V1.3
This document explains the requirements for end-point assessment (EPA) for the paralegal apprenticeship. End-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) must follow this when designing and delivering the EPA.
Paralegal apprentices, their employers and training providers should read this document.
An approved EPAO must conduct the EPA for this apprenticeship. Employers must select an approved EPAO from the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s Register of end-point assessment organisations (RoEPAO).
A full-time apprentice typically spends 24 months on-programme (this means in training before the gateway) working towards competence as a paralegal. All apprentices must spend at least 12 months on-programme. All apprentices must complete the required amount of off-the-job training specified by the apprenticeship funding rules.
This EPA has 2 assessment methods.
The grades available for each assessment method are:
Assessment method 1 - professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio:
Assessment method 2 - project report with presentation, questions and answers:
The result from each assessment method is combined to decide the overall apprenticeship grade. The following grades are available for the apprenticeship:
The EPA is taken in the EPA period. The EPA period starts when the EPAO confirms the gateway requirements have been met and is typically 3 months.
The EPAO should confirm the gateway requirements have been met and the EPA should start as quickly as possible.
The apprentice’s employer must confirm that they think their apprentice is working at or above the occupational standard. The apprentice will then enter the gateway. The employer may take advice from the apprentice's training provider(s), but the employer must make the decision.
The apprentice must meet the gateway requirements before starting their EPA.
These are:
The apprentice must compile a portfolio of evidence during the on-programme period of the apprenticeship.
It should only contain evidence related to the KSBs that will be assessed by this assessment method.
It will typically contain 10 discrete pieces of evidence. Evidence must be mapped against the KSBs.
Evidence may be used to demonstrate more than one KSB; a qualitative as opposed to quantitative approach is suggested.
Evidence sources may include:
This is not a definitive list, other evidence sources can be included.
The portfolio of evidence should not include reflective accounts or any methods of self-assessment. Any employer contributions should focus on direct observation of performance (for example, witness statements) rather than opinions. The evidence provided should be valid and attributable to the apprentice; the portfolio of evidence should contain a statement from the employer and apprentice confirming this.
The EPAO should not assess the portfolio of evidence directly as it underpins the discussion. The independent assessor should review the portfolio of evidence to prepare questions for the discussion. They are not required to provide feedback after this review.
The apprentice must submit any policies and procedures as requested by the EPAO.
The assessment methods can be delivered in any order.
The result of one assessment method does not need to be known before starting the next.
In the professional discussion, an independent assessor and apprentice have a formal two-way conversation. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method.
The apprentice can refer to and illustrate their answers with evidence from their portfolio of evidence.
This assessment method is being used because it will allow some KSBs which may not naturally occur in every workplace or may take too long to observe to be assessed and allow for the assessment of a disparate set of KSBs.
Professional discussion enables the apprentice to evidence a deeper level of competence and understanding making distinction level criteria available to them in assessment.
The professional discussion must be structured to give the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method to the highest available grade.
An independent assessor must conduct and assess the professional discussion.
The purpose of the independent assessor's questions will be to explore evidence of competence against the KSBs mapped to this method and enable the apprentice to demonstrate distinction level competence.
The EPAO must give an apprentice 2 weeks' notice of the professional discussion.
The independent assessor must have at least 2 weeks to review the supporting documentation.
The apprentice must have access to their portfolio of evidence during the professional discussion.
The apprentice can refer to and illustrate their answers with evidence from their portfolio of evidence however, the portfolio of evidence is not directly assessed.
The professional discussion must last for 60 minutes. The independent assessor can increase the time of the professional discussion by up to 10%. This time is to allow the apprentice to respond to a question if necessary.
The independent assessor must ask at least 5 questions. The independent assessor must create their own questions in line with the EPAO’s training.
The independent assessor must make the grading decision.
The independent assessor must keep accurate records of the assessment. They must record:
The professional discussion must take place in a suitable venue that meets the requirements of the EPAO (for example the EPAO’s or employer’s premises)
The professional discussion can be conducted by video conferencing. The EPAO must have processes in place to verify the identity of the apprentice and ensure the apprentice is not being aided.
The professional discussion should take place in a quiet room, free from distractions and influence.
