CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice CILEx Level ... 3 Qualification... · 2.9 The...

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CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice

CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice

Qualifications Handbook

Issued August 2012

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Awards 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 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 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

8 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 & Thursday), 10am – 5pm

(Wednesday) 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.

http://www.ilex.org.uk/



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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

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


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Introduction

This handbook is for CILEx students studying the CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and

Practice or the Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice. 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). The Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice and Level 3

Professional Diploma in Law and Practice are regulated qualifications.

The unit specifications for the Level 3 qualifications are set out separately in the following

document: Unit Specification Handbook - CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and

Practice, CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice. 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.

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.

Appendix E sets out the different unit combinations for the Level 3 Professional Diploma

in Law and Practice.

Appendix F: The qualification units – explanatory notes for tutors – is only made

available to tutors. CILEx students will find that this section has not been included in

their Qualification Handbook pack.

Appendix G - CILEx Level 3 Extended Professional Diploma in Law and Practice

(2008) provides guidance on the unit combinations for the Level 3 Extended Professional

Diploma in Law and Practice. This guidance is only made available to tutors and students

wanting to find out more about the Extended Professional Diploma should speak to their

tutors or contact CILEx.

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 3 Qualifications

2.1 Introduction to the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice

2.2 Introduction to the CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice

2.3 Targets Groups: CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice

2.4 Target Groups: CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice

2.5 The Level of the qualifications

2.6 Entry requirements

2.7 Exemptions

2.8 Signposting to NVQ Standards and Key Skills

2.9 The Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) and the use of Credit

2.10 Changes in the Law

2.11 Ofqual qualification and unit reference numbers

Section 3: Level 3 Qualification Structure and Unit Content

3.1 The suite of units for the CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice and the CILEx

Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice

3.1.1 Table 1: Suite of Level 3 Units

3.2 The structure of the CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice

3.2.1 Qualification rules: CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice

3.2.2 Table 2: Linked Practice and Law Units

3.2.3 CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice – Endorsed Certificates

3.2.4 Table 3: CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice – required

combinations for endorsements

3.3 The structure of the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice

3.3.1 Qualification rules: CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice

3.3.2 Table 4: Overview of the structure of the CILEx Level 3 Professional

Diploma in Law and Practice

3.3.3 Some examples of the different routes students can take to achieve the


3.4 Assessment pattern

3.4.1 Table 5: Summary of the different methods of assessment

3.5 Qualification outcomes

3.6 Presentation of qualification units – An explanation of the unit specifications

Section 4: Level 3 Qualification Administration

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Registering for examinations – all Law and Practice units (Units 1-15)

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

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4.3 Undertaking the Professional Skills assessments – Client Care Skills (Unit 16) and

Legal Research Skills (Unit 17)

4.3.1 The registration and submission process for the Professional Skills

assessments (Units 16 and 17)

4.3.2 Centres’ responsibilities for the submission of students’ work for quality

assurance by the CILEx-appointed moderator

4.3.3 Professional Skills Regulations

4.4 Setting and agreeing grade boundaries for the Law and Practice units (Units 1 – 15)

4.5 Dissemination of examination and assessment results

4.5.1 All Law and Practice examinations (units 1 – 15) results

4.5.2 Professional Skills (Units 16 and 17) 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 about reasonable adjustments

4.8 Special Consideration

4.8.1 An explanation of special consideration

4.8.2 How to apply for special consideration

4.8.3 How are special consideration decisions made?

4.8.4 Appealing the outcome of a special consideration application

4.8.5 Where to find out more information about special consideration

4.9 Results enquiries and appeals process

4.9.1 What are results enquiries and appeals?

4.9.2 The results enquiry and appeals process for all Law and Practice units

(Units 1 – 15)

4.9.3 The results enquiry and appeals process for the Professional Skills units

(Unit 16 Client Care Skills and Unit 17 Legal Research Skills)

4.10 Certification – credit certificates and qualification certificates

4.11 Past question papers, examiners’ reports and suggested answers

4.12 Retention of materials

4.13 Student malpractice

4.14 Missing/lost/damaged scripts

4.15 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

Appendix E – CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice - unit combinations

Appendix F – The qualification units – explanatory notes for tutors (not sent to students)

Appendix G – CILEx Level 3 Extended Professional Diploma in Law and Practice (not sent

to students)

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Section 1: Studying with CILEx – an overview

1.1 The route to becoming a Chartered Legal Executive

The CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice represents the first stage on

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 CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice;

(ii) Achieve the CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice;

(iii) Complete 5 years Qualifying Employment (at least 2 years of which must be

served consecutively in the Graduate Membership grade after completing the

Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice and the Level 6 Professional

Higher Diploma in Law and Practice).

1.2 CILEx membership

All students undertaking courses towards the achievement of the CILEx Level 3

Certificate or Diploma in Law and Practice must be registered as CILEx members.

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, A.Inst.L.Ex., after their name, and are

required to take 8 hours Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

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,

G.Inst.L.Ex., after their name, and are required to undertake 12 hours CPD.

Fellowship – When Graduate Members have completed the period of Qualifying

Employment, they may apply to become Fellows of CILEx and are eligible to use the term

“Chartered Legal Executive” and the designatory letters “F.Inst.L.Ex”. Fellows are

required to undertake 16 hours CPD.

Information about the membership grades and the application process is available from

the Membership-Operations department [email protected]



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1.3 Qualifying Employment – what is it?

A person is in Qualifying Employment if he/she is employed either: By a solicitor or a firm of solicitors in private practice; or By a licensed conveyancer or a firm of licensed conveyancers engaged in the

provision of conveyancing services within the meaning of Part II of the

Administration of Justice Act 1985; or By any firm, corporation, undertaking, department or office where employment is

subject to supervision by a Fellow, solicitor, barrister or licensed conveyancer

employed in duties of a legal nature by that firm, corporation, undertaking,

department or office. And in each case, his/her duties under the terms of his/her employment are wholly or

principally of a legal nature rather than of an administrative nature. Students do not have to be in Qualifying Employment to study for the CILEx Level 3

Certificate in Law and Practice and the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and

Practice. However, it will take longer to progress to become a Fellow (for those not in

Qualifying Employment) if they do not start Qualifying Employment until after their

qualification has been completed. 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 3


Practice 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 overseas.

Most college 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 Code of Conduct and the Investigation, Disciplinary and Appeal Rules.

The Rules establish the Professional Conduct Panel which has the power to consider

complaints against members of all grades and the Disciplinary Tribunal which consider

matters referred to it by the Panel. The Tribunal and Panel consider whether the conduct

of a member is unbefitting to the profession or breaches the Code of Conduct. The

Disciplinary Tribunal has the power to exclude members from CILEx membership or fine,

reprimand or warn them.

The standards which all members are required to observe are set out in a Code of

Conduct. The Code of Conduct has been drawn up by CILEx Professional Standards (IPS),

the regulatory body for CILEx members. It sets out the principles you must follow as a

CILEx member. 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.cilex.org.uk/ips/ips_home/for_cilex_members/code_of_conduct.aspx


http://www.ilex.org.uk/ips/ips_home/for_ilex_members/code_of_conduct.aspx

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Section 2: Overview of CILEx Level 3 Qualifications

2.1 Introduction to the Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice

The Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice is the CILEx Level 3 academic stage

qualification. Students wishing to become Chartered Legal Executives and proceed to

Fellowship of CILEx must achieve the Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice

and the CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice.

The Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice is a broad-based, practical

introduction to Law and Legal Practice. It requires that students achieve across key areas

of Law and Legal Practice (i.e. mandatory Law units consist of: Contract Law, Criminal

Law, Land Law and Law of Tort).

The Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice has been developed as a unitised

qualification which permits students and centres to adopt a flexible and tailor made

approach to learning. Whilst all students undertake a certain amount of core study, there

is also room for centres to deliver units that better reflect individual or group interests.

CILEx has included a practical legal skills component within its Level 3 Professional

qualification. The Professional Skills units (units 16 and 17) require that students

demonstrate key transferable legal skills in practical situations. The mandatory inclusion

of these units in the Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice ensures both that

the qualification reflects the pace of change in the legal sector and that CILEx students

are well-prepared to embrace this change.

The qualification consists of 10 units in total which are each assessed by CILEx and

accumulated by the student. Each unit is regarded as a worthwhile achievement in its

own right and certification is available at unit level.

CILEx anticipates that the vast majority of students intending to study the CILEx Level 3

Professional Diploma in Law and Practice will, firstly, achieve the CILEx Level 3 Certificate

in Law and Practice (see below). As the qualifications draw from the same choice of units

and are both cumulatively achieved, this is the best way to ensure that students are

progressively rewarded for their achievements.

2.2 Introduction to the CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice

The Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice has been developed to recognise the growing

number of students who are either interested in a short but rounded introduction to Law

and Practice or have a specific learning need within an area of Law and Legal Practice.

The Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice has been developed to meet the needs of a

number of quite diverse student groups (see 2.4 Target Groups for details).

The CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice, whilst still retaining a set of core units,

can be achieved in a number of ways. To enhance this variety, CILEx is offering this

qualification with an endorsement. This means that each CILEx Level 3 Certificate in

Law and Practice will be endorsed with the Legal Practice area in which it has been

achieved, e.g. CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice (Conveyancing). In all, there

are 7 different variations of endorsement to ensure that students’ achievements in the

respective Legal Practice areas are recognised appropriately.

This qualification consists of 5 units in total which are individually accumulated. Again,

each unit is regarded as a worthwhile achievement in its own right, and certification is

available at unit level.

CILEx anticipates that the vast majority of students intending to move on to study the

CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice will, firstly, achieve the CILEx

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Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice. As the qualifications draw from the same choice of

units and are both cumulatively achieved, this is the best way to ensure that students

are progressively rewarded for their achievements.

2.3 Target groups: CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice

The CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice is the first stage of

professional training. It is designed for students who want to progress to the Level 6

Professional Higher qualification and who want to ultimately become Chartered Legal

Executives and Fellows of CILEx.

The qualification is especially suitable for those who are already at work in legal roles and

who are looking to develop their knowledge and skills in order to progress.

The qualification is also suitable for those who have little or no experience of the Law and

Legal Practice and who are interested in developing a practical and broad understanding

of the Law and Legal Practice with a view to future legal employment.

The qualification can be studied part-time or full-time.

2.4 Target groups: CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice

The CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice comprises a flexible introduction to a

specific area of Law and Legal practice. It requires that students understand the

professional legal skills necessary to begin to research the Law and work with clients.

This qualification has three main target groups.

(i) Students seeking to become Fellows of CILEx

The CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice is the first step on the road to

Fellowship of CILEx. Students who clearly know that they want to be a Chartered Legal

Executive, and have their sights set on the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law

and Practice, can complete the Level 3 Certificate en route to completing the Level 3

Diploma.

The achievement gained towards the Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice can be used

towards the achievement of the Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice. The

CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice is a way of rewarding ongoing achievement

on the road to the larger, broader qualification.

(ii) Students seeking an introduction to Law and Legal practice

The CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice is suitable for students just embarking

on a career in Law who require a short but rounded introduction to the Law and Legal

Practice. Again, because all achievements are individually accumulated, this qualification

can then offer an ideal springboard into the broader studies required for the CILEx Level

3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice (should the student wish to progress).

(iii) Students working in the legal field

The CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice is a way of fast improving

understanding and skills in a specific area of Law and Legal Practice. For those students

working in a new or ever changing area of Law, the CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and

Practice is an ideal way of supporting professional development.

The qualification can be studied part-time or full-time.

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2.5 The Level of the qualifications

The CILEx Certificate in Law and Practice and the CILEx Professional Diploma in Law and

Practice have been designed to assess knowledge, understanding and skills at Level 3 of

the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). Both qualifications have been designed to

be comparable in level of difficulty to GCE A Levels and NVQs at Level 3.

2.6 Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements for either qualification. However, the

qualifications are at Level 3 of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) (see 2.9

below), and CILEx does recommend that students embarking on a programme of study

towards either qualification have a minimum of four GCSEs at grades C or above

(including English Language or Literature) or equivalent qualifications.*

* Please note that a full list of equivalent qualifications is posted on the CILEx website

(www.cilex.org.uk)

2.7 Exemptions

CILEx offers exemptions from parts of the CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice

and the CILEx Level 3 Professional 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 CILEx website (www.cilex.org.uk).

CILEx will consider granting exemptions to candidates from units of the CILEx Level 3


Practice 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 guidance document on

www.cilex.org.uk. A fee equivalent to the unit examination/assessment registration fee

is charged for exemption applications.

2.8 Signposting to NVQ standards and Key Skills

Signposting to the National Occupational Standards for Legal Advice is provided in the

specification for each individual unit.

Programmes of study leading towards these qualifications will provide candidates with

the opportunities to develop the skills and knowledge relevant to a number of Key Skills

areas. These relevant areas are identified in each individual unit specification.

2.9 The Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) and the use of Credit

The Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) requires that all accredited qualifications

are “credit-based”. Credit is a notional value attached to each qualification unit as an

indicator of its size. Achievement of a unit by a student, hence, means that not only has

a student achieved a unit towards their overall qualification, but they have also accrued a

certain amount of credit which, hypothetically, can be used as an achievement towards

another qualification.

Whilst a credit-based system of national qualifications is in its infancy in the UK, in time,

a student’s accrual of credit through their unit achievements will mean that the student

potentially has achievements which are transferable and recognisable in other

qualification areas. These may be credits accrued through study with CILEx to be used in

other contexts or, alternatively, they may be credits accrued elsewhere and in need of

recognition by CILEx.



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Each of the unit specifications in this Qualifications Handbook has a credit value. To

achieve the:

CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice - the student is required to achieve 35

credits (i.e. 5 units x 7 credits per unit)

CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice - the student is required to

achieve 70 credits (i.e. 10 x 7 credits per unit)

CILEx is committed to the recording of all credit achievements for its students and to the

appropriate introduction of a national system for the realisation of transferable

achievements. CILEx will be taking steps to introduce the benefits of a credit-based

system of qualifications to both its students and centres.

2.10 Changes in the Law

CILEx will review its unit specifications (see 3.6 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 3 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).

