Chartered Institute of Legal Executives

Introduction

The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) is the professional body representing around 24,000 qualified and trainee Legal Executives, and is recognised by the Ministry of Justice as one of the three core routes to becoming a qualified lawyer alongside barristers and solicitors.

Founded in 1892 CILEx became a company limited by guarantee in 1963 and incorporated by Royal Charter in January 2012. It is now known as ‘The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives’ and currently has branches throughout England and Wales and many members overseas. Its objectives are to:

• provide an organisation for those registered or studying with CILEx
• provide education, training and development of skills for Fellows of the Institute and others
• advance and protect the status and interests of Fellows and others
• promote professional unity, co-operation and mutual assistance amongst those employed in the legal professions or engaged in legal work
• promote and secure professional standards of conduct amongst Fellows and those registered with CILEx, by publishing codes of conduct, guides to good practice and the protocol between CILEx and its regulatory body, ILEX Professional Standards, and regulating the membership through that body to ensure compliance with those standards
• give and award diplomas, certificates, prizes, scholarships, bursaries or other awards to those who show proficiency in the Law.

CILEx and representation

As a consequence of the separation of responsibilities which occurred following the introduction of the Legal Services Act 2007, CILEx itself is now the representative body for Legal Executives whilst ILEX Professional Standards Limited, which was created in October 2008, performs the function of the approved regulator of lawyers.

CILEx state that their long-term strategy is:

• to ensure that their professional qualification remains relevant to the needs of law firms, legal departments, employers and clients, and that it is delivered to national quality standards
• to develop their role as the natural home for all those seeking education, training or qualification relevant to their role in the legal environment
• to make themselves ever more relevant to their members through the services they provide and by seeking new professional opportunities for their members
• to develop their role in the public interest as an efficient and respected professional association and regulator of legal services, and
• to further enhance theirfocus on customer service.

CILEx and regulation

As of October 2008 there is, in addition to CILEx, a new regulatory arm of the organisation called ILEX Professional Standards Limited (IPS). By separating its regulation and leadership functions, CILEx is able to comply with its responsibilities as an approved regulator under the Legal Services Act 2007. For more information see the ILEX Professional Standards Limited page of this web site.