Legal Apprenticeships – Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need CILEX accreditation to train Legal Apprentices? 

There is no requirement to be accredited to deliver an Apprenticeship programme.  However, if you intend to deliver CILEX qualifications as part of an Apprentice’s programme of learning then you will need to apply to become a CILEX Accredited Centre.

If you are interested in becoming a CILEX Accredited Centre, you can email Martin Petch to get advice and support to start your application.

Do Apprenticeship Training Providers need a contract with End Point Assessment Organisations?

Yes.

Although Employers choose their Approved Training Provider and End Point Assessment Organisation, Training Providers are often asked to handle the day-to-day delivery of the Apprenticeship. Training Providers receive funding for the End Point Assessment (via the Digital Apprenticeship Service for levy paying employers) from which they, in turn, pay for End Point Assessments.

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) funding rules are specific: Training Providers must contract with the End Point Assessment Organisation selected by the employer and have a written agreement in place which:

• Allows for payments on behalf of the employer for the End Point Assessment or retakes.
  
  
• Sets out arrangements for sharing relevant information about the Apprentice for assessments, potential retakes and certification.

• The contract will set out the agreed commitments of both parties in delivering independently assessed End Point Assessments. 

How are Legal Apprenticeships funded? 

Large companies (more than £3 million PAYE) pay an Apprenticeship Levy which is put into their Digital Apprenticeship Service account to invest in Apprenticeship Training and End Point Assessments. 

• Apprenticeship Training Providers are paid via the Digital Apprenticeship Service for both training and assessments.
  
  
• Government co-funds Apprenticeship training and certification, with a 10 per cent top-up for levy paying companies. 
   

• Training Providers are paid directly by employers and by government via Individual Learning Records (ILR).

How do employers receive funding for Legal Apprenticeship training?

Apprenticeship Levy payments for companies with a wage bill over £3 million: 

Apprenticeship Training Providers working with levy paying businesses will receive payment via the Apprenticeship Service according to their agreed terms.

From 1 May 2017, employers with a payroll of over £3 million are required to pay a levy of 0.5 per cent of payroll, over this amount. The levy is paid via PAYE into their Digital Apprenticeships Service account.  

The employer’s Digital Apprentice Service account is used to pay for:

• Apprenticeship training with an approved Apprenticeship Training Provider (ATP).
  
  
• The independent End Point Assessment and certification at the end of each Apprenticeship programme.

The Government will add a 10 percent top-up for any spending that the employer makes from their Digital Apprenticeship Service account*.  So, if an employer uses funds from their digital account to pay for a Paralegal Apprenticeship at £8000, an additional £800 will be added to their account.

Apprenticeship funding for companies with a wage bill under £3 million

Small to medium companies with a wage bill under £3 million will not pay an Apprenticeship Levy.

• Apprenticeship funding will be paid directly to Apprenticeship Training Providers by the Education and Skills Funding Agency.
  
  
• SME employers are expected to invest 5 per cent of the cost of the Apprenticeship and pay this to the Apprenticeship Training Provider.
  
  
• Government co-invests 95 per cent of the funding directly to the Apprenticeship Training Provider*.

Example: If an employer agrees a fee of £8000 for a Paralegal Apprenticeship, they must pay £800 (or 10%) to the Training Provider.  The remaining £7,200 is paid by the Government.

* Additional incentive payments are available for Government priority demographics.

How much does an End Point Assessment cost?

A registration fee will be payable at the start of the Apprenticeship to register Apprentices.  A second EPA fee will then be payable to reserve dates for an Apprentice’s End Point Assessment. 

Paralegal Apprentices who join as members of CILEX will receive a discount on the standard fee for End Point Assessment.

For more information you can contact our team on 01234 845727 or [email protected].

What does the End Point Assessment for the Paralegal Apprenticeship involve? 

The Paralegal Apprenticeship End Point Assessment consists of two parts:

1. One portfolio based interview: The apprentice will complete a portfolio evidencing competence on-the-job. They will discuss their evidence portfolio with a CILEX Assessor during an interview.

2. Two timed assessments: These are contextualised scenario-based, invigilated assessments which are set by CILEX.

• The employer decides when the Apprentice is ready to be entered for End Point Assessment.
  
  
• End Point Assessments are synoptic and assess the application of knowledge related to the occupation and specialism, as well as skills such as problem solving and drafting
  
  
• Parlegal End Point Assessments are marked and graded by CILEX.

We currently have the following pathways available for the Paralegal Apprenticeship End-Point Assessment:

• Contract & Civil Litigation
• Employment Law & Practice
• Land Law & Conveyancing
• Private Client & Wills and Succession
• Tort & Civil Litigation
• Family Law & Practice
• Contract & Commercial

What if I need a contextualised assessment for the Paralegal Apprenticeship End Point Assessment which is not available?

Once we have been notified of the chosen area of Law and Practice on the Apprenticeship Registration Form, we will contact Training Providers of the status of any contextualised assessments that will need to be created.

The creation of contextualised assessments for additional pathways are subject to 12 months’ notice and may incur extra costs

Where can apprentices sit the Paralegal Apprenticeship End Point Assessment?

Both the Timed Assessments and the Interview are conducted remotely. To ensure smooth delivery of the assessments the EPA is held at a BTL Test Centre. BTL are the creators of the digital assessment platform “Surpass”, which is used for the Timed Assessments and have a network of test centres in the UK where apprentices sit their EPA.

What does the End Point Assessment for the Chartered Legal Executive Apprenticeship involve?

1. A Portfolio: evidencing the knowledge, skills and competences expected of a CILEX Fellow. Based on case load throughout the Apprenticeship and submitted no earlier than the last 6 months of the Apprenticeship

2. A Case Study: a case from the Apprentice’s case load which they have worked on from start to finish.