The following information relates to the application processes for the regulated titles of Chartered Legal Executive (Fellow), CILEX Practitioner and CILEX Advocate. For information regarding the use of the title of CILEX Lawyer and what it means, CILEX members should Contact CILEX
Application queries
For CILEx Regulation (CRL) applications, the team often receive a significant amount of information to consider and assess to enable CRL to provide you with the authorisation that you seek. We will seek to do this as quickly as possible, but this may mean that the team is not available to answer direct calls on your application. However if you call 01234 845770 and leave a message, we will get back to you.
Where this is beneficial to the process, we will look to schedule calls with you at an agreed time. Please note that the timescales detailed below are the maximum timescales and applications are usually completed within this time.
Process and applications to become a Chartered Legal Executive (CLE)
To become a Chartered Legal Executive (not CPQ route): Applicants can complete the Qualifying Experience (QE) application to ascertain if they meet the criteria of completing a minimum of 2,300 hours of qualifying experience. Find out more below.
Applicant submits application (which can take up to 10 working days to register on the system)
Invoice is raised and application is sent via Adobe Sign (so we hold an ‘approved’ signature)
QE Assessment is carried out by assessors within 20 working days of receipt of payment
Assessors provide feedback with potential requests for further information and the further assessment can take an additional 10 working days
Once QE has been approved, the applicant receives a confirmation letter which also notes that the applicant can proceed to start the work-based learning activity which is the next stage to becoming a CLE.
Applicant submits application (which can take up to 5 working days to run checks and initially process)
Invoice is raised and the application form, reference and log sheet declaration are sent via Adobe Sign (so we hold an ‘approved’ signature)
WBL logbooks are sent to assessors (which can take 10 working weeks for 1stassessment)
Assessors provide feedback with potential requests for further information, and subsequent submissions (which can take up to 10 working days to assess) or approval
Once the portfolio has been approved, the applicant receives a confirmation letter that WBL has been approved.
Chartered Legal Executives working in civil, criminal or family proceedings can apply for extended rights of audience to become a Chartered Legal Executive Advocate, see Advocacy section below.
Become a Practitioner or Advocate – Application Process
Once a Chartered Legal Executive, members can apply to become a Practitioner* or an Advocate which allows them to carry out reserved activities (Practitioner) or advocacy (Advocate) unsupervised but usually via a regulated firm or in-house (applicants for advocacy have to be employed at the point of application unless they have practice rights).
There are two routes to becoming a Practitioner; the traditional portfolio route or the assessment/training and assessment route delivered by the University of Law (with the current exception of criminal litigation and immigration which currently can only be completed with the portfolio route). For the University of Law route, applicants must be a Chartered Legal Executive with at least 5 years’ qualifying employment.
*Applicants for probate and conveyancing who do not want to be a Chartered Legal Executive and are not members, can apply directly to be a Practitioner through the portfolio route.
Applicant submits an eligibility application (which can take up to 10 working days to process) and, if confirmed eligible, will be sent details to register with ULaw
Applicant either undertakes training and assessment or assessment only pathway
On completion of the course, the applicant completes an Eligibility Certificate Part II and appends confirmation of passing the ULaw course and sends to CRL
Application is sent via Adobe sign (so we hold an ‘approved’ signature)
References are checked and a link sent to applicant for a DBS check
Once all final checks are completed, the applicant receives confirmation of practice rights and receives a practising certificate from CILEX.**
**Applicants who are applying for litigation and advocacy (civil, criminal and family) have to also undertake an advocacy skills course currently delivered by Altior/Barbri (unless applicants have exemption as they have attended an approved course such as the BPC/BPTC). Courses are run when there are sufficient numbers. Current costs (2023) are as follows:
2-day advocacy training and assessment for judges’ room advocacy only = £975 + VAT
6-day advocacy training and assessment for open court advocacy rights = £1725 + VAT
Once the portfolio has been approved or the ULaw course passed, applicants will need to contact CILEx Regulation about registering onto the relevant advocacy skills course. Once the course has been completed, applicants contact CILEx Regulation with confirmation of having passed the course. Portfolio route applicants undertake final checks (including DBS checks) for practising rights and University of Law applicants complete the Eligibility Certificate Part II as confirmed above before final checks are made.
Please note that on authorisation you will be charged for the practice rights practising certificate which is currently £60 pro rata.
Every January, as long as the CILEX CPD requirements have been maintained, an annual renewal fee will also be charged in order to obtain the annual practising certificate.
Applicant submits an Extended Rights of Audience Scheme Application
Invoice is raised and application is sent via Adobe sign (so we hold an ‘approved’ signature)
Initial checks carried out within 20 working days of payment receipt
Portfolio/logbooks are sent to assessors (which can take up to 6 working weeks for 1st assessment)
Assessor provides feedback with potential requests for further information and/or 2nd submission or approval
Applicant is registered to undertake the relevant advocacy skills course
On completion, the applicant completes an Application for Advocacy Certificate and appends confirmation of passing the course
References are checked and a DBS link is sent to the applicant
Once all final checks are completed, the applicant receives confirmation of practising rights and an Extended Rights of Audience Certificate from CILEx.***
***Successful applicants will have to renew their certificate after one year through an application and portfolio process and every three years thereafter. Those applicants who gain advocacy rights through their practice rights application, will also have to renew their advocacy certificate after one year only and then advocacy rights will be assigned indefinitely (subject to up-to-date membership fees and CPD). With both routes, the advocacy renewal activity includes detailing advocacy cases where new advocacy rights have been used in the first year.
Queries about applications can be sent to the same inboxes as where the application is sent (please see below).
Please note: Due to the volumes of applications being assessed, we ask you please not to request updates on your application unless they fall outside the stated timescales. We will look to progress your application as soon as we can.
Practice rights portfolio applications include the costs of the initial practising certificate.
Every January, as long as the CILEX CPD requirements have been maintained, an annual renewal fee will also be charged in order to obtain the annual practising certificate.
