The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives

CILEX (The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives) is one of the three main professional bodies covering the legal profession in England and Wales. The 18,000-strong membership is made up of CILEX lawyers, paralegals and other legal professionals.

CILEX pioneered the non-university route into law and in 2021 launched the CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ), a new approach to on-the-job training that marries legal knowledge with the practical skills, behaviours and commercial awareness needed by lawyers and their employers in the 2020s.

The CPQ provides three levels of qualification: CILEX Lawyer, CILEX Advanced Paralegal and CILEX Paralegal. CILEX Lawyers have equal standing to their solicitor counterparts but specialise in their chosen field at an earlier stage. They can become partners in law firms, coroners, judges or advocates in open court.

The CPQ is a tailored and flexible qualification pathway; there’s no requirement to have a university degree, but it’s still open to university students and offers a fast-track route for law graduates. Students can study via distance learning or face to face, choosing a CILEX approved training provider from across the UK, and will usually earn as they learn, increasing the accessibility and affordability of entry.

The CPQ is a progressive framework across three stages: Foundation, Advanced and Professional. Students gain recognition and a respected professional designation as they progress through their studies, allowing them to reap benefits over the course of their studies. Each stage combines a focus on technical expertise and practical skills with the development of the core behaviours required to create forward-thinking, commercially minded, adaptable lawyers who really understand the clients they serve. 

• CPQ Foundation: This is aligned to the role of a paralegal or case handler, and will take around 18 months to two years to complete. Professionals who complete the CPQ Foundation Stage will become an accredited CILEX Paralegal. That means they can demonstrate the competencies specifically linked to that role, having evidenced them through assessment of their practical experience. It enables them to add value early and with an understanding of the practical issues facing clients and providers of legal services. This stage has six compulsory modules, including professional skills, contract law and introduction to property and private client.

• CPQ Advanced: This stage is for those handling cases at an advanced paralegal level, and will take around 18 months to two years to complete. The CPQ Advanced Stage builds on the knowledge acquired in the CPQ Foundation stage and includes a part two ethics and professional responsibility module and a further period of professional experience. On top of the four mandatory modules, professionals at this stage are also required to choose at least one optional module from business and employment law, family law and practice, probate and private client, and property and conveyancing. On completion, they’ll be accredited as a CILEX Advanced Paralegal. CILEX Advanced Paralegals meet all the attributes for CILEX Paralegals. In addition, they can demonstrate competence and legal knowledge to a high specialist level, enabling them to work as specialist case handlers in any of the areas of law they study.
   
• CPQ Professional: This is for those who want to be accredited as a full CILEX Lawyer in their chosen specialist area of law, with full practice rights, and will take around 12 to 18 months to complete. This stage has just one compulsory module (ie, professional skills), with the choice of one extra module from a range of options, including criminal litigation, family litigation and immigration law. A CILEX Lawyer will have completed all three stages of the CPQ, which includes compulsory ethics and professional responsibility modules and gained a minimum of three years’ relevant practical experience. The structure of the CPQ means CILEX Lawyers qualify with practice rights in at least one specialist area of law. By contrast, solicitors and barristers qualify as generalists and only begin to specialise post-qualification. This means that CILEX Lawyers are ready to deliver specialist expertise for their employers and clients, and add value, from much earlier in their careers.

All CPQ assessments take place online.

Qualify as a lawyer without needing a degree

The CILEX route is inherently inclusive and diverse. Unlike other routes into a legal career there are no formal entry requirements to start on the CPQ Foundation stage; it’s open to all. The CPQ is a substantially more affordable way for students to become lawyers than other routes into law – delivering on CILEX’s commitment to accessibility while not compromising standards. To qualify as a CILEX Lawyer will cost around £13,000, depending on the chosen specialism  – and less for those who already have some kind of legal qualification. This is based on the cost of training at CILEX Law School; CILEX makes it clear that it doesn’t control the fees that other approved training providers charge.

How long will it take to qualify?

This will vary from trainee to trainee. Those with undergraduate or postgraduate legal qualifications won’t have to start at Foundation stage and the flexibility of the qualification means it’s possible to pause learning and progress at whatever speed suits an individual. Not everyone will want to study all three stages, and many people create a successful career as a paralegal, having completed Foundation or Advanced.

It’s expected that each stage takes between 18 months and two years, with three assessment windows currently offered – CILEX says it’ll review demand for subsequent years.

Studying with CILEX

There are a range of study options offered by CILEX approved training providers, including further education colleges and specialist distance learning providers. Many of the providers offer blended learning among other flexible options, including CILEX Law School, which is wholly owned by CILEX. All CILEX approved training providers must meet the approval standards and regulatory requirements to offer the CPQ. Training provider fees vary, depending on:

• the delivery of the course in a classroom or remote setting;
• whether the course is delivered full or part time;
• the learning platforms used; and
• the level of support given to students. 

Salaries

Salaries will vary according to your location and legal specialism. Starting salaries are usually between £15,000 to £28,000 per year while qualifying.

What CILEX Lawyers do

Although CILEX Lawyers can be involved in many areas of law, the most common areas of specialism are:

• conveyancing – the legal side of buying and selling property;
• family – advising on divorce and matters affecting children;
• crime – defending and prosecuting people accused of crimes;
• company and business law – advising on legislation that affects clients’ businesses, such as tax, contract and employment law;
• litigation – advising clients that are in dispute with someone else;
• probate – dealing with wills, trusts and inheritance tax; and
• personal injury – handling accident claims.

CILEX Lawyers are specialist practitioners at the point of qualifying. All CILEX members are independently regulated by CILEx Regulation and must adhere to a code of conduct. They’re required to continue training throughout their careers to keep abreast of the latest developments in the law.

Where CILEX Lawyers work

CILEX Lawyers are found in many of the top UK law firms across various legal roles, including all the way up to partner. But it’s not just legal firms that employ them. Such lawyers fill key legal roles in a variety of government bodies, local authorities, charities and business organisations, including Caterpillar, HSBC, Admiral Insurance, Disney Corporation, the UK Border Agency, the Ministry of Defence, the Crown Prosecution Service, the NHS, county councils, the RSPCA and The Peabody Trust. They also join in-house legal teams and are represented in some of the top companies in the UK.

A growing number of CILEX members are moving into judiciary positions, including becoming a recorder or judge.

Why choose the CPQ?

Open to everyone

Students don’t need a degree – the CPQ is accessible to all, with fast-track options for law graduates and those part-qualified with the Solicitors Qualifying Exam.  

Qualify as you go

Each of the three stages of CPQ are qualifications in their own right, meaning students gain recognition and professional status as they progress. 

Earn while you learn

Most CILEX students work alongside their studies, applying their learning in real legal environments and gaining valuable experience. 

A cost-effective route

Get qualified for a fraction of the cost of traditional legal routes that cost around £6,500 to £15,000, depending on exemptions and specialisms. 

Career support and community

As a CILEX member, students will join a network of more than 18,000 legal professionals, with exclusive resources and guidance at every stage of their journey. 

For all the latest information, visit the CILEX website.