for each examination.
The list of external examination centres appears on the online and offline examination
registration form and is also available by visiting the study area of www.cilex.org.uk.
4.3 Undertaking the Professional Skills assessments – Client Care Skills (Unit
22) and Legal Research Skills (Unit 23)
Students are required to complete a number of tasks as part of their studies towards
these two Professional Skills units. These tasks are undertaken over a period of time with
the student’s accredited centre (college). The student’s accredited centre determines the
time and the way in which these units are delivered to the student. The tasks are then
assessed by the student’s accredited centre, and all the work for each student, which
must be of a Pass standard, is then forwarded to CILEx for quality assurance checks by a
CILEx-appointed moderator. It is imperative that centres only forward work to CILEx
that is of a Pass standard. CILEx cannot quality assure work which has not reached a
Pass standard.
There are submission windows for student work each year in January and June. Centres
must submit student work for quality assurance checks at these points and at no other
point during the year. See the Key Dates and Deadlines table in Appendix A for more
details.
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Students register for the Professional Skills units in the same way as registering for a
Law and Practice examination. When a student registers with CILEx for the
Professional Skills units, they register to have work submitted for them by their
centre at the next submission window.
4.3.1 The registration and submission process for the Professional Skills
assessments (Units 22 and 23)
Level 6 students must be registered as members of CILEx (and have their
subscriptions fees paid up to date) in order to submit the Level 6 Professional Skills
assessments to CILEx OR apply under the Single Subject Certificate Scheme and
regulations whereby Fellows, qualified Members and non-members take CILEx Level 6
Single Subject Certificates.
Students must register and pay online by visiting www.cilex.org.uk and logging onto
their myCILEx account to have the Professional Skills assessments submitted to and
quality assured by CILEx at a specific submission window.
Students should refer to the Key Dates and Deadlines table in Appendix A for the
actual dates of each assessment session intake. No registrations will be accepted or
amended after the closing date.
The Professional Skills registration fee is set out in Appendix B.
An electronic pdf version of the examination and assessment registration form, is
available for group registrations of 5 students or more with one payment for all
entries and for students with credits on their CILEx Account. Students must ensure
that they request the form in sufficient time to be returned by the session intake
closing date by emailing [email protected]. Students must sign the examination
and assessment entry form even if their entry is being administered or submitted by
another party. Applications not signed by students are invalid and will be returned as
null and void. Offline paper forms are not issued.
Students must select the correct accredited centre (your course/learning provider),
and Professional Skills unit when registering to have Professional Skills assessments
submitted to CILEx. Students must check their acknowledgement emails received
from CILEx immediately and contact [email protected] without delay if there are
any queries regarding their entry. These emails are generated automatically and
confirm details of your entry. Any changes to the original entry are subject to an
administration fee per amendment.
Students must ensure that their valid examination and assessment entry and
payment are received by CILEx by the deadlines set out in the Key Dates and
Deadlines table in Appendix A.
No entries will be accepted after the session intake closing date. Under no
circumstances will students be registered to submit Professional Skills assessments to
CILEx if their assessment registration and valid payment are received by CILEx, or if
their entry is incomplete, after the examination and assessment registration deadline.
All students must comply with the Examination and Professional Skills
Registration Regulations in Appendix D. Please read these carefully as they form
the rules of entry for examinations and Professional Skills assessments.
No amendments will be made after the session closing date and students will be
unable to submit Professional Skills assessments where incorrect information has
been provided to CILEx. Refunds and credits are not given.
When deciding whether to register for a specific submission window, it is important
that students and tutors understand that they are registering with CILEx to send all
the work in relation to a specific unit to CILEx at a specific time in the year. This work
must be of a Pass standard, and any failure to submit the relevant work at the
specified submission window cannot be carried over until the next submission window
without the student registering and paying to have the work submitted again.
As a consequence, students and tutors must be confident that, at the point at which a
student has to register for a Professional Skills assessment submission, they are
clearly going to be in a position to submit Pass standard work at the time of the
submission window. Where students and tutors are not confident that this will happen
Page 26 of 50
by the specified date, they should refrain from registering for that specific submission
window.
CILEx produces a list for each centre of all students who are registered to submit
Professional Skills assessments for a specific submission window.
In January and June, CILEx contacts all centres to request that the Professional Skills
assessments, for students who are on the CILEx list and who the centres consider to
have passed the Professional Skills assessment/s, are submitted to CILEx.
It is essential that students keep a copy of their Professional Skills assessment/s
because CILEx will not return assessments which are submitted to CILEx.
If a student has registered to have their Professional Skills assessment submitted to
CILEx, but the centre does not consider that the student has met the criteria for the
Pass standard, the work must not be submitted to CILEx and ‘DNS’ (did not submit)
will be recorded on the student’s CILEx record.
If a centre considers that a student has met CILEx’s Pass criteria for one of the
Professional Skills assessments, but the student is not on the CILEx list, the centre is
not permitted to submit the assessment to CILEx and the student must register to
have the assessment submitted to CILEx at the next opportunity, usually
approximately 6 months later.
IMPORTANT: It is essential that students discuss their Professional Skills
assessments with their tutors before deciding whether to register to have
their assessment/s submitted for a specific submission window.
CILEx will not refund or credit the Professional Skills registration fee if a
student’s Professional Skills assessment is NOT submitted to CILEx by the
centre because the centre does not consider it meets the criteria for the Pass
standard.
4.3.2 Centres’ responsibilities for the submission of students’ work for quality
assurance by the CILEx-appointed moderator
Centres are responsible for submitting students’ work for the Professional Skills units
to CILEx.
Centres must ensure that all work is submitted in accordance with the guidelines
published in the Guidance for Tutors document that accompanies the delivery of units
22 and 23.
4.3.3 Professional Skills Regulations
All Professional Skills students are required to comply with the Professional Skills
regulations. The Professional Skills regulations are available on the CILEx website
(www.cilex.org.uk) and copies are provided to CILEx Accredited Centres. Students must
sign the Candidate Submission Checklist to confirm compliance with the Professional
Skills regulations.
4.4 Setting and agreeing grade boundaries for the Law and Practice units (Units
1-21)
The Law and Practice units are graded Pass, Merit, Distinction and Fail.
In section 3.5: Assessment Pattern, guidance is given on the notional grade boundaries
for the Law and Practice units. Notional grade boundaries offer tutors and students the
opportunity to understand the approximate level of achievement necessary to pass and
achieve certain grades of success in an assessment. Notional grade boundaries, however,
are not fixed boundaries, and, as a part of its ongoing quality assurance of the
assessment process, CILEx reserves the right to amend its notional grade boundaries for
individual examination sessions.
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CILEx takes every precaution to ensure that the level and quality of each of its
examination papers is appropriate for students. As a part of its commitment to robust
quality assurance at every stage of the examination, CILEx also scrutinises student
performance before final results are determined. In this way, CILEx can identify and
address any issues with the performance of specific examination papers and specific
questions on examination papers, and where there are issues that are known to have
affected candidate performance adversely, reflect this in the way in which the final grade
boundaries for the examination results are set.
CILEx releases the examination pass rates on the CILEx website shortly after the
examination results have been released to students.
4.5 Dissemination of examination and assessment results
4.5.1 All Law and Practice examinations (Units 1 – 21) results
The results notifications for the Law and Practice units are published online via
myCILEx and sent out by first class post by the deadlines set out in the Key Dates
and Deadlines in Appendix A.
