SQE/QLTS Subject Head

Kaplan has run the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS) assessments on behalf of the SRA since 2011. QLTS provides a route for lawyers from other jurisdictions and barristers of England and Wales to qualify as solicitors of England and Wales.  The assessment comprises two parts: Part 1 (the MCT) is an extensive multiple choice test.  Part 2 (the OSCE) tests law and both written and oral skills.

In April 2017 the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) made a decision to introduce a new national assessment known as the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE), leading to qualification as a Solicitor of England and Wales.  In June 2018, after an extensive tender process, Kaplan was appointed as the Assessment Organisation to develop and deliver the SQE.  QLTS will ultimately be subsumed within the SQE but is expected to continue running until at least 2021.

The Assessment Specification for the SQE will only be finalised after the pilot stage but the exam is expected to have two Stages. Stage 1 will involve an extensive multiple choice test. Stage 2 will involve a set of written and oral skills assessments.

We are now looking for subject heads to work on question development for the SQE and initially QLTS.

You should indicate the subject area (s) referred to in the QLTS Day One Outcomes and the SQE Draft Assessment Specification June 2017 (available at https://www.sra.org.uk/sra/news/press/tender-deliver-sqe.page) in which you have the expertise to perform this role.  We will have a rolling programme of appointments of subject heads. At this stage we are particularly interested in applicants with expertise in litigation but appointments will not be limited to those with litigation expertise.

Responsibilities:

The post holders will be expected, within their subject area and in conjunction with the relevant Academic Head, to:

• Identify areas requiring new questions and commission their writing from freelance writers

• Help recruit freelance writers and examiners

• Attend and help run question writing events

• Write the first draft of questions

• Edit and oversee the editing process for questions

• Depending on the areas of expertise, attend and help train for and organise live skills assessments

• Oversee the marking process, and mark questions personally where appropriate

• Review the statistical performance of questions and markers and take appropriate action to achieve a resolution

The post holders will, in addition, carry out any other duties as are within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job as requested by their line manager or senior manager.  As business requirements change, the job description will evolve.

Person Specification:

Essential

• Professional qualification as a solicitor
• Up to date knowledge of law and legal practice and subject area expertise

Desirable

• Experience of writing, marking and editing professional legal assessments
• Experience of writing, marking, and editing QLTS assessments

Skills

Essential

• The ability to operate within a team and to work efficiently and sensitively with both academic and support staff
• The ability to understand assessment methodology including its statistical aspects
• The ability to think both originally and analytically
• Strong administrative skills including organisational, time and paper management skills and attention to detail
• Computer literate including for SQE Stage 2 the ability to use legal research databases

Applications:

Please send your CV with a short email outlining why the role interests you and highlighting your most relevant skills and experience to Maria.Rushton@kaplan.co.uk. Applications will be accepted until close of business on 24 August 2018.

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