INTRODUCTION
1. The Admissions and Licensing Committee (ALC) is responsible for practitioner authorisation applications. Its remit covers applications for Fellowship, Associate Prosecutor grade and practice rights applications. Practice rights cover applications for advocacy, litigation, conveyancing, probate and immigration applications.
2. This report covers the work of the ALC during the period 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014. During this period the ALC dealt with Fellowship, Associate Prosecutor and advocacy rights applications. The other practice rights schemes opened in November 2014 and there were no applications relating to them.
3. The Committee comprises 2 Professional members and 4 Lay members. One of the Lay members also serves as the Chair of the Committee.
4. The ALC was supported in its work relating to the Advocacy scheme and Associate Prosecutors, by two external advisers. The external advisers are experienced in civil, criminal and family proceedings. They are responsible for marking candidate portfolios, vetting course provider applications, inspection of courses and maintenance of standards. They may attend meetings of the Committee, although they do not participate in decision making.
5. The Committee found the advice and input of the external advisers useful in its decision making. It was able to place reliance upon their expert views on the suitability and competence of candidates and course providers.
QUALIFYING EMPLOYMENT AND FELLOWSHIP APPLICATIONS
6. The ALC was responsible for considering a large number of applications relating to Qualifying Employment and Fellowship throughout 2014. . These are applications referred to the ALC where the IPS officer is unable to make a decision. Each of these applications involves the assessment of employment to determine whether applicants are in Qualifying Employment. There are two schemes running at present.
7. The first is the previous scheme for Fellowship which will continue until June 2015. These arrangements are referred to as the transitional arrangements. Under this scheme members can qualify as Fellows of CILEx if they have completed 5 years Qualifying Employment with 2 years in the Graduate grade of membership. The application process involves the assessment of 5 years employment to ensure it is Qualifying Employment. A total of 247 applications were dealt with under the transitional scheme.
8. The Work Based Learning scheme began in June 2013. Under this scheme, members can qualify as a Fellow upon completing 3 years Qualifying Employment of which 1 year must be completed whilst a Graduate Member. Members must also complete the Work Based Learning
Outcomes. Applicants usually apply to have their Qualifying Employment assessed to ensure that they are in Qualifying Employment before attempting to meet the Work Based Leaning Outcomes. We receive applications for assessment of qualifying employment from Graduate members of CILEx and from individuals who are not members of CILEx and considering whether to apply. 515 qualifying employment applications were determined in 2014.
9. The assessment of Work Based Learning Outcomes involves the review of a Portfolio of evidence that applicants prepare, demonstrating that they meet 27 learning outcomes. A log book sheet is completed for each outcome to demonstrate how the evidence meets the outcome. The office was able to decide on 75 of the 78 Work Based Learning applications during 2014.
COMMITTEE DECISIONS
10. The Committee considered 79 Fellowship applications under the transitional arrangements. Of those 79 applications, 57 were approved, 6 were deferred and 16 were refused.
11. The Committee considered 172 Qualifying Employment applications. Of those 172 applications, 137 were found to be in Qualifying Employment, 6 were deferred and 29 were found not to be in Qualifying Employment.
12. Equality and diversity records are maintained in relation to casework decisions. Where the information was available it was analysed in relation to the applicant’s gender, ethnicity and age.
13. Of the 251 applications considered by the Committee, there was information available for all 251 candidates in relation to the gender of the applicant. Of those 251 applications, 197 were made by females and 54 were made by males. The approved applications comprised 153 applications made by females and 41 applications made by males. The refused applications comprised 37 applications made by females and 8 applications made by males. The Committee deferred 7 applications made by females and 5 applications made by males. 1 male withdrew from the process.
14. There was information available for all 251 candidates in relation to the age of the applicant. Of those 251 applications, 41 were made by applicants within the age range 21 - 25 years. Of those 41 applicants, 30 were approved and 9 were refused and 2 were deferred. 97 were made by applicants within the age range 26 – 30 years. Of those 97 applicants, 74 were approved, 2 were deferred and 21 were refused.
15. 46 applications were received by applicants in the age range 31– 35 years. Of those applications, 35 were approved, 4 were deferred and 6 were refused. 1 applicant withdrew from the process. 31 applications were made by applicants within the age range 36 – 40 years. Of those 31 applicants, 27 were approved and 4 were refused.
Professional standards for specialist lawyers 19
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