Examination results are NOT sent out by fax or email.
The results notifications for the Law and Practice units set out the grade and mark
percentage the student achieved for each examination.
4.5.2 Professional Skills (Units 22 and 23) results
The results notifications for the Professional Skills units are published online via
myCILEx and sent out by first class post by the deadlines set out in the Key Dates
and Deadlines in Appendix A.
The results notifications are NOT sent out by fax or email.
The results notifications for the Professional Skills assessments set out the grade
(Pass or Fail) the student achieved for the assessment.
Prior to the submission of the student’s Professional Skills assessments to CILEx,
centres will have decided whether the student’s work has met the CILEx Pass
standard. It is important that all work that has been assessed as reaching a Pass
standard by the centre is reported to the student as “having passed subject to CILEx
moderation”. Students must not think that the centre’s decision of Pass on the work
towards a unit is the final grade for that unit. The final grade for a student’s
Professional Skills assessment is decided by CILEx.
CILEx, through the moderation process, will seek to confirm the grade awarded by
the centre. CILEx will feed back its views on the centre-based decisions in its Centre
Feedback Form. Centres must implement the advice and guidance given in the Centre
Feedback Form for subsequent submissions of work.
4.6 Re-attempting units
Examinations (Units 1 – 21)
Students who have failed the examinations for the Law and Practice units (Units 1 -
21) can re-sit the examinations.
There is no limit to the number of re-sit attempts that are permitted.
Students re-sitting examinations take their re-sit examinations at the January and
June examination sessions.
Students re-sitting examinations must follow the guidance in sections 4.2.1 to 4.2.6
above.
The examination fees, as set out in Appendix B, apply to re-sit examinations as well
as students sitting examinations for the first time.
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Professional Skills (Units 22 and 23)
Where students’ assessments have been failed during the CILEx quality assurance
phase of the assessment for the Professional Skills units, they will need to attempt
again any work that has been considered deficient in their initial attempt and re-
submit all work again (fully marked and agreed as Pass standard by the centre) to
CILEx at the next or most convenient Professional Skills submission window.
To have their work considered again by CILEx, students will need to register (see
section 4.3.1) and pay the appropriate registration fee (Appendix B) for the
submission window when they intend to re-submit their work.
Where a student fails a Professional Skills unit, the student is not required to take a
wholly different assignment or start the entire assessment again from the start. The
student is simply required to remedy those issues that meant that the CILEx
appointed moderator could not pass the work when they reviewed it. In some cases,
where there are many issues identified with a student’s work, then it may be more
appropriate for the student to start the work again. This is a decision though for the
student and tutor. Where work is of this nature, CILEx will attempt to identify in its
feedback to centres, where it may be beneficial to the student’s learning experience
that the task/assignment is started again.
Students and tutors are reminded of the importance of a) addressing all identified
issues regarding any work that has to be re-done and re-submitted, and b) including
all tasks of the assessment within the re-submission. CILEx cannot accept partial re-
submissions of work, and where this is submitted, it will not be quality assured. It is
imperative then that all student work is copied and stored by the centre prior to
submission to CILEx. In the eventuality that a student’s work is not passed by CILEx,
and the student has to re-submit some work, the centre can then re-use those
aspects of the student’s submission that were in fact successful first time round.
4.7 Reasonable Adjustments
4.7.1 An explanation of reasonable adjustments
Reasonable adjustments can be made for students taking examinations or assessments
to alleviate or remove the effect of a disability which places students at a substantial
disadvantage, to enable them to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and understanding
to the levels of attainment required by the specification for that unit.
Reasonable adjustments must not affect the validity or reliability of the assessment
outcomes. They may involve but not be limited to:
changing standard assessment arrangements, for example allowing learners extra
time to complete the assessment activity
adapting assessment materials, such as providing materials in Braille
providing access facilitators during assessment, such as a reader
re-organising the assessment room, such as removing visual stimuli for an autistic
learner.
4.7.2 How to apply for reasonable adjustments.
Students, who consider they may require adjustments to the assessment
arrangements because the standard arrangements present an unnecessary barrier,
must ensure that they are familiar with the CILEx Reasonable Adjustments Policy
and Procedures – Level 3 and Level 6 Professional Qualifications and Level 3
and Level 4 Legal Services Knowledge Qualifications.
All requests for reasonable adjustments must be made in writing, using the
Reasonable Adjustments Application form by the deadline (see Appendix A: Key
Dates and Deadlines) and supported by evidence as set out in the CILEx
Reasonable Adjustments Policy and Procedures – Level 3 and Level 6
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Professional Qualifications and Level 3 and Level 4 Legal Services Knowledge
Qualifications.
Reasonable adjustments requests must be sent to the Awards-Operations
Department at CILEx.
Students must apply for reasonable adjustments for each examination/assessment
session at which they are taking examinations/assessments. Adjustments agreed for
one examination/assessment session are not automatically carried forward to the
next examination/assessment session.
4.7.3 Appealing the outcome of a reasonable adjustments application
Students are permitted to appeal the outcome of a reasonable adjustments
application if the application was made prior to the deadline for reasonable
adjustments applications (see Appendix A - Key Dates and Deadlines).
Students must refer to information on the reasonable adjustments appeals process
set out in the CILEx Enquiries and Appeals Policy – Level 3 and Level 6
Professional Qualifications and Level 3 and Level 4 Legal Services Knowledge
Qualifications.
4.7.4 Where to find out more information about reasonable adjustments
The CILEx Reasonable Adjustments Policy and Procedures – Level 3 and
Level 6 Professional Qualifications and Level 3 and Level 4 Legal Services
Knowledge Qualifications is available on the CILEx website (www.cilex.org.uk).
Queries about reasonable adjustments can be raised with the Awards-Operations
department at CILEx.
4.8 Access Arrangements
4.8.1 An explanation of access arrangements
Access arrangements are for students who have temporary injuries, temporary illness or
other indisposition and/or protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 (with the
exception of disability which is addressed in the Reasonable Adjustments policy) which
present a barrier to accessing the examination/assessment. The additional protected
characteristics for access arrangements are: age, gender reassignment, race, religion
and belief (including philosophy), gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity,
marriage and civil partnership.
Access arrangements are intended to assist students to demonstrate their attainment
without affecting or circumventing the assessment requirements.
Access arrangements must not affect the validity or reliability of the assessment
outcomes. They may involve but are not limited to:
changing standard assessment arrangements, for example allowing learners to have
supervised rest breaks (“stopping the clock”) if they have a temporary back injury,
to ensure they have the full examination time;
providing access facilitators during assessment, such as a scribe for a learner with a
recently broken arm (writing hand);
re-organising the assessment room, such as allowing a pregnant learner to be seated
near the exit.
4.8.2 How to apply for access arrangements
Students, who consider they may require access arrangements because the standard
arrangements present an unnecessary barrier, must ensure that they are familiar
with the CILEx Access Arrangements Policy and Procedures – Level 3 and
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Level 6 Professional Qualifications and Level 3 and Level 4 Legal Services
Knowledge Qualifications.
All requests for access arrangements must be made in writing, using the Access
Arrangements Application form by the deadline (see Appendix A: Key Dates and
Deadlines) and supported by evidence as set out in the CILEx Access
Arrangements Policy and Procedures – Level 3 and Level 6 Professional
Qualifications and Level 3 and Level 4 Legal Services Knowledge
Qualifications.