2.11 Ofqual qualification and unit reference numbers

Qualification title Ofqual qualification number

CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice 500/3394/3

CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and

Practice

500/3395/5

Unit title Ofqual unit reference number

Unit 1 Introduction to Law and Practice H/501/3522

Unit 2 Contract Law A/503/2285

Unit 3 Criminal Law T/503/2771

Unit 4 Land Law T/501/3525

Unit 5 Law of Tort A/501/3526

Unit 6 Employment Law K/503/2279

Unit 7 Family Law D/503/2280

Unit 8 Law of Wills and Succession H/503/2281

Unit 9 Civil Litigation F/501/3530

Unit 10 Conveyancing K/503/2282

Unit 11 Criminal Litigation L/501/3532

Unit 12 The Practice of Family Law F/503/2286

Unit 13 The Practice of Employment Law T/503/2284

Unit 14 Probate Practice D/501/3535

Unit 15 The Practice of Law for the Elderly Client M/503/2283

Unit 16 Client Care Skills J/504/0406

Unit 17 Legal Research Skills F/504/0405


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Section 3: Qualification Structure and Unit Content

3.1 The suite of units for the CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice and

the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice

The units in Table 1 below describe the units available for the CILEx Level 3 Certificate

in Law and Practice and the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice.

These units are the building blocks towards each qualification.

A key difference between the two qualifications is that more units must be achieved for a

student to be awarded the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice. There

are specific qualification rules which govern the structure of each qualification and

describe how each qualification must be built.

Each of the units in Table 1 has been designed to be delivered by tutors in

approximately 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 3 Units

Unit Title Type of unit

Unit 1 Introduction to Law and Practice Foundation Law unit: mandatory to both

qualifications

Unit 2 Contract Law Law

Unit 3 Criminal Law Law

Unit 4 Land Law Law

Unit 5 Law of Tort Law

Unit 6 Employment Law Law

Unit 7 Family Law Law

Unit 8 Law of Wills and Succession Law

Unit 9 Civil Litigation Practice

Unit 10 Conveyancing Practice

Unit 11 Criminal Litigation Practice

Unit 12 The Practice of Family Law Practice

Unit 13 The Practice of Employment Law Practice

Unit 14 Probate Practice Practice

Unit 15 The Practice of Law for the Elderly Client Practice

Unit 16 Client Care Skills Professional Skills: mandatory to both

qualifications

Unit 17 Legal Research Skills Professional Skills: mandatory to both

qualifications

3.2 The structure of the CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice

The units are the building blocks towards the qualification. To achieve the CILEx Level 3

Certificate in Law and Practice, students must achieve five units from Table 1 in

accordance with the rules of the qualification as follows:

3.2.1 Qualification rules: CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice

Unit 1 (Introduction to Law & Practice)

Unit 16 (Client Care

Skills)

Unit 17 (Legal

Research Skills)

1 Law Unit

1 Practice Unit

(must be linked to the Law unit)

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No Practice unit can be counted as achievement towards a qualification without the linked

Law unit being taken also.* Table 2 sets out the linked Practice and Law units.

* Where a student simply wants to take a single unit not as a part of an overall qualification, then this is permitted. CILEx will certificate students for each unit they achieve.

Therefore, students cannot do the following Practice units towards a qualification without

also doing the linked Law unit:

3.2.2 Table 2: Linked Practice and Law Units

Practice Unit Linked Law Unit

Unit 9 Civil Litigation Unit 2 Contract Law OR Unit 5 Law of Tort

Unit 10 Conveyancing Unit 4 Land Law

Unit 11 Criminal Litigation Unit 3 Criminal Law

Unit 12 The Practice of Family Law Unit 7 Family Law

Unit 13 The Practice of Employment Law Unit 6 Employment Law

Unit 14 Probate Practice Unit 8 Law of Wills and Succession

Unit 15 The Practice of Law for the Elderly

Client

Unit 8 Law of Wills and Succession

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.

3.2.3 CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice – Endorsed Certificates

To reflect these different combinations of Law and Practice units, CILEx has decided to

endorse each CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice. An endorsement means that

no CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice will be issued without the qualification

recognising the legal area in which the qualification was achieved, e.g. CILEx Level 3

Certificate in Law and Practice (Conveyancing).

Table 3 sets out the units which must be achieved in order to be awarded each endorsed

Certificate.

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3.2.4 Table 3: CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice – required combinations for

endorsements

CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law

and Practice …

Units which have to be achieved

… (Conveyancing)

Unit 4 - Land Law

Unit 10 – Conveyancing

Unit 1 – Introduction to Law &

Practice (mandatory

unit)

Unit 16 – Client Care Skills

(mandatory

unit)

Unit 17 - Legal Research

Skills (mandatory

unit)

… (Civil Litigation)

Unit 2 –

Contract Law OR Unit 5 – Law of Tort

Unit 9 – Civil

Litigation

… (Criminal Litigation)

Unit 3 – Criminal Law

Unit 11 – Criminal Litigation

… (Family Practice)

Unit 7 – Family Law

Unit 12 – The Practice of

Family Law

… (Employment practice)

Unit 6 – Employment Law

Unit 13 – The Practice of Employment Law

… (Probate

Practice)

Unit 8 – Law of

Wills and Succession

Unit 14 –

Probate Practice

… (Elderly Client Practice)

Unit 8 – Law of Wills and Succession

Unit 15 - The Practice of Law for the Elderly Client

*Some students working towards the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice will meet the

qualification rules for more than one of CILEx’s Level 3 endorsed certificates. A qualification certificate will only be automatically supplied for the first CILEx Level 3 endorsed certificate which is achieved.

3.3 The structure of the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice

The units (set out in Table 1) are the building blocks of the CILEx Level 3 Professional

Diploma in Law and Practice. Students must achieve a total of 10 units to complete the

CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice. However, many students will

have completed the CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice working towards the

Diploma and, therefore, will have already taken 5 units, so will only have a further 5

units to take, subject to the rules of the qualification.

To achieve the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice students must

ensure that their choice of units complies with the following qualification rules:

3.3.1 Qualification rules: CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and

Practice

Students must take the 7 mandatory units marked in 3.3.2 Table 4.

Students must then take 3 other units of which at least 2 units must be Practice units

The third unit can be either a Law unit or a Practice unit

No Practice unit can be counted as achievement towards a qualification without the

linked Law unit being taken also. See 3.2.2: Table 2 for details of the linked Practice

and Law units.*

Students who have completed the CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice

should refer to the key points in the 3.3.2: Table 4 below for further guidance.

* Where a student simply wants to take a single unit not as a part of an overall qualification, then this is permitted. CILEx will certificate students for each unit they achieve.

Page 16 of 49

An overview of the structure of the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and

Practice is set out in Table 4 below:

3.3.2 Table 4: Overview of the structure of the CILEx Level 3 Professional

Diploma in Law and Practice

Unit Number

Unit Title Qualification Rules

Key Points for students who have completed the Level 3 Certificate

Unit 1 Introduction to Law and Practice Mandatory unit Students who have completed the Certificate will have already

taken Unit 1 and so will not have to take it again.

Unit 2 Contract Law

Mandatory unit Students may have taken one of these units towards the Certificate. If so, they can use this unit towards the Diploma

and will not have to retake it

for the Diploma.

Unit 3 Criminal Law

Mandatory unit

Unit 4 Land Law

Mandatory unit

Unit 5 Law of Tort

Mandatory unit

Unit 6 Employment Law

Optional Law units

Students may have taken one of these units on the Certificate. The unit achieved on the Certificate can be used towards the Diploma.

Unit 7 Family Law


Unit 9 Civil Litigation

A minimum of 2

practice units must be taken. Students must take the linked Law unit for each of the Practice units they take.

(see Table 2 for

details of the linked Law and Practice units)

Students who have completed the Certificate will have already taken one of these units. The unit achieved on the Certificate can be used towards to the Diploma.