The EPAO must develop a purpose-built assessment specification. It is recommended this is done in consultation with employers of this occupation. The EPAO should maintain the security and confidentiality of EPA materials when consulting with employers. The assessment specification must be reviewed at least once a year to ensure they remain fit-for-purpose.
The assessment specification must be relevant to the occupation and demonstrate how to assess the KSBs mapped to this assessment method. The EPAO must ensure that independent assessors questions are refined and developed to a high standard.
The EPAO must ensure that apprentice has a different set of questions in the case of re-sits or re-takes.
The EPAO must produce the following materials to support the professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio:
The EPAO must ensure that the EPA materials are subject to quality assurance procedures including standardisation and moderation.
A project involves the apprentice completing a significant and defined piece of work that has a real business application and benefit. The project must start after the apprentice has gone through the gateway. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method.
The project must meet the needs of the employer’s business and be relevant to the apprentice’s occupation and apprenticeship. The EPAO must refer to the grading descriptors to ensure that projects are pitched appropriately.
This assessment method has 2 components:
This assessment method is being used because the work of a paralegal is highly varied depending on the size of the organisation and the area(s) of law in which they work. Their role can vary widely making demonstration of the KSBs in these different contexts and so a broadly based project will enable apprentices across the legal sector to show the KSBs mapped to this method in the most relevant way
A project enables the employer to provide work from their day-to-day caseload that will enable delivery of a themed task for the apprentice to undertake within their workplace that will align to the KSBs and provide a consistent opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this method and enable attainment of the highest grading.
The project report with presentation, questions and answers must be structured to give the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method to the highest available grade.
The apprentice’s project can be based on any of the following:
The project and report must focus on conducting legal research to resolve an identified legal matter for a client or stakeholder in the apprentice's area of specialism. The research must include legislation and,or, case law.
The EPAO does not need to sign-off each project title before the project starts. The EPAO must instead provide detailed specifications. The specifications must detail what must be included in the project to allow an apprentice to evidence the KSBs mapped to this assessment method to the highest available grade. The EPAO must include suggested project titles to enable the employer to select a project that will meet the EPA’s requirements for their apprentice.
The project output must be in the form of a report.
The apprentice must start the project after the gateway. They must complete and submit the report to the EPAO by the end of 20 working days after gateway. The employer should ensure the apprentice has the time and resources, within this period, to plan and complete their project.
The apprentice may work as part of a team to complete the project which could include technical internal or external support. However, the project output must be the apprentice’s own work and reflective of their own role and contribution. The apprentice and their employer must confirm that the project output(s) is the apprentice’s own work when it is submitted.
The report must include at least:
Appendices
- Map of KSBs to assessment method.
- Legal sources used.
- Any supporting resources created such as spreadsheets.
The project report has a word count of 3000 words. A tolerance of 10% above or below the word count is allowed at the apprentice’s discretion. Appendices, references and diagrams are not included in this total. The project report must map, in an appendix, how it evidences the KSBs mapped to this assessment method.
In the presentation with questions the apprentice delivers a presentation to an independent assessor on their project report. This gives the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method.
The apprentice must prepare and submit their presentation speaker notes and supporting materials for the presentation with questions and answers. The independent assessor must ask questions after the presentation. The presentations must include:
The apprentice must prepare and submit their presentation speaker notes and supporting materials to the EPAO at the same time as the report by the end of 20 working days after gateway.
The apprentice must notify the EPAO, at that point, of any technical requirements for the presentation. During the presentation, the apprentice must have access to:
The independent assessor must have at least 2 weeks to review the project output(s) and presentation speaker notes and supporting materials, to allow them to prepare questions.
The EPAO must give the apprentices at least 2 weeks notice of the presentation with questions.
The apprentice must deliver their presentation to the independent assessor on a one-to-one basis.
The purpose of the questions is to explore the apprentice's challenges in producing the outputs from the project, how they addressed them, any key learning points identified and assess competence against the KSBs mapped to this method.
The presentation and questions must last 25 minutes. This will typically include a presentation of 10 minutes and questioning lasting 15 minutes. The independent assessor can increase the total time of the presentation and questioning by up to 10%. This time is to allow the apprentice to complete their last point or respond to a question if necessary.