Access arrangements applications must be sent to the Awards-Operations
Department at CILEx.
Students must apply for access arrangements for each examination/assessment
session at which they are taking examinations/assessments. Arrangements agreed for
one examination/assessment session are not automatically carried forward to the
next examination/assessment session.
4.8.3 Appealing the outcome of an access arrangements application
Students are permitted to appeal the outcome of an access arrangements application
if the application was made prior to the deadline for access arrangements applications
(see Appendix A - Key Dates and Deadlines).
Students must refer to information on the access arrangements appeals process set
out in the CILEx Enquiries and Appeals Policy – Level 3 and Level 6
Professional Qualifications and Level 3 and Level 4 Legal Services Knowledge
Qualifications.
4.8.4 Where to find out more information about access arrangements
The CILEx Access Arrangements Policy and Procedures – Level 3 and Level 6
Professional Qualifications and Level 3 and Level 4 Legal Services Knowledge
Qualifications is available on the CILEx website (www.cilex.org.uk).
Queries about access arrangements can be raised with the Awards-Operations
department at CILEx.
4.9 Special Consideration
4.9.1 Explanation of special consideration
Special consideration may be given, following an examination, to students who were
disadvantaged when they took the examination by illness, injury or adverse
circumstances. Special consideration cannot remove the difficulty which was faced but
instead attempts to go some way to assist the student affected.
Special consideration may result in a small adjustment to the mark of the candidate. The
size of the adjustment depends on the individual student’s circumstances and the
evidence presented. In accordance with CILEx policy, the maximum adjustment
permitted is 5%.
A special consideration application does not automatically lead to a mark adjustment.
Each application is considered on its merits.
Special consideration is not permitted for the Professional Skills assessments (Unit 22
Client Care Skills and Unit 23 Legal Research Skills). Students undertaking the tasks for
the Professional Skills assessments can arrange with their centre to re-do any tasks, if
they consider that they have been unsuccessful due to illness, injury or adverse
circumstances.
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4.9.2 How to apply for special consideration
Students who consider that they have been disadvantaged during an examination (for
the Law and Practice units (Units 1–15) due to illness, injury or adverse
circumstances which arose at or near the time of the assessment must refer to the
CILEx Special Consideration Policy and Procedures – Level 3 and Level 6
Professional Qualifications and Level 3 and Level 4 Legal Services Knowledge
Qualifications.
All requests for special consideration must be made in writing by the deadlines in
Appendix A: Key Dates and Deadlines and supported by evidence as set out in the
CILEx Special Consideration Policy and Procedures – Level 3 and Level 6
Professional Qualifications and Level 3 and Level 4 Legal Services Knowledge
Qualifications. The deadlines are before the examination results are released.
Special consideration applications must be sent to the Awards-Operations Department
at CILEx.
Students must apply for special consideration for each examination session at which
they are taking examinations. Special consideration applications approved for one
examination are not automatically carried forward to future examinations.
Any application received after the deadline will not be processed under any
circumstances.
4.9.3 How are special consideration decisions made?
The special consideration applications from students who have failed the assessment
by 5% or less are considered. Applications from students who have passed the
assessment or who failed by more than 5% are not considered.
The decision about whether to grant special consideration is made on the basis of the
evidence submitted with the application, by the deadline, in accordance with
maximum allowance criteria set out in the CILEx Special Consideration Policy and
Procedures – Level 3 and Level 6 Professional Qualifications and Level 3 and
Level 4 Legal Services Knowledge Qualifications.
Decisions on special consideration applications are made prior to the release of the
examination results.
If a mark adjustment is approved, the examination result the student receives will
reflect the adjustment.
4.9.4 Appealing the outcome of a special consideration application
Students are permitted to appeal the outcome of a special consideration application if
their examination result falls 5% or less below the pass mark and their application for
special consideration was submitted to CILEx by the deadline.
Students must refer to information on the special consideration appeals process set
out in the CILEx Enquiries and Appeals Policy – Level 3 and Level 6
Professional Qualifications and Level 3 and Level 4 Legal Services Knowledge
Qualifications.
4.9.5 Where to find out more information about special consideration
The CILEx Special Consideration Policy and Procedures – Level 3 and Level 6
Professional Qualifications and Level 3 and Level 4 Legal Services Knowledge
Qualifications is available on the CILEx website (www.cilex.org.uk).
Queries about special consideration can be raised with the Awards-Operations
Department at CILEx.
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4.10 Results enquiries and appeals process
4.10.1 What are results enquiries and appeals?
CILEx has in place a wide range of checks and quality assurance procedures to ensure
that every student who takes an assessment receives a result which accurately reflects
their performance in the assessment.
However, on occasion, a student may consider that their assessment result is not an
accurate reflection of their performance. In such cases a student may challenge the
mark/grade they have received – this is known as a results enquiry. Students can
request a results enquiry irrespective of the grade they have received. For Law and
Practice units 1-21 students can opt to request a clerical check of their result AND/OR a
re-mark of their answer script.
For a Professional Skills assessment (Unit 22 Client Care Skills and Unit 23 Legal
Research Skills), students can request a clerical check AND/OR a quality assurance
review.
4.10.2 The results enquiry and appeals process for all Law and Practice units
(Units 1 – 21)
(i) Results Enquiry - Clerical Check – all Law and Practice units (Units 1-21)
This involves a clerical check of all procedures leading to the issue of the result to the
student, including checking the student’s answer script to ensure the result issued to
the student is accurate and reflects the marks the examiner awarded on the answer
script.
CILEx provides written confirmation of the outcome of a clerical check in the form of a
letter confirming the student’s examination result. A clerical check does not provide
additional feedback or commentary on a student’s performance.
An amended results notification is provided if the clerical check outcome leads to a
change of examination result.
An amended credit certificate is provided if the clerical check outcome leads to a
change of grade.
The outcome of the clerical check is sent within 15 working days of receipt of the
clerical check request.
The outcome of the clerical check, if different from the original mark awarded,
overrides the original mark awarded.
To apply for a clerical check, centres/students must complete the Results Enquiry
form and send it to the Awards-Operations department with the appropriate fee (see
Appendix B) by the deadlines set out in Appendix A: Key Dates and Deadlines.
Where the application is made by the accredited centre, then CILEx will invoice the
centre within 5 working days of the application being received for the appropriate fee
(see Appendix B). Payment terms will be strictly 28 days from the date of the
invoice. Non-payment of invoices may result in further services being suspended.
Where the application is made by the student, the student must include the
appropriate fee (see Appendix B).
(ii) Results Enquiry - Re-mark – Law and Practice (Units 1 -21)
A re-mark involves the re-marking of a student’s answer script in accordance with the
approved marking scheme.
The re-marking exercise is normally undertaken by a member of CILEx’s qualified
assessment personnel who did not carry out the initial marking of the student’s
answer script.
The outcome of the re-mark is sent out within 6 weeks of receipt of the (re-mark)
request.
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The outcome of a re-mark is the issue of an examination result to a student. A re-
mark does not provide additional feedback or commentary on a student’s
performance.
The outcome of the re-mark, if different from the original mark (and, if applicable,
grade awarded) overrides the original mark/grade awarded (even if it is a lower mark
or grade than the original mark or grade).
The outcome of a re-mark overrides the outcome of a clerical check, in the event that
a student has also requested a clerical check.
