The SRA pilot

The SRA authorised four different types of pilot.

1. Internal assessment organisations (the firms’ pilot)

   The following organisations were authorised to act as internal assessment organisations for their trainee solicitors:

   • Beachcroft
   • Dickinson Dees
   • Freeth Cartwright
   • Hodge Jones & Allen
   • Jones Day
   • Leeds City Council

   Two more firms (Linklaters and De Marco Hunter) dropped out of the pilot at an early stage.

2. External assessment organisation for trainee solicitors (the OXILP pilot)

   In this pilot, the Oxford Institute of Legal Practice (OXILP) was appointed to act as external assessment organisation for four firms who are all part of the LawNet training consortium. The firms are: Aldridge Brownlee, IBB, Lamb Brooks and Parrott & Coales. OXILP provided a comprehensive WBL service, both reviewing and assessing trainees’ work.

3. External assessment organisation for paralegals and part time trainee solicitors (the Nottingham pilot)

   The Nottingham pilot has progressed in two phases: phase 1, for paralegals and phase 2, for part time trainee solicitors.

4. External assessment organisation for law students (the Northumbria pilot)

   Northumbria University is piloting WBL via a degree programme, which offers a small number of students a complete package, consisting of the academic, professional and work based stages of training. The degree programme lasts five years. The first three years are spent covering the academic and professional stages of training. Students then undertake two years’ Work Based Learning, through a combination of work in the university’s law clinic and a placement with a firm of solicitors.