In response to representations from the CILEX Support Group, CRL are pleased to announce a final extension to the temporary evidential changes introduced to support Chartered Legal Executives applying for litigation practice rights (portfolio route), following the Mazur judgments.
The temporary changes will remain available for a further two months until 14 December 2026. Applicants wishing to benefit from the changes must submit completed applications by 14 December 2026. Applications received after that date will be assessed under CRL’s existing evidential requirements.
Temporary changes recap
The temporary changes to the litigation practice rights portfolio evidential requirements are:
- Extended evidence period: Relevant litigation experience from the preceding five years may be relied upon, rather than the usual two years.
- Recognition of previous qualifications and accreditations: Work-Based Learning (WBL) assessments and relevant professional accreditations obtained within the preceding ten years may be used to support applications, although they do not provide an exemption from the portfolio requirements.
- Re-use of existing evidence: Evidence previously submitted for WBL assessments or third-party professional accreditations may be re-used, provided it maps to the relevant competencies. Such evidence may be up to ten years old and will be given the same weight as more recent evidence.
- Expedited assessment: CRL may consider expediting applications where current professional accreditations and previous experience justify doing so, assessed on a case-by-case basis.
David Thomas, Core Member of the CILEX Support Group, said:
“We very much welcome this final extension and are grateful to John Barwick and his colleagues at CRL for their constructive engagement with the CILEX Support Group. This final opportunity provides welcome certainty, and we would encourage experienced practitioners who have yet to apply to submit their portfolio applications before the deadline.”