An amended results notification is provided if the re-mark leads to a change of
examination result.
An amended credit certificate is provided if the re-mark leads to a change of grade.
To request a re-mark for the Law or Practice units, centres/students must complete
the Results Enquiry form and send it to the Awards-Operations department with the
appropriate fee (see Appendix B) by the deadlines set out in Appendix A: Key
Dates and Deadlines.
Where the application is made by the accredited centre, then CILEx will invoice the
centre within 5 working days of the application being received for the appropriate fee
(see Appendix B). Payment terms will be strictly 28 days from the date of the
invoice. Non-payment of invoices may result in further services being suspended.
Where the application is made by the student, the student must include the
appropriate fee (see Appendix B).
The re-mark process does not take into account any special consideration for illness,
bereavement or other factors which may have affected the student’s performance.
Candidates seeking special consideration must read the CILEx Special
Consideration Policy and Procedures – Level 3 and Level 6 Professional
Qualifications and Level 3 and Level 4 Legal Services Knowledge
Qualifications, and ensure they apply by the deadlines, shortly after the
examination has been taken.
If a student/centre is not satisfied with the outcome of the re-marking process, they
may apply for a Stage 1 Appeal (see (iii) below).
(iii) Stage 1 Appeal – CILEx Internal Review Panel – Law and Practice units
Stage 1 Appeals are considered by the CILEx Internal Review Panel.
The membership of the CILEx Internal Review Panel comprises Senior Managers at
CILEx with no direct interest in the case.
The CILEx Internal Review Panel will only consider a Stage 1 Appeal when a re-mark
has been requested, processed and the outcome has been issued to the
student/centre.
The CILEx Internal Review Panel will only consider whether the correct procedures
were followed consistently during the results enquiry stage and whether they were
applied properly and fairly in arriving at judgements.
Students/centres must apply for a Stage 1 Appeal within 20 working days of the date
of the notification of the re-mark outcome using the Stage 1 Appeal form. Students
requesting a Stage 1 Appeal must include the appropriate fee with the form. Centres
will be invoiced for the appropriate fee within 5 working days of the application being
received. Payment terms will be strictly 28 days from the date of the invoice. Non-
payment of invoices may result in further services being suspended.
CILEx will send an acknowledgement letter to confirm receipt of a Stage 1 Appeal
form within 5 working days of its receipt by CILEx.
The outcome of a Stage 1 Appeal will be notified to the student/centre within 25
working days of the date of the acknowledgement letter.
If the CILEx Internal Review Panel finds that the correct procedures have not been
followed, it will inform the applicant and remedial action will be taken. This may or
may not include reconsideration of the examination result. The fees paid will be
refunded by CILEx.
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(i) Stage 2 Appeal - Independent Review – Law and Practice units
Stage 2 Appeals are considered by the CILEx Independent Review Panel. The
membership of Independent Review Panel includes independent members who are
not assessors working for CILEx or members of CILEx staff.
A Stage 2 Appeal - Independent Review can only be requested if a Stage 1 Appeal
has been requested and the outcome received by the student/centre.
Applicants (students/centres) must provide a clear reason why they consider that
CILEx did not follow due process and a reason for escalating the appeal to the
Independent Review Panel.
The Independent Review Panel will draw upon the facts from the enquiry stage
(clerical check (if requested) and re-mark) and the 1st appeal stage (CILEx Internal
Review Panel). The Independent Review Panel will only consider whether CILEx has
followed required procedures consistently and has applied them properly and fairly in
arriving at judgments.
The Independent Review Panel is not concerned with making judgements about a
student’s work. It is not authorised to re-mark a student’s work.
Applicants (students/centres) must apply for a Stage 2 Appeal within 20 working days
of the date of the notification of the Stage 1 Appeal outcome using the Stage 2
Appeal form. Students requesting a Stage 2 Appeal must include the appropriate fee
with the form. Centres will be invoiced for the appropriate fee within 5 working days
of the application being received. Payment terms will be strictly 28 days from the
date of the invoice. Non-payment of invoices may result in further services being
suspended.
CILEx will send an acknowledgement letter to confirm receipt of a Stage 2 Appeal
form within 5 working days of its receipt by CILEx.
Independent Review Panel meetings are held a maximum of 40 working days after a
request for a Stage 2 Appeal (independent review) has been received. Meeting dates
are normally planned in advance and confirmation of the next meeting of the
Independent Review Panel is normally provided in the acknowledgement letter.
If the Independent Review Panel finds that the appropriate procedures have not been
followed, it will inform the applicant (student/centre) and recommend appropriate
action to CILEx accordingly. The independent review process does not provide
additional feedback or commentary on a student’s performance.
If the Independent Review Panel confirms the decision of the CILEx Internal Review
Panel, the applicant (student/centre) is advised accordingly.
The decision of the Independent Review Panel is issued within 5 working days of the
Panel meeting.
The decision of the Independent Review Panel is final.
No further appeal is permitted after the independent review.
4.10.3 The results enquiries and appeals process for the Professional Skills
units (Unit 22 Client Care Skills and Unit 23 Legal Research Skills)
The tasks for the Professional Skills assessments are initially marked by the student’s
accredited centre before being quality assured by CILEx assessment personnel. It is only
when a centre considers that a student has met the criteria for a pass that the student’s
assessments can be submitted to CILEx for consideration.
Students who wish to challenge their accredited centre’s assessor’s decision that their
work has not met the pass criteria must raise their concerns with their tutor/s. If a
student is not satisfied that their concerns have been addressed by their centre, they are
advised to write to the Awards-Operations Department at CILEx.
Following CILEx’s quality assurance checks of the student’s Professional Skills
assessments, CILEx releases results notifications awarding either a Pass or Fail. CILEx
also writes to each centre to inform the centre of its decisions and the reasons for those
decisions. Students receiving a Fail result are entitled to appeal this decision, but are
Page 35 of 50
advised to speak to their centre in the first instance as CILEx will have forwarded to the
centre the rationale for the Fail result. Where a student considers the reasons forwarded
to the centre insufficient or unfounded, the student may undertake the following appeals
measures:
(i) Results Enquiry - Clerical Check – Professional Skills units (Units 22 and 23)
This involves a clerical check of all procedures leading to the issue of the result to the
student.
CILEx provides written confirmation of the outcome of a clerical check in the form of a
letter confirming the student’s grade for the Professional Skills assessment. A clerical
check does not provide additional feedback or commentary on a student’s
performance.
An amended results notification and a credit certificate are provided if the clerical
check leads to a Pass being awarded.
The outcome of the clerical check, if different from the original grade awarded,
overrides the original grade awarded.
To apply for a clerical check, centres/students must complete the Results Enquiry
form and send it to the Awards-Operations department with the appropriate fee (see
Appendix B) by the deadlines set out in Appendix A: Key Dates and Deadlines.
Where the application is made by the accredited centre, then CILEx will invoice the
centre within 5 working days of the application being received for the appropriate fee
(see Appendix B). Payment terms will be strictly 28 days from the date of the
invoice. Non-payment of invoices may result in further services being suspended.
Where the application is made by the student, the student must include the
appropriate fee (see Appendix B).
(ii) Results Enquiry - Quality Assurance Review – Professional Skills units (Units
22 and 23)
A quality assurance review involves a review of the student’s assessment in
accordance with the approved assessment criteria for the unit.
