We’d say reasonably priced rather than cheap because although they’re affordable they are definitely high quality in content and delivery.

When we set our pricing structure we aren’t driven by profit, we need to cover our costs to make sure our materials are always accessible and to offer our staff and their families a living wage. We add only a small amount for development so we can keep improving our offer to learners and because we want to save some to be able to offer scholarships in future. If you need to finish your studies and need a little help to do so financially in future, we’d like to be able to help you with that.

We only want to give you what you need and a little more for your comfort and convenience. For example, a level 3 legacy unit takes an average of 12 weeks to complete, distance learning lets you learn in your own time of course, and so you may take less or more time. We give you a 6-month subscription. Why pay for a year or more when what you need is 3-6 months?

We also save money by not printing any materials and instead providing them online for convenience, wherever you are and whenever you would like to choose to study.

CPQ has three qualifications within it.

• The Foundation stage is set at level 3 and on completion you will be a CILEX Paralegal. Level 3 is equivalent to A level.
• The Advanced stage is set at around level 4 and if you complete both Foundation and Advanced stages you will be an Advanced Paralegal. Level 4 is equivalent to 1^st year honours degree.
• The Professional stage is set at level 6 and if you complete all three stages, you will be a CILEX Lawyer. Level 6 is equivalent to 3^rd year honours degree.

Foundation stage

7 mandatory modules

• Ethics and professional responsibility – done with CILEx
• Professional skills succeeding in a legal environment
• Professional skills legal research
• Legal systems
• Contract law
• Law of tort
• Introduction to property and private client

Advanced stage

Four mandatory modules (five for Welsh apprentices as property and conveyancing is also compulsory for them)

• Ethics and professional responsibility – done with CILEx
• Professional and legal skills
• Dispute resolution
• Criminal law and litigation

Plus, one optional module from a choice of:

• Business and employment law
• Family law and practice
• Wills, probate and private client
• Property and conveyancing

Professional stage

One mandatory module – professional skills.

Plus, one optional module from:

• Dispute resolution
• Criminal litigation
• Residential conveyancing
• Commercial conveyancing
• Employment law
• Business and commercial law
• Family litigation
• Wills, probate and private client
• Immigration law

You must also undertake and evidence professional experience at each stage.

This varies from one person to the next depending on how much time you have to give. Our subscriptions are set up on the basis of you working around 3.5 hours a week on each subject to fit your study around work and personal commitments. You may be able to spend more time each week and so you may progress much more quickly than the time estimate CILEX give.

CILEX estimate as follows:

Foundation stage – 18 months – 2 years.

Advanced stage – 18 months – 2 years.

Professional stage – 12.

Yes, you have to undertake professional experience at each stage. It’s possible to start the Foundation stage without having employment in the sector but you would need to have that work in order to complete that stage and achieve the qualification and to move on to the Advanced stage.

With CPQ you have to register for a stage with CILEX before you begin it, so you would go to their website, click get started, follow the process to register for your stage with or without exemptions as appropriate. This registration covers your professionalism and ethics courses, your professional membership, the bookshelf of eBooks for all the subjects and your assessment entries. While you’re filling out the registration on the CILEX website there will be a question as to whether you’ve chosen your learning centre, click yes and you can select Brightlink from the drop down.

There is no equivalent to the accelerated pathways that could be followed in the legacy system under CPQ. CILEX have said that doesn’t rule out them doing something at some point in the future if there is enough demand, but they have given it no consideration as yet.

CPQ exams, like the legacy ones are initially available in January, June and November in 2022 but from 2023 CILEX are hoping to offer them on demand.

At the time of writing, CILEX tell us they are developing these and expect them to be ready soon.

All CPQ units are assessed by online exams.

Yes, at Foundation and Advanced stage most assessments are multiple choice. At professional stage there will be a combination of drafting, written responses, role play and maybe some multiple choice too.

Yes, you should let CILEX know that you need reasonable adjustments in your study and your exams as soon as possible because there is lots they can do to help. You can get help with work firewalls, with integration and use of software, extra time and anything else that is available.

During study, if you have particular learning needs you can also ask for free hard copies of books from the bookshelf and support to learn how to use all the features on the online books too.

3 years.

Foundation stage

You can pay in full, in instalments or someone else like an employer can pay for you. We are working on a finance partner who may be able to offer loans at a reasonable interest rate and will announce if this becomes available.

CILEX are offering scholarships that are available to you no matter which learning centre you study with. Brightlink will also offer the occasional scholarship in future and you can watch our social media to find out more about these.

If you work 51% or more of your time in Wales you could be eligible for funding under the Welsh Legal Apprenticeship Program.

At least once every 2 years and more often when the law changes.

Yes, you can buy hard copies if you wish which are about £26 each at the time of writing.

eBooks allow audio functions to listen rather than read and you can listen or read across three devices which will all synchronise.

You can also create flashcards from your eBook as you progress through it.

If you need a hard copy book because of a neurodiversity or learning need in particular you can apply to CILEX to access these without additional charge. The person in charge of reasonable adjustments and support at CILEX is Lyndsey O’Brien.

You can print up to 7 pages at a time from a book at home for yourself.

No, you must study a subject with an accredited learning centre like Brightlink before you can enter an exam in that subject. If you tried to study alone or with the help of a non-accredited person or organisation, this would be discovered after the exams when results are released. This would mean your exam results would be withdrawn due to misconduct.