Unit 10 Conveyancing

Unit 11 Criminal Litigation

Unit 12 The Practice of Family Law

Unit 13 The Practice of Employment Law

Unit 14 Probate Practice

Unit 15 The Practice of Law for the Elderly Client

Unit 16 Client Care Skills Mandatory unit Students who have completed the Certificate will have already taken Unit 16 and so will not have to take it again.

Unit 17 Legal Research Skills

Mandatory unit Students who have completed the Certificate will have already

taken Unit 17 and so will not have to take it again.

3.3.3 Some examples of the different routes students can take to achieve the


(i) The most Practice-based variation of the Level 3 Diploma in Law and

Practice

A student looking to achieve the most Practice-based variation of the CILEx Level 3

Diploma in Law and Practice will always ensure that Unit 9 (Civil Litigation), Unit 10

(Conveyancing) and Unit 11 (Criminal Litigation) are the three other units. This is

the maximum number of Practice units permitted by the qualification rules. This is a

sound and broad combination of Practice units which complements the breadth of

the mandatory Law units.

Page 17 of 49

(ii) Student with an interest in a specific area of Law

A student with a specific interest in an area of Law and Practice, e.g. Family, will

ensure that two of their other three units are, say, Unit 7 Family Law and Unit 12

The Practice of Family Law. This combination shows that the student has already

begun to develop a specific interest and build upon the core Law units.

There are a number of possible combinations of the three other units one could

choose. These combinations permit students and centres the ability to create more

flexible qualifications that are more attuned to individual circumstances and

requirements.

Full details of these combinations can be found in Appendix E of this Qualifications

Handbook.

3.4 Assessment pattern – CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice and

CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice

The units and their methods of assessment can be categorised as follows:

Unit 1 Introduction to Law and Practice

Unit 1 is a broad introduction to the English legal context. Covering generic topics such

as the sources and structure of the English legal system, it is an important underpinning

foundation to the study of all specific areas of Law that make up the qualification. For

this reason, Unit 1 is mandatory and is assessed through a 1 hour multiple choice test.

Results for this unit are graded Pass, Merit and Distinction.

Notional* grade boundaries are set as follows:

Pass grade – 60% of total available marks

Merit grade – 75% of total available marks

Distinction grade – 85% of total available marks

The Law Units (Units 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)

Law Units 2, 3, 4 and 5 are core introductions to the main legal subjects and

mandatory units for the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice. These

units are the linchpin of the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice and

vital to ensuring that all potential CILEx Fellows have a sound basis in the essentials of

Law.

Law Units 6, 7 and 8 are popular and accessible Level 3 areas of Law in which CILEx

Level 3 students often require a solid introduction. Whilst not core to the CILEx Level 3

Professional Diploma in Law and Practice, these units offer students the ability to build

their knowledge and understanding in what are mainstream areas from an early stage.

All Law units are assessed by a 1 ½ hour examination (plus 15 minutes reading time).

Results for these units are graded Pass, Merit and Distinction.




Distinction – 75% of total available marks

The Practice Units (Units 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15) build on the foundations of

the Law units and address the key aspects of successful legal practice in each of the

designated areas. To ensure greater realism, each of the Practice units is assessed by a 1

Page 18 of 49

½ hour examination (plus 15 minutes reading time) based on a case study which is

released to students approximately 6 weeks in advance of the examination. Results for

these units are graded Pass, Merit and Distinction.




Distinction – 75% of total available marks

*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.

The Professional Skills Units (Units 16 and 17) offer students the opportunity to

demonstrate proficiency and understanding in key transferable skills within a legal

context. Employers prioritise the development of skills among legal employees, and

CILEx has responded to this by developing these two mandatory skills-based units in the

following key areas of legal practice: the ability to research the law reliably and

accurately, and the ability to develop relationships with clients seeking legal assistance.

Because these units are skills-based, they are assessed by CILEx-written, centre-

delivered materials, marked by tutors and quality assured by CILEx. Results for these

units are graded Pass or Fail.

3.4.1 Table 5: Summary of the different methods of assessment

Unit Title Assessment Notional Grade

Boundaries

Unit 1 Introduction to Law and Practice 1 hour multiple choice

test

Pass: 60%

Merit: 75%

Distinction: 85%

Unit 2 Contract Law

1½ hour closed book

exam (and 15 minutes

reading time)

Pass: 50%

Merit: 65%

Distinction: 75%

Unit 3 Criminal Law Unit 4 Land Law Unit 5 Law of Tort Unit 6 Employment Law Unit 7 Family Law Unit 8 Law of Wills and Succession


1½ hour closed book

exam (and 15 minutes

reading time) based on

pre-released case study

Pass: 50%

Merit: 65%

Distinction: 75%

Unit 10 Conveyancing Unit 11 Criminal Litigation Unit 12 The Practice of Family Law Unit 13 The Practice of Employment Law Unit 14 Probate Practice


Unit 16 Client Care Skills

Series of skills-based

tasks set by CILEx,

undertaken with centre

and quality assured by

CILEx

Pass or Fail

grades only


3.5 Qualification outcomes

Overall results for both the CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice and the CILEx

Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice are not graded. Students, who achieve

Page 19 of 49

those units which meet the rules of a qualification, will be issued with a certificate

confirming achievement of the qualification.

3.6 Presentation of qualification units – an explanation of the unit specifications

A unit specification is available for each of the units for the Level 3 Certificate in Law and

Practice and the Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice. The unit specifications

for the Level 3 qualifications are set out separately in the following document: Unit

Specification Handbook - CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice, CILEx

Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice. 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.

Level: each unit has a level which identifies its difficulty. All the units in this Qualification

Handbook are set at Level 3. This means that they are equivalent to GCE A Level

standard in terms of difficulty.

Credit Value: as stated in section 2.9, each unit has a credit value. Please see 2.9 for a

definition of this value and the purpose of credit.

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 verbs are: to “Describe”, “Explain”, “Identify” etc. You will note that the

final assessment criterion is nearly always “Apply an understanding …”

This final assessment criterion marks a convention adopted in the writing of the units. At

Level 3, the key skill for the student is to understand the Law and associated Legal

Practice and then, critically, demonstrate its application to a specific case or scenario.

CILEx has chosen to describe this skill of application in each unit specification in this way,

as a single operation within each learning outcome. It means, of course, that each of the

prior assessment criteria can be thought of as requiring this skill of application.

Knowledge, Understanding and Skills: this column attempts to describe the

knowledge, understanding and skill that are relevant to the application of the assessment

criteria.

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.

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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 “e.g.”) 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 “i.e.”, 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 the phrase: “Application to a scenario”. This identifies the nature of the application

required in the associated assessment criterion, i.e. the student has to be able to apply

this understanding to a realistic, work-based scenario. Where there are additional

requirements for this assessment criterion, such as the need for students to be able in

the assessment to complete certain documents, then these will also be stated at this

point in the unit specification.

Students and tutors will also note that there are requirements for students to have an

understanding of case law throughout each of the units. Case law is always italicised in

the units to make it more readily identifiable. CILEx has adopted the following view on

the place of case law within its Level 3 assessments:

Where case law is explicitly quoted in the unit specification, then students can be

tested on this case law in an examination question;

Students cannot be tested on case law which does not explicitly appear in the unit

specification;

Where the unit specification calls for “any relevant case law”, then the student will

be expected to have identified and understood relevant examples for that specific

topic or issue;

Where the unit specification calls for “any relevant case law”, then the relevant

examination will be able to assess whether the candidate can demonstrate their

understanding of this requirement, but only in an open way and not by

anticipating specific examples of case law.