The review exercise is normally undertaken by a member of CILEx qualified
assessment personnel who did not carry out the initial quality assurance review of the
student’s assessment.
The outcome of the review is sent within 6 weeks of receipt of the review request.
If the review leads to a Pass being awarded, an amended results notification and
credit certificate are provided to the student.
The outcome of the review is the issue of a grade to the student. A quality assurance
review does not provide additional feedback or commentary on a student’s
performance.
To request a quality assurance review, centres/students must complete the Results
Enquiry form and send it to the Awards-Operations department with the appropriate
fee (see Appendix B) by the deadlines set out in Appendix A: Key Dates and
Deadlines.
Where the application is made by the accredited centre, then CILEx will invoice the
centre within 5 working days of the application being received for the appropriate fee
(see Appendix B). Payment terms will be strictly 28 days from the date of the
invoice. Non-payment of invoices may result in further services being suspended.
Where the application is made by the student, the student must include the
appropriate fee (see Appendix B).
If a student/centre is not satisfied with the outcome of the quality assurance review
process, they may apply for a Stage 1 Appeal (see (iii) below).
(iii) Stage 1 Appeal – CILEx Internal Review Panel – Professional Skills units
Stage 1 Appeals are considered by the CILEx Internal Review Panel.
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The membership of the CILEx Internal Review Panel comprises Senior Managers at
CILEx with no direct interest in the case.
The CILEx Internal Review Panel will only consider a Stage 1 Appeal when a quality
assurance review has been requested, processed and the outcome has been issued
to the student/centre.
The CILEx Internal Review Panel will only consider whether the correct procedures
were followed consistently during the results enquiry stage and whether they were
applied properly and fairly in arriving at judgements.
Students/centres must apply for a Stage 1 Appeal within 20 working days of the date
of the notification of the quality assurance review outcome using the Stage 1 Appeal
form. Students requesting a Stage 1 Appeal must include the appropriate fee with
the form. Centres will be invoiced for the appropriate fee within 5 working days of
the application being received. Payment terms will be strictly 28 days from the date
of the invoice. Non-payment of invoices may result in further services being
suspended.
CILEx will send an acknowledgement letter to confirm receipt of a Stage 1 Appeal
form within 5 working days of its receipt by CILEx.
The outcome of a Stage 1 Appeal will be notified to the student/centre within 25
working days of the date of the acknowledgement letter.
If the CILEx Internal Review Panel finds that the correct procedures have not been
followed, it will inform the applicant and remedial action will be taken. This may or
may not include reconsideration of the assessment result. The fees paid will be
refunded by CILEx.
(iv) Stage 2 Appeal - Independent Review –Professional Skills units
Stage 2 Appeals are considered by the CILEx Independent Review Panel. The
membership of Independent Review Panel includes independent members who are
not assessors working for CILEx or members of CILEx staff.
A Stage 2 Appeal - Independent Review can only be requested if a Stage 1 Appeal
has been requested and the outcome received by the student/centre.
Applicants (students/centres) must provide a clear reason why they consider that
CILEx did not follow due process and a reason for escalating the appeal to the
Independent Review Panel.
The Independent Review Panel will draw upon the facts from the enquiry stage
(clerical check (if requested) and quality assurance review) and the 1st appeal stage
(CILEx Internal Review Panel). The Independent Review Panel will only consider
whether CILEx has followed required procedures consistently and has applied them
properly and fairly in arriving at judgments.
The Independent Review Panel is not concerned with making judgements about a
student’s work. It is not authorised to re-assess a student’s work.
Applicants (students/centres) must apply for a Stage 2 Appeal within 20 working days
of the date of the notification of the Stage 1 Appeal outcome using the Stage 2
Appeal form. Students requesting a Stage 2 Appeal must include the appropriate fee
with the form. Centres will be invoiced for the appropriate fee within 5 working days
of the application being received. Payment terms will be strictly 28 days from the
date of the invoice. Non-payment of invoices may result in further services being
suspended.
CILEx will send an acknowledgement letter to confirm receipt of a Stage 2 Appeal
form within 5 working days of its receipt by CILEx.
Independent Review Panel meetings are held a maximum of 40 working days after a
request for a Stage 2 Appeal (independent review) has been received. Meeting dates
are normally planned in advance and confirmation of the next meeting of the
Independent Review Panel is normally provided in the acknowledgement letter.
If the Independent Review Panel finds that the appropriate procedures have not been
followed, it will inform the applicant (student/centre) and recommend appropriate
action to CILEx accordingly. The independent review process does not provide
additional feedback or commentary on a student’s performance.
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If the Independent Review Panel confirms the decision of the CILEx Internal Review
Panel, the applicant (student/centre) is advised accordingly.
The decision of the Independent Review Panel is issued within 5 working days of the
Panel meeting.
The decision of the Independent Review Panel is final.
No further appeal is permitted after the independent review.
4.11 Certification – credit certificates and qualification certificates
After the January and June assessment sessions, CILEx produces credit certificates for
students who have successfully completed units at the recent examination session and
students whose Professional Skills assessments have been approved by CILEx. If a
student has successfully completed more than one unit, then all successfully completed
units are recorded on the credit certificate. The credits achieved for each unit are
recorded on the certificate. Grades and fails are not recorded on the credit certificate.
A combined qualification and credit certificate is produced for candidates who have
achieved one or more of the Level 6 Law and Practice units (units 1-21) at an
assessment session. The credits achieved for each unit are recorded on the certificate.
Grades are not recorded on the certificate. The qualification is formally awarded as the
CILEx Level 6 Certificate in Law and is endorsed with the legal area in which it is
undertaken, eg CILEx Level 6 Certificate in Law (Contract Law). This title appears on the
student’s certificate because it is the accredited qualification title agreed by Ofqual and
the Welsh Assembly Government.
Students who successfully complete a Professional Skills unit at an assessment session
will receive a credit certificate for this achievement. Because the Professional Skills units
(ie units 22 and 23) are not single unit qualifications in their own right, CILEx will
produce a credit certificate for each Professional Skills unit achieved if they are achieved
at different assessment sessions, or a single credit certificate setting out achievement of
both Professional Skills units if they are achieved at one assessment session. The credit
certificate sets out the number of credits awarded.
Students who successfully complete both Professional Skills units will receive a
qualification certificate to recognise that they have successfully achieved the Level 6
Certificate in Law (Legal Skills). The qualification certificate sets out that the Level 6
Certificate in Law (Legal Skills) qualification has been successfully completed. The
qualification is not graded.
Students who have successfully completed the Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in
Law and Practice at the assessment session receive a qualification certificate confirming
their achievement. The Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice is not
graded and, therefore, the certificate simply sets out that the qualification has been
successfully completed.
Students who have successfully completed the Level 6 Graduate ‘Fast Track’ Diploma at
the assessment session receive a qualification certificate confirming their achievement.
The qualification is formally awarded as the CILEx Level 6 Diploma in Legal Practice. This
means that students who successfully complete the Graduate ‘Fast Track’ Diploma will
receive a certificate confirming they have successfully completed the Level 6 Diploma in
Legal Practice. This title appears on the student’s certificate because it is the accredited
qualification title agreed by Ofqual. The Level 6 Graduate ‘Fast Track’ Diploma is not
graded and, therefore, a grade is not recorded on the certificate.
All credit and qualification certificates are sent out to students within 25 working days of
the release of the results notifications.
