CILEX to deliver Legal Services T Level qualification in partnership with Pearson

13th January 2021

CILEX (the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives) will work in partnership with education provider, Pearson to deliver the new Legal Services T Level, aimed at 16- to 19-year-olds. 

T Levels are two-year courses that follow GCSEs and are equivalent to three A Levels. Involving extensive on-the-job training through an industry placement, combined with classroom-based learning, the legal services qualification is aimed at students who wish to progress into business administration roles in legal services, or to access further study to pursue a career in the legal sector. 

The contract to develop, create and assess the Legal Services T Level was awarded to Pearson, in partnership with CILEX, by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. 

CILEX, pioneered the non-university route into law and last year launched the CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ), a new approach to on-the-job training, marrying legal knowledge with the practical skills, behaviours and commercial awareness needed by lawyers in the 2020s. 

Bringing both industry expertise and an understanding of work-based learning, CILEX will work with Pearson to ensure the qualification content is current, relevant and supports the professional standards for the sector. It will ensure the T Level allows progression directly into the CPQ, giving students a clear pathway to progressing their career and ultimately, if they wish, qualifying as a specialist legal professional, a CILEX Lawyer. 

David Cameron, CILEX Director of Education, says: “Combining a compulsory employer placement with academic learning, the new qualification will link seamlessly with the CPQ, providing a practical and relevant grounding in legal skills and knowledge that will give T Level students a head start in their journey towards becoming a CILEX Lawyer. 

“Pearson’s experience delivering the first wave of T Levels, combined with our industry specific knowledge, makes for a strong partnership and we look forward to working with them on the new qualification that will raise awareness of CILEX and the opportunities it can offer amongst young people, schools and colleges.” 

Linda Ford, CEO of CILEX, says: “As the pioneer of the non-university route into law, it is only fitting that we partner with Pearson to deliver the new Legal Services T Level. By creating another pathway into the law for students, we will continue to drive social mobility in the profession and bring to bear our experience of providing thousands of work-ready practitioners into the legal services sector.” 

Suzanne Hall, Head of Technical Products at Pearson, said: “We are delighted to be delivering the Legal Services T Level Technical Qualification from September 2023, and to now hold the contracts for all three qualifications on the Legal, Finance and Accounting Route. We look forward to supporting students as they begin their programmes of study, and playing our part in developing talent in this vital industry.” 

The Legal Services T Level will be open to students from 2023. 

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Louise Eckersley, Black Letter Communications on 0203 567 1208 or email: [email protected] 

 Kerry Jack, Black Letter Communications on 07525 756 599 or email: [email protected]