Students referring to case law in Level 3 examinations should give the name of

the case and if there are two cases with the same name, should give the date but

are not required to give the date otherwise.

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 and Key Skills

standards.

Page 21 of 49

Section 4: Qualification Administration

4.1 Introduction

The suite of Level 3 units consists of Law units (Units 1-8), Practice units (Units 9-15)

and Professional Skills units (Units 16 and 17).

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 16 Client Care Skills and Unit 17 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. An overview of the reasonable

adjustment policy and procedures is set out in section 4.7.

The special consideration policy and procedures are set out in section 4.8 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 3 qualifications including:

the results enquiries and appeals policy (section 4.9) which sets out how students

can challenge the results of their examinations or assessments

the examination regulations (section 4.2.5)

the examination registration regulations (section 4.2.2 and Appendix D)

the malpractice policy (section 4.13)

the missing script policy (section 4.14)

4.2. Registering for examinations - all Law and Practice units (Units 1-15)

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

All students must be registered as members of CILEx (and have their subscriptions

and any other related fees paid up to date) in order to take the Level 3 examinations.

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

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 bookings of 5 candidates or more with one payment for all entries


Page 22 of 49

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 vital 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 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

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





Page 23 of 49

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) 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 ITC) 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

16) and Legal Research Skills (Unit 17)

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.

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.


http://www.cilex.org.uk/

Page 24 of 49

4.3.1 The registration and submission process for the Professional Skills

assessments (Units 16 and 17)

All students must be registered as members of CILEx (and have their subscription

fees paid up to date) in order to submit their Level 3 Professional Skills assessments

to CILEx.

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 bookings 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 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

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.




Page 25 of 49

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

16 and 17.

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

1-15)

The Law and Practice units are graded Pass, Merit, Distinction and Fail.

In section 3.4: 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.

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.


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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 – 15) 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 16 and 17) 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. Further advice and guidance for

tutors on the nature of the moderation process can be found in Appendix F.

4.6 Re-attempting units

Examinations (Units 1 – 15)

Students who have failed the examinations for the Law and Practice units (Units 1 -

15) 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.

Professional Skills (Units 16 and 17)

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.

Page 27 of 49

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

CILEx recognises that there are some students who have coped with the learning

demands of a CILEx course, but for whom the standard arrangements for the assessment

may present an unnecessary barrier. This barrier could be removed without affecting the

validity of the assessment. To meet the needs of these students, CILEx has in place a

Reasonable Adjustments policy.

A reasonable adjustment is any action that helps to reduce the effect of a disability or

difficulty that places the student at a substantial disadvantage in the assessment

situation.

Reasonable adjustments must not affect the integrity of what needs to be assessed, but

may involve and not be limited to:

changing standard assessment arrangements, for example, allowing students

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.

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 Guidance to Candidates:

Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration.

All requests for reasonable adjustments must be made in writing by the deadline (see

Appendix A: Key Dates and Deadlines) and supported by evidence as set out in

the Guidance to Candidates: Reasonable Adjustments and Special

Consideration.

Reasonable adjustment 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.

Page 28 of 49

4.7.3 Appealing the outcome of a reasonable adjustment application

Students are permitted to appeal the outcome of a reasonable adjustment application

if the application was made prior to the deadline for reasonable adjustment

applications (see Appendix A - Key Dates and Deadlines).

Students must refer to information on the reasonable adjustment appeals process set

out in the Guidance to Candidates: Reasonable Adjustments and Special

Consideration.

4.7.4 Where to find out more information about reasonable adjustments

The Guidance to Candidates: Reasonable Adjustments and Special

Consideration 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 Special Consideration

4.8.1 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 16

Client Care Skills and Unit 17 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.

4.8.2 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

Guidance to Candidates: Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration.

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

Guidance to Candidates: Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration.

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.


Page 29 of 49

4.8.3 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 Guidance to Candidates: Reasonable

Adjustments and Special Consideration.

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.

4.8.4 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 Guidance to Candidates: Reasonable Adjustments and Special

Consideration.

4.8.5 Where to find out more information about special consideration

The Guidance to Candidates: Reasonable Adjustments and Special

Consideration is available on the CILEx website (www.cilex.org.uk)

Queries about special consideration can be raised with the Awards-Operations

Department at CILEx.

4.9 Results enquiries and appeals process

4.9.1 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 an appeal. Students can appeal their

assessment result irrespective of the grade they have received. For Law and Practice

units 2 -15 students can opt to request a clerical check of their result AND/OR a re-

mark of their answer script.

For Unit 1: Introduction to Law and Practice, students can request a clerical check of

their result. Students cannot request a re-mark for Unit 1.

For a Professional Skills assessment (Unit 16 Client Care Skills and Unit 17 Legal

Research Skills), students can request a clerical check AND/OR a quality assurance

review.


Page 30 of 49

4.9.2 The results enquiry and appeals process for all Law and Practice units

(Units 1 – 15)

(i) Clerical Check – all Law and Practice units (Units 1-15)

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, students must write to the Awards-Operations

department by the deadlines set out in Appendix A: Key Dates and Deadlines

providing the following information:

examination subject

membership number

candidate number

include the appropriate fee (see Appendix B)

that a ‘clerical check’ is requested

Students, who wish to appeal the outcome of a clerical check for Unit 1 Introduction

to Law and Practice only, can apply for independent review. Students should refer

to section (iii) Independent Review – all Law and Practice units below.

(ii) Re-mark – Law and Practice (Units 2 -15)

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 result of the re-mark is sent out within 6 weeks of receipt of the (re-mark)

request.

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 (Units 2 – 15) students must write

to the Awards-Operations department by the deadlines set out in Appendix A: Key

Dates and Deadlines providing the following information:

examination subject

membership number

Page 31 of 49

candidate number


that a ‘re-mark’ is requested

The re-mark process does not take into account any special consideration for illness,

bereavement or other factors which may have affected the candidate’s performance.

Candidates seeking special consideration must read the Guidance to Candidates:

Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration, and apply by the deadlines,

shortly after the examination has been taken.

If a student is not satisfied with the outcome of the re-marking process, they may

apply for independent review (see (iii) below).

Students cannot apply for a re-mark for Unit 1: Introduction to Law and Practice

(iii) Independent Review – all Law and Practice units (Units 1 – 15)

Students may challenge the outcome of a re-mark for the Law and Practice units –

this process is known as Independent Review.

Independent review for Law and Practice units (except Unit 1 Introduction to Law and

Practice) can only be requested if a re-mark has been requested and the outcome

received by the student.

Independent review for Unit 1 Introduction to Law and Practice can only be requested

if a clerical check has been requested and the outcome received by the student.

The student’s answer script is reviewed by the CILEx Independent Review Panel

which includes independent members who are not part of CILEx’s team of assessment

personnel.

The purpose of the independent review exercise is to determine whether fair

and equitable marking practices and appeals procedures have been followed

and are transparent.

Panel meetings are held a maximum of 40 working days after a request for

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 when a student’s independent review request is acknowledged.

The Panel can reach the following decisions in relation to an independent review

request:

o Confirm due process has been followed and the clerical check result for Unit 1

Introduction to Law and Practice stands.

o Confirm that due process has been followed and the re-mark result of a Level

3 examination script stands.

o Order a further clerical check for Unit 1 Introduction to Law and Practice

because marking and clerical check procedures have not followed due process

and met CILEx requirements.

o Order a further re-mark of an examination script because marking and re-

marking procedures have not followed due process and met CILEx

requirements.

o Change a mark and if relevant, grade, only where an administrative error is

identified.