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4.12 Recommended reading lists, past question papers, examiner’s reports and
suggested answers
Recommended reading lists for each unit are provided on the CILEx website
(www.cilex.org.uk)
CILEx usually posts question papers on the website (www.cilex.org.uk) approximately
one week after the end of the examination session for Law Units 1 -14 and Practice Units
15-21.
Accredited centres are supplied with the live materials for the Professional Skills
assessments (Units 22 and 23). As these materials are for use with students until CILEx
informs centres of their withdrawal as live materials, these materials must be kept safely
and not used as practice materials after a particular student group has used them.
Examiners’ Reports and Suggested Answers for Law Units 1-14 and Practice Units 15-21
are posted on the website shortly after the release of the examination results.
CILEx permits the use of statute books for some Level 6 examinations. Students should
refer to the CILEx Level 6 Qualifications – Recommended reading for students and the
CILEx Examination Regulations for details of the statute books which are permitted to be
used in examinations along with the regulations on the use of statute books.
4.13 Retention of materials
CILEx retains students’ examination answer scripts and Professional Skills assessments
for 6 months after the examination and assessment sessions. After 6 months CILEx
retains a sample of students’ work and securely destroys all scripts and Professional
Skills assessments which are no longer required.
4.14 Student Malpractice
CILEx has in place policies and procedures for dealing with cases of alleged student
malpractice. Students are referred to CILEx Procedures for Dealing with Cases of
Suspected Malpractice and CILEx Procedures for Dealing with Cases of Suspected
Accredited Centre Malpractice or Maladministration on the CILEx website
(www.cilex.org.uk) for further information.
4.15 Missing/lost/damaged scripts
CILEx has in place a policy in the unlikely event that students’ examination answer
scripts are lost, damaged or destroyed. Centres and students are referred to ‘The
Security of Examination Scripts Policy’ on the CILEx website (www.cilex.org.uk) for
further information.
4.16 Release of examination answer scripts
Students’ examination scripts for all the Law and Practice units are the property of CILEx
and following the Data Protection Act 1998 are not released to students or tutors.
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Section 5: CILEx Contacts
CILEx Address:
CILEx
Kempston Manor
Kempston
Bedford
MK42 7AB
CILEx Website: www.cilex.org.uk
Main switchboard telephone number: 01234 841000
The following table identifies the key responsibilities of different CILEx departments, to
help students and tutors direct their enquiries to the relevant department. All information
is available and regularly updated on the website
Department/Team
Key Responsibilities
Membership-Operations
Email:
Telephone:
01234 845777
Student/Member/Fellow applications and fees Advice on qualifications CPD advice Qualifying Employment enquiries Subscriptions Work-based learning queries
Membership upgrades General advice on Practice Rights
Awards-Operations
Email: [email protected]
Telephone:
01234 845727
Examination and assessment registration, regulations & fees
Examination centres
Examination admission permits Examination notifications and results
Centre accreditation Advice on qualifications CILEx qualification rules & regulations Reasonable adjustments/access arrangements Special consideration
Results enquiries and appeals: clerical checks & re-marks, quality assurance reviews and independent review
Exemptions ID requirements for examinations
Regional Development
Officers
Details available at
www.cilex.org.uk
Guidance and support to accredited centres within
development officer’s area. Accredited centre visits for centres within the development
officer’s area Guidance and support for employers within the
development officer’s area
The Regional Development Officers are based in the regions in which they operate. Their contact details are available on the CILEx website or from the CILEx offices at Kempston Manor.
CILEx Regulation
Email:
Telephone: 01234 845770
Code of Conduct Membership application matters
Membership disciplinary matters Complaints against CILEx members
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Corporate Affairs
Email:
Telephone:
01234 841000
Corporate governance Equality and Diversity
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Appendix A – Annual Schedule:
Key dates and deadlines
CILEx Level 3 and 6 Professional Qualification 2015/16
CILEx Level 3 and 4 Legal Services Knowledge Qualification 2015/16
January 2016
Examination and
Professional Skills
Key Dates and Deadlines June 2016
Examination and
Professional Skills
Noon (UK time)
3 August 2015
Examination Entry Form Available
(Professional & Legal Services Qualifications)
Noon (UK time)
18 January 2016
9 October 2015
Deadline for new membership registration forms to
be received by CILEx
(Registration forms received after this date will not
be guaranteed to be processed in time to allow
entry in accordance with the exam entry deadline)
29 March 2016
9 October 2015
Deadline for exemption applications to be received
by CILEx
(Application forms received after this date will not
be guaranteed to be processed in time to allow
entry in accordance with the exam entry deadline)
29 March 2016
Noon (UK time)
23 October 2015
Examination Entry Closing Date
(Professional & Legal Services Qualifications - All
unit entries to be received by CILEx)
Noon (UK time)
8 April 2016
Noon (UK time)
30 October 2015
Late Examination Entry Closing Date
(Professional & Legal Services Qualifications - All
unit entries to be received by CILEx, plus a one off
late fee of £60.00)
Noon (UK time)
15 April 2016
28 October 2015
Deadline for Reasonable Adjustment Applications
in respect of pre-release case study material
31 March 2016
10 November 2015
Pre-release case studies available on the CILEx
website
(Applicable to Level 3 and 6 practice units ONLY)
29 April 2016
3 December 2015
Deadline for Reasonable Adjustment and Access
Arrangement Applications
9 May 2016
14 December 2015
Examination Candidate Admission Permits
Available
16 May 2016
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4-8 January 2016
Professional Skills Submission Window
(For centres to submit Professional Skills
assessments to CILEx for quality assurance
checks.)
PLEASE NOTE: Assessments MUST be received by
CILEx during this submission window.
6-10 June 2016
11-15 January 2016
Examination Week
CILEx Level 3 and 6 Professional Qualifications
CILEx Level 3 and 4 Legal Services Knowledge
Qualifications
13-17 June 2016
12 February 2016
Deadline for Special Consideration Requests
CILEx Level 3 and 6 Professional Qualifications
CILEx Level 3 and 4 Legal Services Knowledge
Qualifications
15 July 2016
12 February 2016
Deadline for Credit Requests
CILEx Level 3 and 6 Professional Qualifications
CILEx Level 3 and 4 Legal Services Knowledge
Qualifications
15 July 2016
Noon (UK time)
29 March 2016
Examination Results Released
(Online and Offline)
Noon (UK time)
26 August 2016
19 April 2016
Deadline for clerical check/re-mark/quality
assurance review requests
16 September 2016
3 May 2016
Deadline for certificates to be dispatched to
students
(Credit Certificates & Qualification Certificates)
30 September 2016
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Appendix B – Fees
CILEx reviews its fees annually. The fees set out below relate to the January and June
2016 examination and assessments.
