About IPS
IPS was set up in 2008. It is part of the CILEx Group but
has its own Board of Directors to ensure its independence.
The board comprises four independent members, who are not lawyers,
and three professional members who are Chartered Legal
Executives. It is led by Alan Kershaw, one of the independent
members. The officer heading IPS is Ian Watson.
IPS is responsible for all regulatory matters affecting CILEx
and CILEx members. Its aim is to define, promote and secure,
in the public interest, proper standards of professional conduct
and behaviour among CILEx members. In formal terms, the
objects of IPS are:
- To carry out on behalf of CILEx the functions and
responsibilities of CILEx as an Approved Regulator designated as
such by the Legal Services Act 2007; and
- To carry out on behalf of CILEx such functions and
responsibilities of CILEx as regulator of its membership generally
as CILEx may from time to time delegate to the company.
IPS sees a major part of its role as ensuring the public and
CILEx members know what standards of education and conduct are
expected of them. We aim to help good practitioners stay good
and improve throughout their careers and to ensure the public know
the quality of work Chartered Legal Executives can provide.
We are also ready, when a question arises about the fitness to
practise of a CILEx member, to deal firmly, fairly and promptly
with the matter.
The Legal Services Act 2007 is redefining the legal
services landscape. CILEx is an Approved Regulator under the
Act but must separate its representative and regulatory activities
to ensure that it and its members meet the Act's objectives and
comply with its stated professional principles. You can read
the statutory objectives and the professional principles
here.
The protocols governing the working relationship between CILEx
and IPS can be found here.
Information about the strategy of IPS can be found on the
Governance page.