SRA Work Based Learning Pilot & LETR
Welcome to our resource centre on the Legal Education & Training Review and Work Based Learning.
We are a leading player in Work Based Learning, having worked with Pilot firm Freeth Cartwright LLP to deliver a management and compliance platform suitable for all law firms and other trainee employers. Together with our background in professional legal education and training, we are uniquely well placed to advise the profession on current status and the implications going forward towards implementation.
The SRA has deferred further action on WBL pending the LETR's report, expected in December 2012. We are heavily involved with the profession in feeding into the LETR's review.
LETR Analysis
The LETR is a wide-ranging review (the biggest since the Ormrod Report in 1971). It has its own webpage. Such is the open-ended breadth of the Review that it is difficult at this stage to know exactly what to expect from it. On these pages, we will provide key updates and analysis of interest to the profession.
One thing we do know is that the work of the LETR is focused on the regulatory objectives of the Legal Services Act. These can be found in the legislation itself and are expanded on in the Legal Services Board guide. The most relevant regulatory objective and the one identified for particular focus by the Review is the need to create "an independent, strong, diverse and effective legal profession".
The work of the LETR will be undertaken by a Research Team of academics and overseen by a Consultation Steering Panel. The Research Group has been given 7 research questions:
- What are the skills, knowledge and experience currently required by the legal services sector?
- What skills, knowledge and experience will be required by the legal services sector in 2020?
- What kind of legal education and training systems will deliver the regulatory objectives of the Legal Services Act?
- What kind of legal education and training systems will promote flexibility, social mobility and diversity?
- What will be required to ensure the responsiveness of the legal education and training system to emerging needs?
- What scope is there to move towards sector-wide outcomes/activity-based regulation?
- What need is there (if any) for extension of regulation to currently non-regulated groups?
The work and output of the Research Team is broken down as into:
- Literature review and analysis (to January 2012) - looking at 'the literature' and previous research into our system of legal education and training, together with a comparative study of other sectors and professions
- First consultation paper (March 2012)
- Contextual analysis (to June 2012) - basically, looking at relevant factors and issues
- Second consultation paper (July 2012)
- Workforce development (to September 2012) - not entirely clear exactly what this means and how it differs from the contextual analysis but its stated aim is to research into the legal services sector workforce to identify potential structural change in the future and how this would impact on education and training needs
- Interim recommendations (October 2012)
- Final recommendations (November 2012)
- Final report (December 2012)
SRA Work Based Learning Key Information & Analysis
Up until July 2011, the SRA's Work Based Learning project was moving forward notwithstanding the LETR. However, the SRA has shifted its position substantially and the WBL project has been put on hold pending the results of the LETR.
The links below take you to analysis and information on the key aspects of Work Based Learning in terms of where we got to on the Pilot and where things appear to be heading from here.
Work Based Learning: Stop Press & Latest Updates
Work Based Learning: Podcasts
Work Based Learning: a chronology
Work Based Learning: a nutshell summary
Work Based Learning: the Outcomes
The various WBL Pilots in a snapshot
Work Based Learning: the 5 Key Changes
Work Based Learning: is it working?
Work Based Learning: Assessment & "Competence"
Work Based Learning: key issues, challenges & questions going forward
Work Based Learning: the Training Contract - will it stay or go?
Online Mentor Trainee: a cost-effective, user-friendly compliance platform
Our bespoke WBL web platform and software has been developed as a practical and user-friendly 'turn-key' solution for the profession as a whole, designed to work for firms and other organisations with a legal function irrespective of size, business sector and geographical profile.
Firms can plug our web-based platform very easily into their existing training management systems and procedures, making the transition from the current regulatory regime to WBL manageable and affordable.
"The Online Mentor system is comprehensive, easy to use and effective in addressing the challenges posed by WBL."
"The demonstration of Online Mentor and an inspection of records contained on the system demonstrated an efficient and effective system for recording and review."
"All parties confirmed the effectiveness and simplicity in use of Online Mentor."
"WBL candidates were very supportive of the scheme...they found Online Mentor easy to use and not particularly time consuming."
(SRA Report November 2009)
Uniquely well placed to advise the profession on WBL
Together with our depth of experience in both the private and higher education legal education sectors, our work on the pilot has put us in a unique position to advise legal sector organisations on all aspects of technical compliance and validation leading up to implementation of Work Based Learning. We can help firms adapt their existing technical systems, management infrastructure and associated documentation so as to comply with the core SRA requirements in a cost-efficient way.
To speak to us about any LETR or Work Based Learning query or to subscribe to our email update service and keep fully up to speed with developments, please contact us.