How to become a chartered legal executive

CONTENTS

1. What is a chartered legal executive?

2. Working as a chartered legal executive or CILEX lawyer

3. How to become a chartered legal executive

4. CILEX professional qualifications (CPQ)

5. Level 6 Chartered Legal Executive Apprenticeship

6. Can a chartered legal executive become a solicitor?

What is a chartered legal executive?

In the UK, 'lawyer' is a general term for anyone licensed to practise law.

In England and Wales this includes chartered legal executives, who are trained to the same level as solicitors but specialise in one area of law. As a rule, they undertake the same work as solicitors, with certain conditions. They can also qualify to represent clients in court or become judges. Legal executives are recognised in Northern Ireland, but there's no direct equivalent in Scotland.

In England, it is now possible to train as a CILEX lawyer. This new pathway still includes a specialist focus, but also obtains the right to practice without supervision, giving CILEX Lawyers parity with solicitors.

Working as a chartered legal executive or CILEX lawyer 

Chartered legal executives or CILEX lawyers take instruction from clients and provide legal advice. They negotiate, or contact other professionals, on behalf of their clients. They analyse and summarise complex legal information, draw up wills and draft legal contracts. 

They normally specialise in one of these areas:

• Family law – legal matters concerning families, including divorce and children
• Civil litigation – resolution of legal disputes between people (may be about contracts, personal injury, debt recovery or housing)
• Conveyancing – legal work relating to the purchase and sale of property
• Probate – validation of wills and trusts
• Commercial or employment law – covering tax, contracts, employment, mergers and acquisitions
• Criminal litigation – advising clients accused of serious or petty crime
• Public law – working within councils or government (may include areas such as welfare benefits or immigration)
• Legal practice – such as practice management or legal costs and accounts work

In addition, once qualified you can train as a CILEX advocate, to represent clients in court, a CILEX coroner, to investigate deaths, or a CILEX judge, working in district courts. 

What’s it like to work as a chartered legal executive?

Chartered legal executives or CILEX lawyers may be associates or run a specialist department within a law firm. They can become a partner within a law firm and instruct barristers. They can also be self-employed, providing legal services to solicitors.

The work is generally office-based. A 37-hour working week is normal, but with overtime when deadlines approach. Legal executives must attend meetings with clients, and overnight stays can occasionally be necessary. 

How much do chartered legal executives earn?

The salary for trainees can be from £15,000–£28,000 a year while working toward their qualifications, depending on their location and stage of training.

Those with over five years’ experience can earn up to £55,000 a year – or more if they become a partner at a law firm. 

How to become a chartered legal executive

Qualifications are awarded by CILEX, the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.

There are two ways to qualify as a chartered legal executive:

• CILEX professional qualifications (CPQ)
• Level 6 Chartered Legal Executive apprenticeship

As their training progresses, students choose a single area of legal practice to focus on, rather than the broader training of a solicitor.

CILEX professional qualifications (CPQ)

CILEX professional qualifications (CPQ) were introduced after 2021 as a new route to qualify as a CILEX lawyer.

The training has three different stages, with different entry points based on your prior experience:

CPQ Foundation stage

• Suitable for those with no legal training
• Generally 12–18 months to complete
• Awards a CILEX diploma in law
• Qualifies you to practice as a CILEX paralegal

CPQ Advanced stage

• Open to CILEX paralegals or Law graduates
• Usually 12–18 months, studying at 8–10 hour per week
• Four compulsory modules:
  • Professional and legal skills
  • Dispute resolution
  • Criminal law and litigation
  • Property and conveyancing
• One optional module, choosing from:
  • Business and employment law
  • Family law and practice
  • Probate and private client
• Six assessments
• Awards the CILEX Advanced Diploma in Law and Practice
• Qualifies you to practice as a CILEX advanced paralegal or trainee CILEX lawyer