Unit Title Exam/Professional
Skills assessment Registration fee
External Exam centre fee
Unit 1 Company and Partnership Law £91 £17.50 Unit 2 Contract Law £91 £17.50 Unit 3 Criminal Law £91 £17.50 Unit 4 Employment Law £91 £17.50 Unit 5 Equity and Trusts £91 £17.50 Unit 6 European Union Law £91 £17.50 Unit 7 Family Law £91 £17.50 Unit 8 Immigration Law £91 £17.50 Unit 9 Land Law £91 £17.50 Unit 10 Landlord and Tenant Law £91 £17.50 Unit 11 Planning Law £91 £17.50 Unit 12 Public Law £91 £17.50 Unit 13 Law of Tort £91 £17.50 Unit 14 Law of Wills and Succession £91 £17.50 Unit 15 Civil Litigation £91 £17.50 Unit 16 The Practice of Company and Partnership
Law
£91 £17.50
Unit 17 Conveyancing £91 £17.50 Unit 18 Criminal Litigation £91 £17.50 Unit 19 The Practice of Employment Law £91 £17.50 Unit 20 The Practice of Family Law £91 £17.50 Unit 21 Probate Practice £91 £17.50 Unit 22 Client Care Skills £66 N/A Unit 23 Legal Research Skills £66 N/A
Membership registration and subscription fees 2016:
Registration fee £40
Student member annual subscription fee £55
Affiliate member annual subscription fee £125
Associate member annual subscription fee £185
Graduate Member annual subscription fee (First time
registration, annual subscription and exemption fees total
£655)
£215
Fellow annual subscription fee £355
Please note that preferential rates are available; please contact
[email protected] for further information.
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Results Enquiries and Appeals Fees
Enquiry/Appeal Fee
Clerical Check (available for all units) £15
Re-mark (available for all Law and Practice units) £50
Quality Assurance Review (available for the Level 3 and Level 6 Professional
Skills units only)
£50
Stage 1 Appeal £25
Stage 2 Appeal £25
Reasonable Adjustments Appeals
Appeal Fee
Stage 1 Appeal £25
Stage 2 Appeal £25
Access Arrangements Appeals
Appeal Fee
Stage 1 Appeal £25
Stage 2 Appeal £25
Special Consideration Appeals
Appeal Fee
Stage 1 Appeal £25
Stage 2 Appeal £25
Student Malpractice
Appeal Fee
Appeal against a malpractice decision £50
The clerical check fee/re-mark fee/ quality assurance review fee is refunded to the centre/student if the check/re-mark/review identifies an error in grade awarded to the student. For example, if as a result of a clerical check the student’s result is revised from a FAIL to a PASS. See section 4.9 Enquiries about results and appeals process for further information about what is involved in a clerical check/re-mark/QA review. The Stage 1/Stage 2 Appeal/Malpractice Appeal fee is refunded if the Stage 1 /Stage 2/ Malpractice Appeal identifies that CILEx did not follow its procedures correctly and fairly.
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Appendix C – Examination Timetable Level 6
January 2016 Examination Session
Monday
11 January
Tuesday
12 January
Wednesday
13 January
Thursday
14 January
Friday
15 January
AM L6.1 Company &
Partnership Law
L6.3 Criminal Law
L6.5 Equity and Trusts
L6.8 Immigration Law
L6.21 Probate Practice
L6.4 Employment Law
L6.13 Law of Tort
L6.15 Civil Litigation
L6.10 Landlord & Tenant
Law
L6.17 Conveyancing
L6.18 Criminal Litigation
PM L6.2 Contract Law
L6.11 Planning Law
L6.9 Land Law
L6.19 The Practice of
Employment Law
L6.14 Law of Wills and
Succession
L6.6 European Union Law
L6.16 The Practice of
Company & Partnership
Law
L6.7 Family Law
L6.20 The Practice of
Family Law
L6.12 Public Law
June 2016 Examination Session
Monday
13 June
Tuesday
14 June
Wednesday
15 June
Thursday
16 June
Friday
17 June
AM L6.1 Company &
Partnership Law
L6.3 Criminal Law
L6.5 Equity and Trusts
L6.8 Immigration Law
L6.21 Probate Practice
L6.4 Employment Law
L6.13 Law of Tort
L6.15 Civil Litigation
L6.10 Landlord & Tenant
Law
L6.17 Conveyancing
L6.18 Criminal Litigation
PM L6.2 Contract Law
L6.11 Planning Law
L6.9 Land Law
L6.19 The Practice of
Employment Law
L6.14 Law of Wills and
Succession
L6.6 European Union Law
L6.16 The Practice of
Company & Partnership
Law
L6.7 Family Law
L6.20 The Practice of
Family Law
L6.12 Public Law
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Appendix D
CILEx 2016 Level 3 and Level 6
Examination and Professional Skills
Registration Regulations
All candidates must comply with the Examination & Professional Skills Registration Regulations as
below. Please read them carefully as they form the rules of entry for the examinations and
professional skills assessments, by entering examinations you are agreeing to these regulations.
CILEx does NOT accept examination and professional skills registration forms by fax.
1. Examination & Professional Skills Registration Deadlines
Candidates will be unable to sit examinations or submit assessments without a valid entry.
Under no circumstances will candidates be registered for examination units or professional skills
assessments if entries are received, or if entries are incomplete after the Late Examination Entry
Closing Date set out in Appendix A – Annual Schedule: Key Dates and Deadlines 2016.
The opening and closing of registration for each session will always be noon UK time on the
published opening/closing date.
2. Amendments to Examination & Professional Skills Entries
No requests for amendments to examination entries (including but not limited to Examination
Subjects, Examination Centres, Learning Providers) will be authorised if received after noon UK
time 30 October 2015 for the January 2016 examination session and noon UK time 15 April
2016 for the June 2016 examination session.
Each amendment requested is subject to a £15.00 administration charge per change.
3. Accredited Centres
ALL candidates are required to study the units they are entering for with a CILEx accredited centre
(course/learning provider). This applies across all examinations and assessments, there are no
exceptions.
Candidates MUST select the correct accredited centre, examination centre and examination unit
when entering examinations or professional skills assessments.
Candidates who have not studied with a CILEx accredited centre will NOT be entered into the
examination session and any examination scripts or professional skills assessments submitted will
NOT be marked or quality assured by CILEx.
4. Examination Centres
UK Based Candidates:
Candidates should take their examinations at their CILEx accredited centre (course provider), with
the exception of distance learning candidates (including CILEx Law School, Cardiff College Online,
Guildford College, Law Academy and Heart of Worcester College of Technology) who MUST take
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their examinations at a CILEx external examination centre by choosing a centre from the list
provided on the examination entry form.
Candidates taking examinations at a CILEx external examination centre must pay the external
centre fee of £17.50 for each examination entered. There is no external centre fee for Professional
Skills Assessments.
Overseas Candidates:
Candidates studying at an Overseas CILEx accredited centre should take their examinations at their
accredited centre (course provider), with the exception of overseas distance learning candidates
(including CILEx Law School, Cardiff College Online, Guildford College, Law Academy and Heart of
Worcester College of Technology) who are required to organised their own examination centre,
which must meet CILEx’s examination centre requirements. Overseas distance learning candidates
MUST contact CILEx prior to submitting the examination registration by contacting
[email protected]. The fees for the examination centre are to be paid by the candidate.
Candidates taking examinations at an overseas external centre will NOT be required to pay CILEx
any external examination fees.
5. Candidates sitting/submitting at more than one centre and across Levels 3 and 6
Candidates studying at more than one accredited centre or sitting exams at both Level 3 and 6, are
required to complete an examination entry per centre or level.
Entering for the wrong examination or professional skills assessment centre will be considered null
and void by CILEx and the examination will not be marked or quality assured by CILEx.
Refunds and Credits are not available in these instances.
6. Professional Skills Assessments
It is essential that all candidates discuss Professional Skills Assessments with their tutors before
deciding whether to register to have their assessments submitted for the examination session
submission window.
