Things You May Not Know...

About Chartered Legal Executive lawyers:

Chartered Legal Executives are able to become judges. 

Chartered Legal Executives are able to become partners in law firms.

Chartered Legal Executives can represent their clients in court and become advocates.

Chartered Legal Executives' rights are on an increasingly level playing field with barristers and solicitors. They can become judges, partners and advocates.

About the CILEx route to becoming a lawyer:

CILEx is the most accessible route to a rewarding career as a qualified lawyer. Uniquely it is open to those holding GCSEs, A levels or a degree.

No further full-time study is required: students can complete their CILEx qualifications by part-time study or distance learning. There are around 80 CILEx accredited study centres across England and Wales.

CILEx students usually earn a salary (usually around £25,000 per annum) by working in a law firm whilst studying an average of one day or two nights a week for four years, either at a local college or university, or via distance learning.

The length of time students study is flexible – students can chose their own pace for when they sit their CILEx exams and can fast-track those, or take breaks – therefore the length of study time until course completion will vary accordingly.

CILEx holds an annual graduation ceremony, which your family can attend.

You don’t need a Training Contract or Pupilage to become a Chartered Legal Executive lawyer (these are very hard to secure and are currently mandatory to become a solicitor or barrister).

CILEx Fellows who wish to dual qualify as solicitors are usually exempt from the SRA's 2-year training contract.

Fees:

Studying for a full CILEx qualification costs between £4,500 to £7,500 in total, spread over the duration of your study, with fees depending on location. There is no degree or prior law qualification required for this full CILEx route.

This CILEx route therefore compares very favourably with the new university fees, on top of which law graduates face additional post-graduate legal qualifications (the LPC or BPTC) to become a lawyer of around £12,900 to £15,750. Non law graduates would also have to pay around £3,000 to £7,000 for their CPE/GDL fees to become a solicitor or barrister. 

For law graduates CILEx also offers a Graduate Fast-Track Diploma which costs up to a maximum of circa £2,400 and only takes a year to complete through part-time study.

Salaries:

Salaries will vary according to location and chosen specialist area of law, but starting salaries are usually approximately £25,000 a year whilst qualifying. Graduate members of CILEx can expect to earn up to £30,000. Fully qualified Chartered Legal Executive lawyers can then expect to earn around £35,000 on average. Latest surveys show annual salaries of over £100,000 for some Chartered Legal Executives.