The decision of the Independent Review Panel is issued within 5 working days of the

Panel meeting.

In the event that the Panel orders a further re-mark or clerical check, this will be

processed as a priority normally within 15 working days from the date of the Panel

meeting.

The independent review process does not provide additional feedback or commentary

on a student’s performance.

An amended results notification is provided if an independent review leads to a

change of examination result.

An amended credit/qualification certificate is provided if an independent review leads

to a change of grade.

The result of the independent review is final and overrides all previous results issued.

No further appeal is permitted after the independent review.

Page 32 of 49

To request an independent review of a re-mark result for the Law and Practice units

or Unit 1 Introduction to Law and Practice unit, a student must write to the Awards-

Operations Department within 2 weeks of receipt of the re-mark result or clerical

check result (Unit 1 introduction to Law and Practice only), providing the following

information:

examination subject

membership number

candidate number

that an ‘independent review’ is requested and the reason why

Applications for independent review received more than two weeks after a student

has received a re-mark result or a clerical check result (Unit 1: Introduction to Law

and Practice only) will not be processed.

4.9.3 The results enquiries and appeals process for the Professional Skills units

(Unit 16 Client Care Skills and Unit 17 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

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) Clerical Check – Professional Skills units (Units 16 and 17)

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 is sent out within 15 working days of receipt of the

clerical check request.

The outcome of the clerical check, if different from the original grade awarded,

overrides the original grade awarded.

To request a clerical check students must write to the Awards-Operations Department

by the deadlines set out in Appendix A: Key Dates and Deadlines providing the

following information:

title of the unit

membership number

candidate number


that a ‘clerical check’ is requested

Page 33 of 49

(ii) Quality Assurance Review – Professional Skills units (Units 16 and 17)

This 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 a

credit certificate are provided to the candidate.

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 for either of the Professional Skills

assessments, students must write to the Award-Operations Department by the

deadlines set out in Appendix A: Key Dates and Deadlines providing the following

information:

title of the unit

membership number

candidate number


that a ‘Quality Assurance review’ is requested

If a student is not satisfied with the outcome of the quality assurance review process,

they may apply for independent review (see below).

(iii) Independent Review – Professional Skills units (Units 16 and 17)

Students may challenge the outcome of a quality assurance review – this process is

known as Independent Review.

Independent review for the Professional Skills units can only be requested if a quality

assurance review has been requested and the outcome received by the student.

The student’s assessment is reviewed by the CILEx Independent Review Panel

which includes independent members who are not part of CILEx’s team of assessment

personnel.

The purpose of this review exercise is to determine whether fair and

equitable quality assurance practices and appeals procedures have been

followed and are transparent.

Panel meetings are held a maximum of 40 working days after a request for

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 when a student’s independent review request is acknowledged.

The Panel can reach the following decisions in relation to an independent review

request:

o Confirm that due process has been followed and the quality assurance review

result of a Professional Skills Unit stands.

o Order a further quality assurance review because moderation and quality

assurance review procedures have not followed due process and met CILEx

requirements.

o Change a grade, only where an administrative error is identified

The decision of the Independent Review Panel is issued within 5 working days of the

Panel meeting.

In the event that the Panel orders a further quality assurance review, this will be

processed as a priority normally within 15 working days from the date of the Panel

meeting.

The independent review process does not provide additional feedback or commentary

on a student’s performance.

An amended results notification and credit certificate are provided if the independent

review leads to a Pass grade being awarded.

Page 34 of 49

The result of the independent review is final and overrides all previous grades issued.

No further appeal is permitted after the independent review.

To request an independent review of a quality assurance review outcome a student

must write to the Awards-Operations Department, within 2 weeks of receipt of the

quality assurance review outcome, providing the following information:

title of unit

membership number

candidate number

that an ‘independent review’ is requested and the reason why

Applications for independent review received more than two weeks after a student

has received a quality assurance review result will not be processed.

4.10 Certification – unit 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.

Credit certificates are sent out to students within 25 working days of the release of the

results notifications.

Qualification certificates* are produced for students who have successfully completed

either the CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice or the CILEx Level 3 Professional

Diploma in Law and Practice. Again, following the January and June assessment sessions

and the release of the examination and Professional Skills assessment results, the

qualification certificates are produced. Qualification certificates are sent out to students

within 25 working days of the release of the results notifications. The Professional

Diploma in Law and Practice qualification is formally awarded as the CILEx Level 3

Diploma in Law and Practice. This means that students who successfully complete the

Professional Diploma in Law and Practice will receive a certificate confirming they have

successfully completed the CILEx Level 3 Diploma in Law and Practice. This title appears

on the student’s certificate because it is the qualification title agreed by Ofqual.

*Some students working towards the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice will meet the

qualification rules for more than one of CILEx’s Level 3 endorsed certificates. A qualification certificate will only be automatically supplied for the first CILEx Level 3 endorsed certificate which is achieved. If more than one endorsed certificate is achieved in the same session, all certificates will be dispatched by CILEx for that session.

4.11 Past question papers, examiner’s reports and suggested answers

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 -8 and Practice Units

9-15.

Accredited centres are supplied with the live materials for the Professional Skills

assessments (Units 16 and 17). 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 2-8 and Practice Units 9-15 are

posted on the website shortly after the release of the examination results. Suggested

answers are not made available for Unit 1: Introduction to Law and Practice.

4.12 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


Page 35 of 49

retains a sample of students’ work and securely destroys all scripts and Professional

Skills assessments which are no longer required.

4.13 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.

4.14 Missing/lost/damaged scripts

CILEx has in place a policy in the unlikely event that students’ examination answer

scripts are lost, damaged or destroyed. Students are referred to the Missing Script Policy

on the CILEx website (www.cilex.org.uk) for further information.

4.15 Release of examination answer scripts

Students’ examination scripts for all the Law and Practice units are the property of CILEx

and are not released to students or tutors.



Page 36 of 49

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:

[email protected]

Telephone:

01234 845777

Student/Member/Fellow applications and fees Advice on qualifications CPD advice Qualifying Employment enquiries Subscriptions Waiver of post qualifying term requirements

Graduation Ceremony Membership upgrades

Awards-Operations

Email: [email protected]

Telephone:

01234 845727

Examination and assessment registration, regulations & fees

Examination centres

Examination admission permits Examination notifications and results

Advice on qualifications CILEx qualification rules & regulations Reasonable adjustment Special consideration Appeals: clerical checks & re-marks, quality assurance

reviews and independent review Exemptions ID requirements for examinations

Regional Liaison Officers

Details available at

www.cilex.org.uk

Guidance and support to accredited centres within liaison officer’s area.

Accredited centre visits for centres within the liaison

officer’s area Guidance and support for employers within the liaison

officer’s area The Regional Liaison 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.

Liaison Officer

Contact via membership

Centre accreditation Centre Inset Days

ILEX Professional Standards

(IPS)

Email:

[email protected]

Code of Conduct Membership disciplinary matters

Complaints against CILEx members






Page 37 of 49

Telephone: 01234 845770

Corporate Affairs

Email:

[email protected]

Telephone:

01234 841000

Corporate governance Equality and Diversity

Appendices

List of Appendices

Appendix A – Annual Schedule – Key dates and deadlines

Appendix B – Fees




Appendix F – The qualification units – explanatory notes for tutors (not sent to students)

Appendix G – CILEx Level 3 Extended Professional Diploma in Law and Practice (not sent

to students)

Appendices A-D are updated annually. Students and tutors requiring an updated version

of an appendix should either go to the CILEx website (www.cilex.org.uk) or contact the

Awards-Operations department [email protected] or telephone 01234 845727 during

office hours.



