In 2022 the Welsh Government launched new Legal Services Apprenticeships for Wales. Apprenticeship programmes are currently available at levels 3 and 5 and they are based on CILEX Professional Qualifications (CPQ).
Brightlink are working in partnership with ITEC to offer individuals and organisations in all parts of Wales this fully funded learning opportunity.
The level 3 legal services apprenticeship mirrors the CPQ Foundation Stage, and the level 5 mirrors the Advanced Stage. Learners study for up to 2 years at each level, although it is possible to complete the qualifications more quickly.
Once they complete the level 3 apprenticeship successfully, they will be a qualified CILEX Paralegal. If they complete the level 3 apprenticeship or they have already completed this outside the apprenticeship system and then they go on to also successfully complete the level 5 apprenticeship, they will be a qualified CILEX Advanced Paralegal.
Anyone who does not already have a higher-level legal qualification and who works at least 51 percent of their working time in Wales can apply to undertake an apprenticeship.
Learners will need to be working in the legal sector, will have around 6 hours a week to study and be available for evening workshops.
Apprenticeships are fully funded by the government, covering CILEX membership, registration and examination entry as well as Brightlink’s course fees and ITEC essential skills course fees. If any examination resits are necessary, employers will need to pay any costs related to those resits.
At level 3 apprentices will learn about professionalism and ethics, legal systems, contract law, the law of tort, legal research, professional skills and an introduction to property and private client.
At level 5 apprentices will learn about further professionalism and ethics, dispute resolution, criminal law and practice, legal research and succeeding in a legal environment and they will choose one option from property and conveyancing, wills probate and private client, family law and practice or business and employment law.
Brightlink will guide apprentices in study skills, revision and exam preparation. We also provide employers with guidance on their responsibilities to supervise professional experience in the workplace.
Anyone who does not have qualifications relating to literacy, numeracy and digital skills may need to undertake essential skills training in those areas and this will be undertaken with ITEC’s specialist tutors. We will arrange everything needed.
Apprentices can start learning at any time of year. All learning is online and so it’s totally flexible, as long as they complete all their study within 2 years from their start date. Online learning provides the opportunity for apprentices to learn from home or the workplace, wherever in Wales they may be. Online doesn’t necessarily mean distance learning though, there are lots of opportunities to meet with tutors and other learners via video conferencing and our admin team are always available for queries by phone and email.
Learners will have access to eBooks, pre recorded lessons, one to one subject specialist tutor support and live workshops via video conference and they’ll have a personal tutor who will guide them in their study, be their consistent point of contact and liaise between the apprentice, the employer, ITEC, CILEX and the rest of the Brightlink team.
We’re best known for outstanding learner support and customer service, high quality learning materials and a values-based approach. For working with people to achieve career success, whatever that means to them. Our learners feel part of a community, good about their work and strong in their knowledge and skills. We want people who work with us to feel that they have a whole world of choices and opportunities in front of them.
Employers will nominate a workplace supervisor for apprentices, this may be one person or a number of people. Apprentices will log their competency in work, aligning it with the CILEX competency framework, they will share this with the Workplace Supervisor who knows and supervises their work, and that Supervisor will sign it off when it’s ready to be submitted to CILEX via their online portal.
Brightlink offer training to employers and their workplace supervisors and ongoing support throughout the qualification. We’ll work together closely to make sure your apprentices have the best learning experience, keeping you up to date with their progress.
You can contact us at any time with questions and to request apprentice enrolment with us, using the enquiry form below or by calling 02921888386 or emailing connect@brightlink.org.uk
When you would like to enrol apprentices with us, please get in touch, sharing their name and email address. We’ll have a chat and interview them to ensure they meet all the criteria and to answer any questions they may have. Following that ITEC will help the apprentice and employer complete their enrolment before Brightlink welcomes the new apprentice to our learning community, introduces them to their tutors and helps them register for their CILEX membership and CPQ stage.
We can get apprentices enrolled up studying within a day or two at any time of year in most cases.