Royal Charter
- Read our Royal Charter FAQs
About our Charter status
On 12 October 2011, the Queen in Council
approved our application for Royal Charter. On 30 January
2012 Justice Minister, Jonathan Dganogly presented us with the
sealed charter.
There are many benefits that a Royal Charter will bring to the
public as well as to the Institute and its members, including:
- Existing Fellows in active practice are able to use the
title Chartered Legal Executive. As of 30 January
2012.
- Members of CILEx can progress to become Chartered Legal
Executives, upon achieving Fellowship status.
- Our status as an Approved Regulator, Professional Body and
Awarding Organisation is further enhanced by the additional
scrutiny and endorsement of our operations by the Privy
Council.
- Formal public recognition for our high standards in
qualification, regulation and representation.
- Raised consumer awareness and confidence when seeking legal
advice from suitably qualified, regulated lawyers.
- Professional recognition from your peers in the legal
profession for your equal standing and expertise as Chartered Legal
Executive lawyers.
For more information view the Royal Charter Key Facts
or take a look at the FAQs below.
Recent amendments
On 17 October 2012 the Privy Council agreed to some changes in our
Charter and its Bye-laws.
With immediate effect, the following
designatory letters will be used for the following membership
grades:
FCILEx – Fellows
GCILEx – Graduate members
ACILEx – Associate
members
The changes also mean that any centre
accredited to deliver CILEx qualifications will now be referred to
as ‘CILEx Centres’. The Institute itself is now referred to as ‘The
Chartered Institute’.
While these changes are mostly administrative
they do mark a significant step in ensuring that CILEx members are
represented and titled correctly as members of a Chartered
organisation. Please do ensure that your employer is aware of the
changes so that your titles may be amended accordingly.
If you have any questions about how these
changes affect you then please contact your membership team on
01234 845777 or by emailing membership@cilex.org.uk
The Oath
From this year forward all Chartered Legal Executives will
recite the following oath upon graduating from CILEx, underlining
their commitment to the very best service and professional
standards.
I promise to discharge diligently my duties and
responsibilities as a Chartered Legal Executive. I will
protect my independence as a lawyer, uphold the Rule of Law, and
act at all times with integrity. I will justify the confidence and
trust that is placed in me by my clients, the courts, the public
and by my profession.
Royal Charter FAQs
Q. Will I have to take any more exams to become a
Chartered Legal Executive?
A. No.
Q. Who can use the title 'Chartered Legal
Executive'?
A. This title is reserved for current practising Fellows
only.
Q. I am a practising Fellow, when can I use the title
Chartered Legal Executive?
A. From 30 January 2012.
Q. Can I still use my designatory letters, F.Inst.L.Ex,
G.Inst.L.Ex, A.Inst.L.Ex?
A. No. The designatory letters have now changed as
follows:
- FCILEx – Fellows
- GCILEx – Graduate members
- ACILEx – Associate members
Q. I am a retired Fellow, will I be able to call myself
a Retired Chartered Legal Executive?
A. No, this title is reserved for current practising
Fellows. But you are able to say you are a Retired Fellow
of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.
Q. I am a non-practising Fellow, will I be able to
use the title 'Chartered Legal Executive'?
A. No. This title is reserved for those
Fellows in 'active practice'. Non practising Fellows can use
the designatory letters FCILEx and are not required to
undertake annual CPD.
Q. Will I have to pay more to use the title Chartered
Legal Executive?
A. No.
Q. Will CILEx replace all my
previous exam certificates?
A. No. The Charter is not retrospective. Only when the
Charter comes into effect will our materials be updated.
Q. I am not a Fellow. How do I refer to
myself?
A. You are able to say you are a student/affiliate/associate or
graduate member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.
Q. I am a Legal Executive Advocate. Can I use the title
Chartered Legal Executive Advocate?
A. Yes.
Q. My firm’s HR department has asked me if it is
mandatory to change my title to Chartered Legal Executive, is
it?
A. Whilst we cannot influence an individual firm’s policy – the
correct title for practising Fellows is ‘Chartered Legal
Executive’. This is what will distinguish you from those who may
seek to use a similar title but who are not qualified
lawyers. Only practising Fellows of The Chartered Institute
may use the chartered title. We are proud of your chartered
status and see this as an opportunity for firms to publicise and
acknowledge your status and standing, to the benefit of clients and
the business. The main purpose of seeking a Royal Charter was
to give further confidence and assurance to the public and to
provide protection of title for Chartered Legal Executives.
Q. Am I still governed by the Code of
Conduct?
A. Yes. This is managed by CILEx Regulation.
Q. Is ILEX Tutorial College (ITC) changing its
name?
A. Yes. ITC changed its name to CILEx Law School on
Monday 25th March 2013.
Q. When will I receive my new
Practising Certificate?
A. Once your payment for subscriptions has
been received and your CPD record is up to date or complies
with regulation, the certificates will start to be issued from
December onwards.
Q. Can I use the new Chartered Institute’s logo on my
website, emails and/or letterhead?
A. No. The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives is a
professional body, awarding organisation and an approved regulator.
Under our Charter we have many duties and boundaries, one of which
is a duty to protect the public interest. The display of our logo
on letterhead, emails or websites etc, suggests that we approve or
endorse the services offered by that company or firm which we do not. However, Chartered Legal Executives are able to use the new title afforded to them under the Charter, and are able to use their designatory letters to show their status within The Chartered Institute.
This is of course separate to logos that may be issued by CILEx Regulation to entities which it authorises.