Page 38 of 49

Appendix A – Annual Schedule:

Key Dates and Deadlines Level 3 Qualifications 2012/13

Key Deadlines and Dates Key Deadlines given to

candidates for:

January 2013 Exam

session &

January 2013

Professional Skills

Submission Window

Key Deadlines given to

candidates for:

June 2013 Exam

session &

June 2013

Professional Skills

Submission Window

Deadline for new membership

registration offline forms to be

received by CILEx (offline forms

received after this date cannot be

guaranteed to be processed to allow

entry in accordance with the exam

entry deadline)

25 October 2012

21 February 2013

Examination and Professional Skills

Assessment registration form

available (online and paper-based

from CILEx)

Noon (UK time)

6 August 2012

Noon (UK time)

21 January 2013

Deadline for exam registration and

Professional Skills Assessment

registration forms and fees to be

received by CILEx for all units

Noon (UK time)

1 November 2012

Noon (UK time)

18 April 2013

Deadline for reasonable adjustment

applications in respect of pre-

release case study materials

30 October 2012

2 April 2013

Deadline for reasonable adjustment

applications for Law and Practice

units

6 December 2012

13 May 2013

Offline exam admission permits

sent to candidates (where

requested)

17 December 2012

20 May 2013

Pre release case studies available

on the CILEx website

12 November 2012

26 April 2013

Exam admission permits available

to all candidates online through

myCILEx

17 December 2012

20 May 2013

Deadline for exemption applications

to be claimed for exam session

12 October 2012

22 March 2013

Submission window for centres to

submit Professional Skills

assessments by CILEx for quality

assurance checks. Please note that

assessments must be received by

CILEx during this submission

window. No late submissions will

be accepted.

7 to 11 January 2013

31 May to 6 June 2013

Page 39 of 49

Examination week – Law and

Practice units*

14-18 January 2013

10-14 June 2013

Deadline for special consideration

requests for Law and Practice units

only

15 February 2013

12 July 2013

Deadline for Law and Practice

examination results and

Professional Skills assessment

results to be sent to candidates

2 April 2013

(please note that this is a

Tuesday)

23 August 2013

Deadline for Law and Practice

examination results and

Professional Skills assessment

results to be available to all

candidates online through myCILEx

Noon (UK time)

2 April 2013 (please note

that this is a Tuesday)

Noon (UK time)

23 August 2013

Deadline for unit credit certificates

and qualification certificates to be

sent to candidates

8 May 2013

4 October 2013

Deadline for clerical check/re-

mark/quality assurance review

requests

25 April 2013

16 September 2013

Page 40 of 49

Appendix B – Fees

CILEx reviews its fees annually. The fees set out below relate to the January and June

2013 examinations and assessments.

Unit Title Exam

Registration fee/ Professional Skills assessment Registration fee

External Exam centre fee

Clerical Check fee *

Re-mark fee *

QA Review fee *

Unit 1 Introduction to Law and

Practice

£46 £16 £15 N/A N/A

Unit 2 Contract Law

£46 £16 £15 £50 N/A

Unit 3 Criminal Law

£46 £16 £15 £50 N/A

Unit 4 Land Law

£46 £16 £15 £50 N/A

Unit 5 Law of Tort

£46 £16 £15 £50 N/A


£46 £16 £15 £50 N/A

Unit 7 Family Law

£46 £16 £15 £50 N/A


£46 £16 £15 £50 N/A


£46 £16 £15 £50 N/A


£46 £16 £15 £50 N/A

Unit 11 Criminal Litigation

£46 £16 £15 £50 N/A

Unit 12 The Practice of Family Law

£46 £16 £15 £50 N/A

Unit 13 The Practice of Employment Law

£46 £16 £15 £50 N/A

Unit 14 Probate Practice

£46 £16 £15 £50 N/A


£46 £16 £15 £50 N/A

Unit 16 Client Care Skills

£46 N/A £15 N/A £50


£46 N/A £15 N/A £50

*The clerical check fee, re-mark fee and quality assurance review fee is refunded to the 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 candidate’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.

Page 41 of 49

Membership registration and subscription fees 2013:

Registration fee £40

Student member annual subscription fee £50

Affiliate member annual subscription fee £116

Associate member annual subscription fee £164

Graduate Member annual subscription fee (First time

registration, annual subscription and exemption fees total

£635)

£195

Fellow annual subscription fee £290

Please note that preferential rates are available; please contact

[email protected] for further information.


Page 42 of 49


Level 3 January 2013 Examination Session

Monday

14 January

Tuesday

15 January

Wednesday

16 January

Thursday

17 January

Friday

18 January

AM

Introduction to Law &

Practice (Unit 1)

Criminal Law (Unit 3) Land Law (Unit 4)

Employment Law

(Unit 6)

Conveyancing (Unit 10)

Practice of Employment

Law (Unit 13)

Law of Wills &

Succession (Unit 8)

PM

Contract Law (Unit 2)

The Practice of Family

Law (Unit 12)

Law of Tort (Unit 5) Civil Litigation (Unit 9)

Family Law (Unit 7)

Criminal Litigation

(Unit 11)

The Practice of Law for

the Elderly Client (Unit

15)

Probate Practice

(Unit 14)

June 2013 Examination Session

Monday

10 June

Tuesday

11 June

Wednesday

12 June

Thursday

13 June

Friday

14 June

AM

Introduction to Law &

Practice (Unit 1)

Criminal Law (Unit 3) Land Law (Unit 4)

Employment Law

(Unit 6)

Conveyancing (Unit 10)

Practice of Employment

Law (Unit 13)

Law of Wills &

Succession (Unit 8)

PM

Contract Law (Unit 2)

The Practice of Family

Law (Unit 12)

Law of Tort (Unit 5) Civil Litigation (Unit 9)

Family Law (Unit 7)

Criminal Litigation

(Unit 11)

The Practice of Law for

the Elderly Client (Unit

15)

Probate Practice

(Unit 14)

Page 43 of 49


1. Deadlines

Full and valid examination registration applications (online and offline) MUST reach CILEx by the

deadlines set out in Appendix A – Annual Schedule: Key Dates and Deadlines 2012/2013 in

the Level 3 and Level 6 Qualifications handbooks available at www.cilex.org.uk and also set out in

these regulations.

The opening and closing times for each session will always be noon UK time on the published

closing date.

Examination registration applications received after the deadlines will NOT be processed in any

circumstances.

No requests for changes to examination entries will be authorised if received after noon UK time 1

November 2012 for the January 2013 examination session and noon UK time 18 April 2013

for the June 2013 examination session. Each amendment is subject to a £15 administration

charge per change. Candidates will be unable to sit examinations or submit assessments without a

valid entry. Refunds and credits are not available in these instances.

CILEx does NOT accept examination registration forms sent by fax.

2. 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 venue and examination unit

when entering examinations. Candidates MUST check their acknowledgement correspondence

received from CILEx immediately and contact [email protected] without delay if there are

any queries regarding their entry.

No amendments will be made after the session closing date set out in Appendix A – Annual

Schedule: Key Dates and Deadlines 2012/2013 and also set out in these regulations.

Candidates will be unable to sit examinations or submit assessments where incorrect information

has been provided to CILEx. Refunds and credits are not available in these instances.

