Practitioner Authorisation and Supervision Portfolio Holder:
Sandra Barton Chartered Legal Executive Board Member
Key Objective: • IPS will maintain the well developed procedures in place to maintain a record of members which is accurate and up to date, allowing enquirers to access the status, rights and fitness to practise history of those listed.
• IPS intends to secure LSB approval for work-based learning scheme for qualification as a Chartered Legal Executive. • IPS will review the results of the pilot continuing professional development scheme, and move to full implementation of the scheme and have robust monitoring arrangements in place.
• IPS will continue to make a full contribution to the Joint Advocacy Group, meeting the objectives set by the LSB.
Work Based Learning Following extensive research and development into methods for assessing the competence of CILEx members seeking admission to Fellowship, IPS made an application to the Legal Services Board to introduce work-based learning in spring 2013. Approved in 28 days, the new scheme provides an assessment of the competence of CILEx members through submission of a logbook and portfolio of evidence, which demonstrates that applicants have met 27 learning outcomes achieved during a period of qualifying employment. The scheme was implemented in June 2013.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) A new CPD scheme for CILEx members was also approved by the Legal Services Board in 2013. The scheme introduces the CPD cycle, requiring members to reflect, plan, act and evaluate each CPD activity they undertake during the year. The scheme will ultimately move members away from the need to count hours, instead asking for 9 learning outcomes to be identified and met. In addition, and supported by the recommendations of the Legal Education and Training Review, in each CPD year at least 1 entry should be in Professionalism, a term which encompasses a range of professional activities such as ethics, maintaining knowledge in equality and diversity, business awareness and time management. Each year a sample of CPD records will be called in from members for review.
We recognise that the scheme takes a very different approach from the one that CILEx members, and indeed other members of the legal profession, are familiar with. With that in mind, we decided to phase in the new arrangements. Starting with the 2013/4 CPD years, CILEx members required to undertake CPD will complete the current hours scheme plus one entry in Professionalism. The full scheme will be introduced to members by grade over the next few years. During this time we will also be undertaking research to assess whether the scheme is appropriate for CILEx’s studying members.
Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) IPS has continued to participate in the development of the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates during 2013. An application for approval of the scheme was submitted to the Legal Services Board and the scheme
12 Professional standards for specialist lawyers
was approved in the Autumn. Following approval, registration opened to enable criminal advocates regulated by IPS to begin to sign up for 5 years of accreditation. This will continue into 2014. Reaccreditation with the QASA, for criminal advocates at Level 1, which includes all IPS regulated criminal advocates, will be by way of assessed CPD.
The Joint Advocacy Group (JAG) which has oversight of the QASA and is made up of representatives from the SRA, BSB and IPS, has committed to undertaking research into the operation of the scheme to ensure that it is fit for purpose and meets the desired objectives. IPS will continue to have full involvement in the JAG in the future, to ensure that the QASA operates to assure the competence of criminal advocates.
Regulation of Associate Prosecutor members – CPS Liaison IPS regulates the Associate Prosecutors who work for the Crown Prosecution Service. To ensure the relationship works effectively, IPS and the CPS meet twice yearly to discuss regulatory matters. In 2013, this has included discussion about the introduction of the new CPD scheme and the impact of the QASA on Associate Prosecutors.
IPS also quality assures the qualification process for Associate Prosecutors and during 2013, this has included the oversight of the Youth Court and Youth Bail training. An External Assessor inspects courses to provide a report on the quality of the training. Standards are high and where recommendations have been made for improvement, these have been incorporated into the courses immediately.
Admissions and Licensing Committee IPS’ work in respect of practitioner authorisation is overseen by the Admissions and Licencing Committee. The Committee’s annual report is published at Annex 1.
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