Becoming CILEx Qualified

The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives

Membership body for Chartered Legal Executives and paralegals

20,000 members A representative and regulatory body Established in 1963 Recognised by Government Awarded Charter status from 30 January 2012

becoming the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx)

Specialist Lawyers

Chartered Legal Executives have

a broad based understanding of law

specialist practice knowledge and skills

Membership Grades

Student No formal legal qualifications

Affiliate Minimum 1 CILEx level 3 unit / 3 years work

Associate CILEx Level 3 Diploma / QLD graduatesACILEx

Graduate CILEx Professional ProgrammeGCILEx

or, QLD plus CILEx Fast Track Diploma

or, QLD plus LPC/BVC/BPTC

Fellow All law & practice units/exemption + 3 years QEFCILEx

Becoming a Chartered Legal Executive

The Law Graduate route

Stage 1

• Exemption Application ~ if possessing a Qualifying Law Degree QLD (achieved within last 7 years)

Stage 2

• CILEx Graduate Fast Track Diploma (GFTD)

Stage 3

• Qualifying Employment / Work Based Learning3 years, work of a wholly legal nature, minimum 20 hours /week

Graduate Fast Track Diploma (GFTD)

For Holders of a Qualifying Law Degree

Successful exemption application = entry at Associate Membership Level (ACILEx)

Completion of GFTD is required to meet the practice element of the CILEx Professional qualification

The GFTD requires completion of :- Two Level 6 legal practice units

plus Level 6 client care skills unit

CILEx GFTD Practice Units

Two Practice units completed from: Civil Litigation The Practice of Company & Partnership law Conveyancing Criminal Litigation The Practice of Employment Law The Practice of Family Law Probate Practice

At least one unit must relate to a module completed as part of QLD

Level 6 - Assessment

Graduate Fast Track Diploma

PracticeUnits

Closed Book Examination - with pre release materials (3 hours)

Professional Skills Units

CILEx tasks, assessed by centres

2 Exam sittings per year January & June

LPC/BVC/BPTC Graduate Exemptions

Holders of a Qualifying Law Degree, plus the LPC/BVC/BPTC, may apply for full exemption from the traditional academic stages of CILEx training (i.e. Level 3 & Level 6)

A successful exemption application results in entry at GCILEx status

Enrolment process

Click here Click on Join now Complete online registration process Include details of the academic qualifications you have

achieved LLB Graduates complete Application for a Listed

Exemption form, and send it plus certified copies of certificate & exemption fee to CILEx

LPC/BPTC on completion of registration send CILEx certified copies of certificates

Website

CILEx – Qualifying Employment

3 years work, minimum 20 hours/week, of a wholly legal nature under the supervision of an authorised person

A period of 43 weeks spent in attendance on either LPC/BPTC will be treated as qualifying employment, provided you have passed the course.

Where the LPC/BPTC and qualifying employment run concurrently, credit will not be given twice for the same time period.

Final year must be completed after becoming a Graduate Member of CILEx (GCILEx status).

Qualifying Employment

Working to set learning outcomes Requires collation of evidence, using a logbook, to

demonstrate outcomes are met The Work Based Learning Handbook sets out what constitutes

QE. Is available to download from CILEx or ILEX Professional Standards website.

Members are asked to check before proceeding if they are in any doubt as to whether their employment constitutes QE

Registration fee £35

FEES TO CONSIDER

Membership fees

Exemption fees

Centre Tuition

Fees

Examination fees

Books & miscellaneous

Annual Membership Subscription Fees

Academic year 2014/15

One-off CILEx registration £40

Student £50

Affiliate £119

Associate £168

Graduate £200

Fellow £318.50

Exemption Fees 2014

Qualifying Law Degree £40 + £168 + £200

Associate Membership (ACILEx)

LPC/BVC/BPTC £635

Graduate Membership (GCILEx)

Fees

Academic Year 2014/15

Examination fees : Per practice Unit: £89 Client Care Unit £65

Fellowship Upgrade Application:

£150 (Submission of Work Based learning Portfolio)

Where to Study/Tuition fees

CILEx Study Centres:

www.cilex.org.uk/study/lawyer_qualifications.aspx

Course tuition fees are payable to, and set by, individual

Centres. Enquiries should be made with centres to confirm

costs

Benefits of becoming a Chartered Legal Executive

Qualified Lawyer Status – an Authorised Person (LSA2007)

Regulation & Representation by a Professional Body

Eligibility for partnership

Management opportunities

Advocacy rights (with additional training): civil, criminal, family

Eligibility for judicial appointment

Coroners

Future Opportunities

The Lord Chancellor has confirmed that he will make the Order needed so that CILEx members can be authorised to practise independently in the reserved areas of probate and conveyancing

Along with approvals made by the Legal Services Board (LSB) last year of rule changes on litigation, advocacy and immigration activities, this puts Chartered Legal Executives on an equal footing with other legal professionals

Other measures, when presented to Parliament later this year, will cut the red tape that prevents CILEx members from practising independently, and will allow ILEX Professional Standards (IPS) to regulate law firms run by Chartered Legal Executives providing specialist legal services

Benefits for Employers

Flexible: continue to train whilst working

Cost effective: fee earning capacity compared with training cost and salary (CILEx research)

Good value compared with solicitors Typical target: £60-£100k Total cost to train around £2,000 - with some subsidies available e.g. GO

Wales Funding

Expertise: in some cases, CILEx members may possess unique skills and practice knowledge

Staff retention/development/motivation

Regional Support

Lynne Squires CILEx Regional Development Officer

The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives

Kempston Manor, Kempston, Bedford MK42 7AB

Email: lsquires@cilex.org.uk

Tel: 02920514891 Mobile/SMS: 07795062905

Websites : www.cilex.org.uk www.cilexcareers.org.uk

Twitter : @lynnesquires

LinkedIn Group: The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives - Wales & South West