CPQ Professional stage

• Open to CILEX advanced paralegals, trainee CILEX lawyers, or those who have completed vocational solicitor or barrister training
• Around 12 months to complete
• One compulsory module:
  • Professional skills
• One optional module, choosing from:
  • Dispute resolution
  • Criminal law and litigation
  • Residential conveyancing
  • Commercial conveyancing
  • Employment law and practice
  • Business and commercial law
  • Family law and litigation
  • Probate and Private client
  • Immigration Law and Practice
• Awards a CILEX Professional Diploma in Legal Practice
• Qualifies you to practice as a CILEX lawyer

During your studies you need to be working in a legal environment, putting your learning into practice to achieve the required professional experience. This is required before you can complete each stage of training.

If you are a Law graduate, you’ll be able to enter at the CPQ Advanced stage and may gain exemptions from studying some modules if you’ve already covered them in your degree.

Your career specialism must be chosen and studied at both the Advanced and Professional stage. If you choose an area involving litigation or dispute resolution, you’ll also need to pass an advocacy skills course.

Depending on your training provider, you may study fully online, in a training centre, or have blended learning combining both. All assessments are taken online, with two exam sessions per year in January or June.

Applications

You will need to join CILEX as a member before you submit your completed application.

If you are a graduate with a qualifying Law degree taken in England and Wales (or a suitable law conversion course), you can apply via the LawCabs website for the graduate entry programme to study with CILEX Law School online.

Alternatively you can register on CILEX for the relevant CPQ training stage. If you’re not a law graduate, or don’t have a suitable Law degree, you’ll have to start at the CPQ Foundation stage. Registration gives you access to all of the CILEX learning resources. You will also need to apply directly to a training provider of your choice, with providers listed on the CILEX website including universities and colleges.

Fees and funding

Course fees will vary depending on the route you decide to take and the course provider you choose, as CILEX leaves this to each individual provider to set. In addition to tuition costs there are exam or assessment fees and membership fees (paid to CILEX).

Below is an example of the fees for a law graduate training with the CILEX Law School on their graduate entry programme (fees from October 2022). 

The CILEX fee above includes resources and assessments but excludes annual membership, which must also be paid.

You can also purchase CPQ as separate modules, helping you spread the cost of qualifying. In some cases, your employer may fund the training.

If you’ve been accepted onto a CILEX professional qualification, you can apply for a loan for your studies from Lendwise. If you’re from a background that’s under-represented in the legal profession, you may be eligible to apply for a bursary from the CILEX Foundation.

More information on charges and payment options can be found on the CILEX website.

Level 6 Chartered Legal Executive Apprenticeship

If you’re in England, another possibility is a degree-level apprenticeship offered by an employer working in partnership with a training organisation. It can taking up to five years to complete and is aimed at those with no legal experience. However it’s also possible to apply if you have a Law degree, in which case you may be exempted from some of the training.

As an apprentice, you complete Level 3 and Level 6 CILEX professional qualifications during your training – these are the ‘legacy’ qualifications rather than the new CPQ qualifications. Along with the qualifying employment you gain along the way, they’ll qualify you to become a Chartered Legal Executive and a Fellow of CILEX. Over the next few years it is expected that the qualifications will transition to the new CPQ framework.

The cost of training is paid by your employer and you’ll be paid a salary – though how much can vary.

CILEX also supports delivery of the Welsh Apprenticeship in Legal Services, for those who live and work in Wales.

Can a chartered legal executive become a solicitor?

Chartered legal executives or CILEX lawyers can take the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations to become a solicitor if they wish.

You’ll need to:

• Have a UK degree, level 6 qualification or apply for equivalence if you have a lower qualification plus relevant work experience
• Pass SQE1 and SQE2; depending on your prior training, you may be exempt from some of the assessments
• Have two years of qualifying work experience – this can be past experience. So if you’ve been providing legal services as a CILEX lawyer or as a paralegal, this can count towards your work experience

Your character and suitability will be checked as part of your application and once you are admitted as a solicitor, you’ll need to apply for a practising certificate.