Students who have not studied with a CILEx accredited centre will not be entered for the

examinations and any examination scripts or assessments submitted will not be marked or quality

assured by CILEx.

3. Examination Centres

UK-based candidates, with the exception of distance learning (including ILEX Tutorial College and

Cardiff College Online candidates) should take their examinations at their CILEx accredited centre

(course provider).

UK-based distance learning candidates (including ILEX Tutorial College and Cardiff College

Online candidates) and other candidates who wish to take an examination at an external

examination centre must choose a centre from the list on the examination entry and pay the

external examination centre fee for each examination. There is no external centre fee for the

Professional Skills Assessments.

Overseas candidates who are studying with an overseas CILEx accredited centre should register

to take the examinations at their CILEx accredited centre.


Page 44 of 49

Overseas distance learning candidates (including ILEX Tutorial College and Cardiff College

Online candidates) must contact the Awards-Operations department at CILEx prior to submitting

the examination registration by contacting [email protected]. Distance learning candidates

(including ILEX Tutorial College and Cardiff College Online candidates) overseas are required to

organise their own examination centre, which must meet CILEx’s examination centre requirements.

There is no external centre fee for the Professional Skills Assessments. The fees for the

examination centre are paid by the candidate. Further information and guidance is available from

the Awards-Operations department.

No requests for changes to examination centres will be authorised if received after noon UK time

1 November 2012 for the January 2013 examination session and noon UK time 18 April 2013




4. 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 assessment venue will be considered null and void by CILEx and the examination will not be

marked or quality assured by CILEx.






5. Professional Skills Assessments Level 3 Certificate & Professional Diploma in Law &

Practice and Level 6 Certificate & Professional Higher Diploma in Law & Practice /Single

Subject Certificate/Graduate ‘Fast Track Diploma’

It is essential that all students discuss Professional Skills assessments with their tutors before

deciding whether to register to have their assessments submitted for the 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 it 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.

6. Examination Schedule 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 and once registered, no refunds or credits will be given

where candidates are unable to sit exams due to the clash.

7. Resit candidates

You must check first with the CILEx accredited centre where you studied your CILEx unit to see if

you are permitted to re-sit the examination with them. If the centre can accommodate the resit,

written confirmation will need to be sent to [email protected]

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.



Page 45 of 49

This must be done before the session closing date, no amendments to entries will be accepted

after this date and candidates will be unable to sit their examinations or submit assessments

without a valid entry.






8. Eligibility

Level 3 candidates must be enrolled as valid members with CILEx and their subscription and any

associated fees must be paid up to date.

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 must be paid up

to date.

Level 6 Single Subject candidates do not need to be enrolled as members but must pay the non

member fee per session.

9. Fees

The correct fee MUST be submitted with the examination registration application. Invoices will not

be issued.

It is each candidate’s responsibility to ensure that the correct examination registration entry and

appropriate fees (including, if applicable, the external examination centre fee) 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.

Fees are not refunded or credited for examinations if a candidate withdraws or enters themselves

in error.

Fees are not refunded or credited for assessments (Professional Skills) if a candidate withdraws or

enters themselves in error, if the centre does not deliver or the candidate does not submit their assessment in sufficient time to meet the centre or CILEx deadlines.

In exceptional circumstances, candidates may apply for credit and occasionally refund, the approval

of which is entirely at the discretion of CILEx. Incorrect information being provided to CILEx is not

considered as an exceptional circumstance.

Requests for credit must be received with supporting evidence by 15 February 2013 for the

January 2013 examination session and 12 July 2013 for the June 2013 examination session.

Decisions regarding applications will be sent within 21 working days of receipt by CILEx on the

provision that all required evidence has been provided to CILEx.

CILEx will deny access to the examinations and not mark or quality assure the answer scripts

and assessments for any candidates who have not provided a full valid entry, paid the examination

registration fees and any associated fees (including but not limited to external centre fees and

subscription fees) in full by the deadline for examination entries. This applies to any debts

thereafter.

10. Examination Registration Acknowledgements

Online

Page 46 of 49

Automatic acknowledgements are generated immediately for online entries. Candidates MUST

check their entry and contact the Awards Operations department [email protected] immediately

if there are any issues with the entry.






Candidates who do not receive an automatic acknowledgement MUST contact the Awards-

Operations department by email [email protected] or by telephone on 01234 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 who do not receive an acknowledgement MUST contact the Awards-Operations

department by email [email protected] or by telephone on 01234 845727 one week after

submitting their entry to confirm 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.

11. Examination Admission Permits

Examination admission permits setting out the date, time and venue for each examination are

available to candidates online via MyILEX at www.cilex.org.uk at noon UK time 17th December

2012 for the January 2013 examination session and noon UK time 20 May 2013 for the June

2013 examination sessions.

Candidates requesting offline permits at the time of examination registration, will also have these

issued by post by 17th December 2012 for the January 2013 session and 20 May 2013 for the

June 2013 session.

Candidates are responsible for checking their permits thoroughly and contacting ILEX

[email protected] if a permit is not available online or received offline.

The admission permits must be presented at each examination.

Please note that Professional Skills assessments appear on the examination admission permits,

they are not live examinations. Candidates must check their examination entry acknowledgements

to ensure that they have entered the Professional Skills Units as required.

12. 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

department. This is also contained in the Level 3 and Level 6 Qualifications Handbooks 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.







Page 47 of 49

Refunds and credits are not available to candidates who fail to present their identification to the

satisfaction of CILEx.

13. 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 ILEX Professional Standards (IPS). 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

Page 48 of 49


To achieve the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice, candidates need to achieve

mandatory units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 16 and 17, plus three other units (at least two of which must

be Practice units).

As stated in Section 3.3, there are a number of permitted combinations for these three other units.

The combinations of 3 other units making up the Diploma qualification are as follows:

Combination 1 Unit 6 Employment Law

Unit 13 The Practice of

Employment Law


Combination 2 Unit 6 Employment Law Unit 13 The Practice of

Employment Law


Combination 3 Unit 6 Employment Law Unit 13 The Practice of

Employment Law

Unit 11 Criminal

Litigation

Combination 4 Unit 7 Family Law Unit 12 The Practice of

Family Law



Family Law



Family Law

Unit 11 Criminal

Litigation

Combination 7 Unit 8 Law of Wills and

Succession

Unit 14 Probate Practice Unit 9 Civil Litigation


Succession

Unit 14 Probate Practice Unit 10 Conveyancing


Succession

Unit 14 Probate Practice Unit 11 Criminal

Litigation


Succession


Law for the Elderly Client



Succession





Succession



Unit 11 Criminal

Litigation


Succession

Unit 14 Probate Practice Unit 15 The Practice of


Combination 14 Unit 9 Civil Litigation Unit 10 Conveyancing

Unit 11 Criminal

Litigation

Combination 15 Unit 9 Civil Litigation

Unit 10 Conveyancing Unit 6 Employment Law


Unit 10 Conveyancing Unit 7 Family Law

Combination 17 Unit 9 Civil Litigation Unit 10 Conveyancing Unit 8 Law of Wills and

Succession

Page 49 of 49


Unit 11 Criminal

Litigation


Combination 19 Unit 9 Civil Litigation Unit 11 Criminal

Litigation

Unit 7 Family Law

Combination 20 Unit 9 Civil Litigation Unit 11 Criminal

Litigation

Unit 8 Law of Wills and

Succession

Combination 21 Unit 10 Conveyancing Unit 11 Criminal

Litigation



Litigation

Unit 7 Family Law


Litigation

Unit 8 Law of Wills and

Succession

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