Transition to CPQ
The CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ) has been developed based on our insights into the changing skills, knowledge and behaviours that legal professionals need to demonstrate.
For current Level 3/Paralegal Apprenticeship learners, the transition looks like this:
The course fees to transition to CPQ are as follows:
The following CPQ Bridging Packages are available to purchase in your myCILEX Portal:
- Package 1 - Tort and Property
- Package 2 - Contract and Property
- Package 3 - Contract and Tort
- Package 4 - Contract, Tort and Property
As a current trainee, see how you can transition to CPQ by using our transition tool or read the guidance below:
Given the limited time remaining to complete Level 3 studies, we encourage existing learners to explore the CPQ Bridging Packages as soon as possible. The withdrawal schedule for Level 3 and 6 is as follows:
- July 2023 for Level 3 assessments (with a November 2023 resit session only)
- July 2026 for Level 6 assessments (with a November 2026 resit session only)
To enable smooth transition to CPQ, please read the following guidance carefully:
Level 3 Students
Level 6 Students
Paralegal Apprentices
Chartered Legal Executive Apprentices
The guidance is given subject to regulatory approval, and students are advised to refer back here from time to time to check for updates.
Exemptions
See here for a full list of exemptions and our CPQ Exemptions Policy.
Level 3 Students
To take advantage of the learning that CPQ offers, you will need to complete your Level 3 Certificate or Diploma by the final exam session of 2023. Once you have done so, you have the option either to continue on to Level 6 and aim to complete by 2026 or to transition to CPQ.
When transitioning to CPQ, you will be eligible for exemptions from individual CPQ Foundation stage modules if you have passed the following Level 3 units, or combination of units:
|
Level 3 units passed
|
CPQ Foundation stage module exemptions
|
|
Introduction to Law
& Practice
|
Legal Systems
|
|
Client Care Skills
and Legal Research Skills
|
Professional & Legal Skills
|
|
Contract Law
|
Contract Law
|
|
Law of Tort
|
Tort
|
|
Land Law and Conveyancing
|
Property & Private Client
|
If you have completed the full Level 3 Diploma (including the conveyancing unit), you will receive full exemption from CPQ Foundation stage and can progress onto CPQ Advanced stage.
If you have completed the Level 3 Diploma but not passed the conveyancing unit, you will need to complete that unit if you wish to transition directly onto CPQ Advanced stage.
If you have completed the Level 3 Certificate or more than 5 individual level 3 units, there are bridging products (i.e. combinations of CPQ modules) available that will enable you to transition to and complete CPQ Foundation stage. You will be offered the one you are eligible for when you purchase CPQ; you will need to complete law modules in areas not covered during your Level 3 studies as well as Ethics and Professional Responsibility module 1. You will not have to complete Foundation stage Professional Experience.
If you transition from legacy qualifications directly to CPQ Advanced stage, you will still need to complete Ethics and Professional Responsibility module 1 in addition to all the other requirements of the stage.
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Paralegal Apprentices:
If you are currently on, or have complete, a paralegal apprenticeship programme, you will have the option once you have completed your programme to transition to CPQ Foundation stage by purchasing a bridging product (i.e. combinations of CPQ modules in areas you will not have studied as part of the apprenticeship). The exemptions to CPQ Foundation stage to which you will be entitled are outlined below:
The paralegal end-point assessment (EPA) will entitle you to the following exemptions from CPQ Foundation stage:
|
Legal Systems
|
|
Professional and Legal Skills
|
|
Professional experience
|
Ethics
|
Subject pathways:
|
Paralegal Apprenticeship
Pathway
|
CPQ Foundation
exemptions
|
Bridging Package
required |
|
Contract Law/Civil Litigation
|
Contract Law
|
Package 1 - Tort
/ Property |
|
Tort/Civil Litigation
|
Law of Tort
|
Package 2 - Contract
/ Property |
|
Property
|
Introduction to Property
and Private Client
|
Package 3 - Contract
/ Tort
|
|
Family
|
None
|
Package 4 - Contract /
Tort / Property |
|
Private Client
|
None
|
Package 4 - Contract / Tort / Property
|
|
Employment
|
None
|
Package 4 - Contract / Tort / Property
|
|
Criminal
|
None
|
Package 4 - Contract / Tort / Property
|
Where your apprenticeship studies do not lead to an exemption at CPQ Foundation stage, they may nonetheless still help towards the study of the related modules at CPQ Advanced stage.
Level 6 Students
You have the opportunity to complete your Level 6 Diploma any time up until the final exam session of 2026, as detailed above. We recommend that you do this.
On completion of Level 6 Diploma you will become a CILEX Advanced Paralegal under the new membership grades being introduced in 2022. At that point you can proceed to CILEX Lawyer by:
- Becoming a Chartered Legal Executive and Fellow (FCILEX) using the work-based learning route overseen by CILEx Regulation, and then
- Gaining your full practice rights either by the current portfolio route or via the new assessment-based CPD route that we are shortly to announce.
Should you wish to transition to CPQ, you should gain exemptions from CPQ Advanced stage if you have completed any one of the following Law and corresponding Practice unit combinations:
|
Level 6 Law
unit
|
Level 3 or 6
Practice unit
|
CPQ Advanced stage
exemptions
|
|
Contract Law/Tort
|
Civil Litigation
|
Dispute Resolution
|
|
Criminal Law
|
Criminal Litigation
|
Criminal Law & Practice
|
|
Land Law
|
Conveyancing
|
Property & Conveyancing
|
|
Family Law
|
Practice of Family Law
|
Family Law & Practice
|
|
Law of Wills &
Succession
|
Probate Practice
|
Wills, Probate &
Private Client
|
|
Company &
Partnership Law
|
Employment Practice
or
Level 6 Practice of
Company & Partnership Law
|
Business & Employment
|
|
Level 6 Legal
Research
|
N/A
|
Professional & Legal
Skills: Legal Research
|
Trainees registering directly on to CPQ Advanced stage will also need to complete both Ethics & Professional Responsibility modules and the Professional Experience requirement for CPQ Advanced stage before being able to progress to CPQ Professional stage.
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Chartered Legal Executive Apprentices
Chartered Legal Executive Apprentices will become CILEX Fellows and Chartered Legal Executives on completion of their programme. In order to progress to full CILEX Lawyer status, they should acquire full practice rights either by the current portfolio route or via the new assessment-based CPD route that we are shortly to announce.
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If you hold a previous CILEX qualification, please contact our customer services team directly.
Check out our FAQs for more information.
*Prices based on CILEX Law School fees. Other training providers are available and may have different pricing.