The independent assessor must ask at least 2 questions. They must create their own questions in-line with the EPAO’s training. Follow up questions are allowed where clarification is required.
The independent assessor must use the full time available for questioning. The independent assessor must make the grading decision. The project components must be assessed holistically by the independent assessor when they are deciding the grade.
The project components must be assessed holistically by the independent assessor when they are deciding the grade.
The independent assessor must keep accurate records of the assessment. They must record:
The presentation with questions must take place in a suitable venue that meets the requirements of the EPAO (for example the EPAO’s or employer’s premises).
The presentation with questions should take place in a quiet room, free from distractions and influence.
The presentation with questioning can be conducted by video conferencing. The EPAO must have processes in place to verify the identity of the apprentice and ensure the apprentice is not being aided.
The EPAO must develop a purpose-built assessment specification. It is recommended this is done in consultation with employers of this occupation. The EPAO should maintain the security and confidentiality of EPA materials when consulting employers. The assessment specification must be reviewed at least once a year to ensure they remain fit-for-purpose.
The assessment specification must be relevant to the occupation and demonstrate how to assess the KSBs mapped to this assessment method. The EPAO must ensure that questions are refined and developed to a high standard. The questions must be unpredictable.
The EPAO must ensure that the apprentice has a different set of questions in the case of re-sits or re-takes.
EPAO must produce the following materials to support the project report with presentation, questions and answers:
The EPAO must ensure that the EPA materials are subject to quality assurance procedures including standardisation, training, and moderation.
Performance in the EPA determines the apprenticeship grade of:
An independent assessor must individually grade the: professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio, project report with presentation and questions and answers in line with this EPA plan.
The EPAO must combine the individual assessment method grades to determine the overall EPA grade.
If the apprentice fails one or more assessment methods, they will be awarded an overall fail.
To achieve an overall pass, the apprentice must achieve at least a pass in all the assessment methods. To achieve an overall EPA merit, the apprentice must achieve a pass in either the Professional Discussion or the Case Study and a distinction in either the Professional Discussion or the Case Study. To achieve an overall EPA distinction, the apprentice must achieve a distinction in both assessment methods.
Grades from individual assessment methods must be combined in the following way to determine the grade of the EPA overall.
If the apprentice fails one or more assessment methods they can take a re-sit or a re-take at their employer’s discretion. The apprentice’s employer needs to agree that a re-sit or re-take is appropriate. A re-sit does not need further learning, whereas a re-take does.
The apprentice should have a supportive action plan to prepare for a re-sit or a re-take.
The employer and EPAO agree the timescale for a re-sit or re-take. A re-sit is typically taken within 1 months of the EPA outcome notification. The timescale for a re-take is dependent on how much re-training is required and is typically taken within 2 months of the EPA outcome notification.
Failed assessment methods must be re-sat or re-taken within a 6-month period from the EPA outcome notification, otherwise the entire EPA will need to be re-sat or re-taken in full.
Re-sits and re-takes are not offered to an apprentice wishing to move from pass to a higher grade.
The apprentice will get a maximum EPA grade of distinction for a re-sit or re-take.
The EPAO must have reasonable adjustments arrangements for the EPA.
This should include:
Adjustments must maintain the validity, reliability and integrity of the EPA as outlined in this EPA plan.
Internal quality assurance refers to how the EPAO ensures valid, consistent and reliable EPA decisions. The EPAO must adhere to the requirements within the roles and responsibilities section:
The EPAO must also:
Affordability of the EPA will be aided by using at least some of the following:
This apprenticeship aligns with:
CILEX for CILEx Paralegal
National Association of Licensed Paralegals for Paralegal Technician
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 | Standard, End-point assessment plan and funding revised. | 30/06/2023 | Not set |
| 1.2 | The funding band for this standard has been reviewed as part of the apprenticeship funding band review. The new funding band is £8000 | 04/03/2019 | 29/06/2023 |
| 1.1 | End-point assessment plan revised | 01/06/2018 | 03/03/2019 |
| 1.0 | Retired | 01/06/2018 | 31/05/2018 |
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