CILEx will NOT refund or credit any Professional Skills assessment registration fees not submitted
to CILEx because the centre does not consider the assessment meets the criteria for the pass
standard.
CILEx will NOT refund or credit any Professional Skills assessment registration fees not submitted
to CILEx because the centre does not deliver or the student does not submit their assessment in
sufficient time to meet the centre or CILEx deadlines.
7. Examination Clashes
Candidates wishing to enter more than one examination scheduled at the same time must be
aware that examinations will be rescheduled to take place back to back on the same day with
minimal breaks. Candidates will be supervised at all times.
Candidates must be in a position to accommodate any examination clashes as once registered,
CILEX will NOT refund or credit where the candidate is unable to sit exams due to the clash.
8. Resit Candidates
Resit candidates MUST check first with the CILEx accredited centre where they studied their CILEx
unit to see if they are permitted to resit the examination with them. If the centre can accommodate
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the resit, written confirmation MUST be sent to [email protected] upon examination
registration.
This MUST be done before registering for examinations or professional skills assessments, no
amendments to entries will be accepted after the late entry closing date (as set out in Appendix A –
Annual Schedule: Key Dates and Deadlines) and candidates will be unable to sit their examination
or submit professional skills assessments without a valid entry.
Where the accredited centre is unable to accommodate the resit, candidates must enter themselves
at a CILEx external centre and pay the external centre fee per examination unit entered.
9. Eligibility
Level 3 candidates must be enrolled as full valid members with CILEx. Subscription fees and any
associated fee must be paid up to date at the time of entering examinations, sitting examinations
and receiving examination results/certificates. If candidate subscriptions or any associated fees are
not paid in full by the examination results release date, CILEx will withhold candidate examination
results.
Level 6 candidates studying the Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Graduate ‘fast-track’
Diploma must be enrolled as valid members with CILEx and their subscription fees and any
exemption fees must be paid up to date at the time of entering examinations, sitting examinations
and receiving examination results/certificates. If candidate subscriptions or any associated fees are
not paid in full by the examination results release date, CILEx will withhold candidate examination
results.
Level 6 candidates studying the Single Subject Diploma are not required to be enrolled as members
with CILEx but must pay the non-member fee of £51 per examination entry this is NOT required
per unit entered.
10. Fees
The correct fee MUST be submitted with the examination registration application. Applications
received without the correct fee will not be processed by CILEx.
CILEx will NOT issue invoices for examination fees.
It is each candidate’s responsibility to ensure that the correct examination registration entry and
appropriate fees are submitted by the deadline. This is particularly relevant if a candidate is
dependent on a 3rd party (e.g. employer, college) for the payment of fees.
CILEx will NOT refund or credit any examination/professional skills fees if a candidate withdraws or
enters themselves incorrectly.
In exceptional circumstances, candidates may apply for a credit and occasionally refund, the
approval of which is entirely at the discretion of CILEx, candidates wishing to request a credit of
their examination fees must provide a written request which must be sent to [email protected].
Incorrect information being provided to CILEx is not considered as an exceptional circumstance.
Requests for a credit must be received with supporting evidence by 12 February 2016 for the
January 2016 examination session and 15 July 2016 for the June 2016 examination session.
Decisions regarding credit requests will be sent within 21 working days of receipt by CILEx on the
provision that all required evidence has been provided to CILEx.
CILEx does NOT credit or refund external examination centre or late entry fees.
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11. Reasonable Adjustments and Access Arrangements
Reasonable Adjustments:
Reasonable Adjustments can be made for students taking examinations or assessments to alleviate
or remove the effect of a disability which places students at a substantial disadvantage, to enable
them to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and understanding to the levels of attainment required
by the specification for that unit.
Learners who consider they may require adjustments because the standard arrangements present
an unnecessary barrier, MUST ensure they are familiar with the CILEx Reasonable Adjustment
Policy which can be found at www.cilex.org.uk
Access Arrangements:
Access arrangements are for students who have temporary injuries, temporary illness or other
indisposition and/or protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 (with the exception of
disability which is address in the reasonable adjustments policy) which present a barrier to
accessing the examination/professional skills assessment. The additional protected characteristics
for access arrangements are: age, gender reassignment, race, religion and belief (including
philosophy), gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership.
Learners who consider they may require adjustments because the standard arrangements present
an unnecessary barrier, MUST ensure they are familiar with the CILEx Access Arrangements Policy
which can be found at www.cilex.org.uk
Please Note: All requests for reasonable adjustments or access arrangements must be made in
writing, using the relevant application form both of which can be located at www.cilex.org.uk. All
requests MUST be received by the deadline set out in Appendix A – Annual Schedule: Key Dates
and Deadlines 2016, all applications must be received with supporting evidence.
12. Examination Registration Acknowledgements
Online:
Automatic acknowledgements are generated immediately for online examination registrations.
Candidates MUST check their entry and contact [email protected] immediately if there are any
issues with the entry.
Candidates who do not receive an automatic acknowledgement MUST contact the awards
operations team by email [email protected] or telephone on +44 (0)1234 845727 one week
after submitting their entry to confirm that it has been received.
Offline:
CILEx will acknowledge receipt of offline examination registration forms within 5 working days of
receipt. Candidates MUST check their entry and contact [email protected] immediately if there
are any issues with the entry.
Candidates who do not receive an acknowledgement MUST contact the awards operations team by
email [email protected] or telephone on +44 (0)1234 845727 one week after submitting their
entry to confirm that it has been received.
Candidates are responsible for ensuring that their examination entry is completed in full with full
valid payment and reaches CILEx in sufficient time for the published deadline.
13. Candidate Admission Permits
Examination admission permits setting out the date, time and examination centre address for each
exaination are available to candidates online via myCILEx at www.cilex.org.uk at noon UK time
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14 December 2015 for the January 2016 examination session and noon UK time 16 May
2016 for the June 2016 examination session.
Candidates requesting offline examination admission permits at the time of examination
registration will have these issued by post on 14 December 2015 for the January 2016
examination session and 16 May 2016 for the June 2016 examination session.
The examination admission permit MUST be presented at each examination, therefore candidates
requesting an online version only must have access to printer facilities.
Please Note: Professional Skills assessments appear on examination admission permits, however,
they are not live examinations.
14. Candidate Identity Checks
Candidates must present proof of identity at the examination centre in addition to their
examination admission permit. A list of the various forms of ID, which can be presented appears on
the CILEx website and will be made available to each candidate with the examination admission
permit. Candidates with queries about the identity checks should contact the awards operations
team. This is also contained in the Level 3 and Level 6 qualifications handbook available at
www.cilex.org.uk
Candidates who do not present proof of identity at the examination centre in accordance with
CILEx’s requirements will be allowed to take the examination, but their answer script will not be
marked unless proof of identity is confirmed to the satisfaction of CILEx within 14 days of the
examination concerned.
Refunds and credits are not available to candidates who fail to present their identification to
satisfaction of CILEx.
15. Examination entries and sharing of data with CILEx accredited centres and regulators
All CILEx accredited centres will be advised of examination entries for each session, including
instances where the candidate is not sitting the actual exam unit with the centre. Information on
examination outcomes, including passes, fails, absentees and any withheld results will be made
available to the candidates’ CILEx accredited centre and CILEx’s regulators Office of Qualifications
and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) and CILEx Regulation.
Acceptance of this is a requirement of CILEx acceptance of entry. No other data will be shared with
third parties unless the candidate has given express written permission.