becoming cilex qualified traditional route 2014~15
DESCRIPTION
CILEx Qualification pathways via traditional route 2014/15TRANSCRIPT
The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives
Membership body for paralegals and Chartered Legal Executives
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 experience
Associate CILEx Level 3 Diploma / QLD graduatesACILEx
Graduate CILEx Professional Programme
GCILEx or QLD plus CILEx Fast Track Diploma or LPC/BVC/BPTC
Fellow All law & practice units plus 3 years Qualifying
FCILEx Employment
Post Compulsory Education Entry points
Qualifying as a Chartered Legal Executive Lawyer
3 Years Qualifying Employment – Work
Based Learning
FCILEx
Average 5 Years
Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law
and Practice
GCILEx
Level 3 Diploma in Law and Practice
ACILEx
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Becoming a Chartered Legal Executive
Stage 1
• Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law & Practice
Stage 2
• Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law & Practice
Stage 3
• Qualifying Employment3 Years work of a wholly legal nature
STAGE 1
Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law & Practice ~ Qualification Rules
Certificate
5
units
Diploma
10
units
Level 3 Professional
Diploma in Law & Practice
* Rules of combination apply
CILEx Level 3 Certificate
A natural starting point
Government terminology/‘A’ Level standard
Suitable for school leavers/ support staff and paralegals
Fee-generation. Summary assessment of costs-Level D
Half way point to completing Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice
Rules of Combination
Student must complete
Unit 1
Practice Unit
Legal Research
Client Care Skills
Law Unit
CILEx Level 3 Certificate Combinations
CIVIL LITIGATION
(TORT)
CONVEYANCING FAMILYPRACTICE
PROBATE PRACTICE
CIVIL LITIGATION
(CONTRACT)
EMPLOYMENT CRIMINAL LITIGATION
ELDERLYCLIENT
PRACTICE
CILEx Level 3 Diploma
Completes stage 1 of the CILEx Professional Qualification Route
Delivers broad based knowledge/skills
Awarded on completion of ten units
The 5 units completed for the Level 3 Certificate make up one half of the Diploma
NB rules of combination apply
Rules of Combination
10 Units required to complete the Diploma
Mandatory Units (7)
Unit 1 – Introduction to LawUnits 2, 3, 4, 5 Contract, Criminal Law, Land Law, TortUnit 16, 17 Client Care & Legal Research
Electives (3)
Electives are selected from the remaining practice and non-mandatory law units (Units 6-15)
2 electives must be practice units, one must link directly to a law unit completed as part of the Diploma
Level 3 - Assessment
Unit 1 Multiple Choice Questions (1 hour)
Law Units Closed Book Examination (1.5 hours)
PracticeUnits
Closed book Examination, with pre release materials (1.5 hours)
Professional SkillsUnits
CILEx tasks, assessed by centres
Level 3 Examination fees 2014/15• £47 per unit
2 Exam sittings per year January & June
Time Commitment
Certificate: typically studied over one year Diploma: typically studied over two years Approx. 8 hours study per week per year
STAGE 2
CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law & Practice Qualification Rules
Law
Unit
Law
Unit
Client Care Skills
Legal Research
Practice Unit
Law
Unit
Qualification Terminology
Individual units: CILEx Level 6 Certificate in Law
Full qualification:
CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice
Law graduates:
CILEx Graduate Fast Track Diploma
Level 6 - Assessment
Law Units Closed Book Examination (3 hours)
PracticeUnits
Closed book Examination, with pre release materials (3 hours)
Professional SkillsUnits
CILEx tasks, assessed by centres
Level 6 Examination fees 2014/15• Law & Practice Units £89 each• Skills Units £65 each
2 Exam sittings per year : January & June
Graduate Fast Track Diploma (GFTD)
Exemption is available (from all law units) for holders of a qualifying law degree achieved within last 7 years.
QLD graduate enters at Associate (ACILEx) membership grade
Completion of GFTD is required to meet the practice element of the CILEx Professional Qualification The GFTD comprises:-
Two Level 6 legal practice units (from choice of 7) plus CILEx Level 6 professional skills (Unit 22: client care)
LPC/BVC/BPTC Graduate Exemptions
Holders of a Qualifying Law Degree & either the Legal Practice Course / Bar Vocational Course / Bar Professional Training Course, may apply for full exemption from the traditional CILEx academic stages of training (i.e from Level 3 & Level 6)
A successful exemption application results in entry at CILEx Graduate (GCILEx) status
STAGE 3
Qualifying Employment – Work Based Learning
3 years’ work of a wholly legal nature
Requires completion of an outcomes focused work diary
Requires a significant level of legal, rather than administrative, work to be completed
Final year must be completed after becoming a Graduate Member (GCILEx) of CILEx..
Qualifying Employment
During the final year of QE, a Graduate Member should work, in the following capacity, for a minimum 20hrs/week:
a fee earner (or equivalent)
have conduct of and running their own caseload
as a trainee Chartered Legal Executive
The WBL Handbook explains what constitutes QE.
Members are asked to check before proceeding if they are in any doubt as to whether their employment constitutes QE.
Annual Membership Fees 2014/15
One-off registration £40
o Student £50o Affiliate £119o Associate £168o Graduate £200o Fellow £318.50
Exemption Fees
Qualifying Law Degree £200
Associate Membership (ACILEx)
LPC/BVC/BPTC £635
Graduate Membership (GCILEx)
Where to Study
CILEx Study Centres
Course tuition fees are payable to, and set by, individual centres.
Enquiries should be made with centres to confirm
Costs.
Future Opportunities
Opportunities in ABS Probate rights Conveyancing rights Litigation rights Apprenticeships
Level 3 advanced apprenticeship in legal services This is designed for people who are interested in becoming paralegal fee-earners. Responsibilities can include:
•advising individuals who have suffered personal injuries;
•advising insurers and other companies who are being sued in P I cases;
•helping individuals and organisations recover debts owed to them;
•helping organisations successfully resolve disputes using legal processes;
•helping people who are buying or selling property;
•helping prepare wills and deal with individuals’ assets after death.
Legal Services Apprenticeships
Legal Services Apprenticeships
Level 4
Three Pathways:-o Personal Injury {initial pilot scheme in Wales via this pathway
only}o Insolvency & Debt Recoveryo Commercial Litigation
A competence based assessment that is conducted in the workplace based on the skills applied to do the role specified under the Apprenticeship aligned to the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF)
A technical certificate that assess the technical knowledge of the person undertaking the qualification. This is usually known as the ‘Technical Pathway’.
Essential Skills Wales qualifications
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
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: less than £6k
Expertise: in some cases, CILEx members may possess unique skills and practice knowledge
Staff retention/development
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
Regional Support
Lynne Squires CILEx Regional Development Officer
The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives
Kempston Manor, Kempston, Bedford MK42 7AB
Email: [email protected]
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