One of the questions we often receive at Law Training Centre is ‘How can I get to where I want to be in the quickest time?’. Whilst this question is very much like asking how long a piece of string is, identifying and comparing the various qualification pathways to law can greatly benefit anyone looking to undertake their legal training.
Whether you’re already working in law and want to accelerate your career, or you work in a different industry but want to make the leap to law, the question which is often on people’s lips is ‘how quickly can I achieve my goal?’. To answer that question, we have mapped out the full suite of our professional courses of legal qualification, detailing the requirements and average time taken to reach completion.
It is important to note that because all of Law Training Centre’s online courses are fully flexible and self-paced, the timelines as they are shown below may differ depending on the number of hours of study you are able to commit to each week. Timeframes may also differ depending on when and how you are able to accrue the required work experience for each pathway – for example, whether you are studying whilst working in a relevant area of law, such as conveyancing or probate.
Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE)
The SQE is the new pathway to qualifying as a Solicitor in England and Wales and because of that, it is more challenging to offer what could be a definite time frame within which you might qualify. There is also a great deal of flexibility that learners can take advantage of when it comes to their study and Qualifying Work Experience (QWE). However, for comparison , we will look at what is likely to be the most common route to qualification, which should provide a realistic estimate of how quickly you can qualify.
There are four requirements you must satisfy to become a Solicitor through the SQE route, which are broken down as follows:
• Have a degree or equivalent – Assuming that most learners will obtain a law degree to fulfil this requirement, this will take 3 years if studied full time.
• Pass both stages of the SQE assessment
• SQE1 Prep course – 15 months (or less)
• SQE2 Prep course – 15 months (or less)
• Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) – 2 years full time (or equivalent), however, learners can also work and accumulate QWE alongside their SQE1 and SQE2 Prep studies.
• Pass the SRA’s character and suitability requirements – no time frame allocated
Total – approximately 5-6 years
CLC Level 4 – to qualify as a Registered Conveyancing Technician or Registered Probate Technician
The average time to study and pass the assessments for the CLC/SQA Level 4 Diploma in either Probate or Conveyancing Law and Practice is 10 – 20 months – although learners can study at their own pace with Law Training Centre and this might result in those learners achieving the qualification more quickly.
You can then become a Registered Conveyancing Technician or Registered Probate Technician by gaining 6 months Practical Experience in a probate or conveyancing role respectively.
Total – approximately 1.5-2.5 years
CLC Level 6 – to qualify as a Licensed Probate Practitioner or Licensed Conveyancer
The average time to study and pass the assessments for the CLC/SQA Level 6 Diploma in either Probate or Conveyancing Law and Practice is 9 – 18 months – although learners can study at their own pace with Law Training Centre and this might result in those learners achieving the qualification more quickly.
You can then become a Registered Conveyancing Technician or Registered Probate Technician by gaining 1,200 hours of qualifying work experience within a probate or conveyancing role respectively – this works out as approximately 7 months full time equivalent.
Total – approximately 2.5 – 3.5 years
CILEX Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice – leading to careers such as a Skilled Paralegal Administrator, Paralegal Assistant, or Legal Support Staff
The average time to pass the 5 units required for the CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice (including assessments) is 1 year, although learners can spend more or less time than this if required
Total – approximately 1 year
In 2021, CILEX introduced a new qualification framework – the CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ). If you start studying a CILEX Level 3 qualification now, you will have until November 2023 to complete it.
CILEX Level 3 Professional Diploma – leading to careers such as a Qualified Paralegal or Fee Earner/Case Worker
The average time to pass the 10 units required for the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice (including assessments) is 2 years, although learners can spend more or less time than this to complete the course with Law Training Centre.
Total – approximately 2 years
In 2021, CILEX introduced a new qualification framework – the CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ). If you start studying a CILEX Level 3 qualification now, you will have until November 2023 to complete it.
CILEX Level 6 Higher Professional Diploma in Law and Practice – leading to careers such as a Senior Paralegal Fee Earner/Case Worker, or to become a CILEX Fellow or CILEX Practitioner
Entry to the CILEx Level 6 Higher Professional Diploma in Law and Practice is open to all learners who have completed the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice, therefore you must first have completed your studies at this level – approximately 2 years – unless you are taking the CILEX Graduate Fast Track route.
The average time to pass the 6 units required for the CILEx Level 6 Higher Professional Diploma in Law and Practice (including assessments) is 2 years, although learners can spend more or less time than this if they need to.
