CILEx to streamline regulations to help more paralegals become legal executives

The regulatory arm of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) is examining whether its processes can be streamlined to help more paralegals make the jump to become chartered legal executives – specialist lawyers capable of setting up their own firms and working independently.

CILEx has been moving away from ‘tick-box’ regulation to a more competency-based and outcomes-focused approach, which has included introducing a requirement for prospective CILEx lawyers to submit a portfolio from their caseload before qualifying. It is now looking to do more and is currently applying to become a licensed authority for alternative business structures (ABS), which would expand opportunities for aspiring and practicing chartered legal executives, as well as the regulatory options for firms and other ABS organisations.

David Gilbertson, board member at CILEx, said in a speech to the Westminster Legal Policy Forum: “Our [continuing professional development] scheme was innovative for the sector at the time of its introduction. It removed the requirement for hours or points to be accumulated and replaced it with a requirement to meet a minimum number of learning outcomes, relevant to the individual. During this period of change, CILEx Regulation also secured independent practice rights for CILEx members, enabling them to qualify to work in reserved activities independently. We are going to consider the evidence that two years of operation of these schemes has provided and we will be looking at the possibility of creating streamlined pathways to enable paralegals to become both chartered legal executives and CILEx practitioners, without the need for unnecessary duplication of evidence where it is appropriate to do so.”