Studying alongside full-time work
STUDYING ALONGSIDE FULL-TIME WORK
Distance learning provides flexibility so that you can study when you can and at a pace which suits your own lifestyle and other commitments. Ellie Jones
Paralegal in the Family Department at Sills & Betteridge, Associate member of CILEx
There are two elements to becoming a Chartered Legal Executive: exams and Qualifying Employment. Unlike many professional qualifications, these are usually achieved concurrently, so most people study whilst being in full-time work, often by distance learning.
If you are studying by distance learning, it means that you are studying independently and aren’t going into a classroom regularly to be taught face to face as part of a study group. The benefits are that you can study wherever and whenever you want. Various descriptions are used by training providers to describe this sort of learning: remote learning; blended learning; online learning; or e-learning. Some people think that lack of teacher contact means that you are effectively on your own. Far from it: a good distance learning course will offer a structured framework accompanied by the teaching and support resources to make sure that you acquire the knowledge and skills to pass your exams.
At CILEx Law School, we describe our courses as ‘supported distance learning. We have a wide range of course resources to help you to learn and apply the knowledge that you need to pass the exams. We introduce you to these resources through a face-to-face induction day. You then work through your guided study programme, on our virtual learning environment called ‘The Student Area’, learning material through reading and listening to webcasts. Distance learning provides flexibility so that you can study when you can and at a pace which suits your own lifestyle and other commitments. Ellie Jones Paralegal in the Family Department at Sills & Betteridge Associate member of CILEx
It is important that you have the opportunity to submit work to test your understanding of topics as you go along – you don’t want to wait till the exam to find out that you were on the wrong track!
All CILEx Law School courses include study exercises where you are set topics to read and you are then set exam-style questions to answer, which you submit to personal tutors for marking and feedback.
One of the advantages of distance learning is that you can get help when you need it, unlike many attendance courses where you need to wait until your next class. At CILEx Law School, our Academic Team of legal experts is available by telephone, e-mail or online to answer course queries or help you understand study topics. All members of our Customer Service Team have studied our courses so that they can give you tailored advice, from course selection to where to find resources and materials, and are available during office hours and until 6 pm from Monday to Thursday.
Graphical illustration of how distance-learning courses in law and practice are delivered by CILEx Law School
Online platforms now offer many options for distance-learning students to be part of a learning community. CILEx Law School students have access to an online chatroom and are invited to join a LinkedIn Group. You also meet fellow students at our face-to-face induction and revision sessions, which form part of the course. Our social media channels keep you up to date with news and events, and are used by students for commenting and sharing on their courses.