For those wishing to become a CILEx Fellow (Chartered Legal Executive lawyer), they must then undertake 3 years of qualifying work experience. For those aiming to become a CILEx Practitioner (Chartered Legal Executive lawyer who is a specialist in the specific areas of law), an applicant must have 5 years of legal experience, two of which must be in the field of their chosen specialism.
Total – approximately 7 years (CILEX Fellow) or 9 years (CILEX Practitioner)
In 2021, CILEX introduced a new qualification framework – the CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ). If you start studying a CILEX Level 3 qualification now, you will have until November 2026 to complete it.
CILEX Level 6 Graduate Fast Track Diploma – leading to careers such as a Senior Paralegal Fee Earner/Case Worker, or to become a CILEX Fellow or CILEX Practitioner
Entry to the CILEx Level 6 Graduate Fast Track Diploma is available to those who have completed a Law Degree or the Law Conversion Degree. Assuming most will complete the former, and have studied full time, this will take 3 years.
The average time to pass the 6 units required for the CILEx Level 6 Graduate Fast Track Diploma (including assessments) is 1 year, although learners can spend more or less time than this if they need to.
For those wishing to become a CILEx Fellow (Chartered Legal Executive lawyer), they must then undertake 3 years of qualifying work experience. For those aiming to become a CILEx Practitioner (Chartered Legal Executive lawyer who is a specialist in specific areas of law), an applicant must have 5 years of legal experience, two of which must be in the field of their chosen specialism.
Total – approximately 7 years (CILEX Fellow) or 9 years (CILEX Practitioner)
In 2021, CILEX introduced a new qualification framework – the CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ). If you start studying a CILEX Level 3 qualification now, you will have until November 2026 to complete it.
CILEX CPQ [CILEX Professional Qualification]
The new qualification framework acknowledges and embeds both the skills, knowledge, and behaviours that employers will be expecting of newly qualified legal professionals and the process for CILEX Lawyers to acquire their practice rights.
CPQ focuses on a smaller number of core modules, with fewer options, that each combine law and practice to create a more practical and consistent learning experience. Assessments will be delivered online.
CPQ Foundation and CPQ Advanced stages are being introduced in June 2021 with CPQ Professional stage following in 2022. The first assessments for CPQ Foundation and CPQ Advanced stages will be held in January 2022 and the first assessments for CPQ Professional stage will be held in January 2023.
Learners will complete CPQ stages at their own pace. The time it takes to teach each stage is dependent on the delivery model of individual training providers. However, we estimate that the following timings should be possible:
• CPQ Foundation stage: 18 months to two years
• CPQ Advanced stage: 18 months to two years
• CPQ Professional stage: 12 to 18 months
NALP Level 3 Certificate or Diploma – taking you a step nearer to becoming a Licenced Paralegal and applying for Associate membership of NALP
Level 3 is the entry point for the NALP pathway, and sets learners up to progress on their journey to becoming a Licensed Paralegal.
An average time for completion is 6 to 8 months for the Certificate Tier or 9 to 12 months for the Diploma Tier.
Total – approximately 6 – 12 months depending on the level
NALP Level 4 Diploma in Paralegal Studies – to become a NALP qualified paralegal
You can study the NALP Level 4 Diploma in Paralegal Studies if you meet one of the following criteria:
• Have a Level 3 qualification in law, or a NALP Level 3 Diploma in Paralegal Practice (approximately 1 year of study)
• Have a degree (approximately 3 years of study)
• Are a mature learner over 25 (no previous study required)
The average time to complete both parts of the NALP Level 4 Diploma in Paralegal Studies is 9 months – 1 year, although learners can spend more or less time than this if they need to.
Total – approximately 9 months – 4 years depending on criteria of entry met
NALP Level 7 Diploma in Paralegal Practice – to become a Licensed Paralegal Practitioner
The NALP Level 7 Diploma in Paralegal Practice is suitable for Law Graduates (LLB and GDL) and is designed to make the transition between academic study at degree level and knowledge of legal practices. Therefore, for this qualification, we can assume learners will have undertaken around 3 years of prior legal studies.
Learners who complete their NALP Level 7 Diploma in Paralegal Practice can go on to apply for Associate Membership of NALP and become a NALP qualified paralegal.
On average, time for completion of the NALP Level 7 Diploma in Paralegal Practice is 4 to 6 months of study, although Law Training Centre learners have 2 years in total from the date of their enrolment to complete their course.
Total – approximately 3.5 – 4 years
To find out more about the qualification pathways and about your individual options, contact the Law Training Centre team today for advice and guidance.
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