What is CILEx:
The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) is the professional association for Chartered Legal Executive lawyers, paralegals and other legal practitioners in England and Wales and is one of the core approved regulators in the legal profession in England and Wales.
Why CILEx?
Whether you want to train as a paralegal or Chartered Legal Executive, CILEx offers a range of qualifications to becoming a lawyer without having a degree. The learning can be full time, part-time or distance learning to fit around your personal and work life, offering the chance to learn while you work if you choose.
What’s Involved?
I am currently working towards a qualification as a Chartered Legal Executive which involves several stages.
The academic stage involves a Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice and Level 6 Diploma in Law and Practice both consisting of law and practice units which must be passed. The learning modules are provided by several accredited CILEx schools, I am studying at the CILEx Law School via distance learning.
Depending on your previous qualifications and experiences, you will be graded by CILEx under 5 membership categories, Student, Affiliate, Associate, Graduate, and Fellow. If you have already studied the LLB/GDL and the LPC/BPTC you will be exempt from the academic stage and will jump to a graduate member of CILEx.
To move on to the next stage, you must have been in qualifying employment for at least 3 years, of which 1 year must be as a Graduate member and 2 consecutive years being immediately prior to applying for Fellowship. Qualifying employment is work that is wholly of a legal nature and for at least 20 hours per week, under a supervised person.
Finally, when you have completed all the requirements you will be admitted as a Fellow and will be invited to attend the CILEx Graduation and Admission ceremony, which will be a very proud moment and great achievement!.
Lastly
There are opportunities to become partners, coroners, advocates and judges and there are extensions to the qualification in respect of rights of audience which are becoming increasingly similar to solicitors and barristers. This year, we saw the second female Chartered Legal Executive appointed to the judiciary and the first to become a Deputy District Judge, which is great for CILEx.
CILEx is becoming a more recognised qualification and route to follow in the legal sector. This, coupled with their involvement in the development of law with the Law Society, Bar Council and government it is gaining recognition in line with other legal qualifications.
This is a small insight to CILEx and it would be great to hear about your thoughts and experiences so please get in touch.
CILEx have an ESSEX Branch which arrange social & CPD events and often join forces with FLoCC. To join your local CILEX branch, please contact Branch Chair, Kate Crossman – [email protected].
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