On 15 January 2024, the Legal Services Board (LSB) approved CILEx Regulation’s application to enable us to authorise eligible CILEX Practitioners with litigation and advocacy rights and Chartered Legal Executive Advocates for Higher Rights of Audience.
There remains further work to be completed before we can start accepting applications, including further liaison with the LSB, but we are working towards a launch date of September 2024.
We have shared below the current details we have to assist you in deciding whether this will be of benefit to you in your current role and we will update this page as we move closer to the launch date.
Provided they work in a regulated law firm or in-house (not offering services to the public or a section of the public) all CILEX Practitioners with litigation and advocacy rights and Chartered Legal Executive Advocates currently have rights of audience in the lower courts in one of the following areas:
a. Civil litigation
b Criminal litigation
c. Family litigation
Eligible members will soon be able to apply to undertake additional training and assessment to conduct litigation and advocacy in the High Court in one of the following areas:
a. Civil litigation
b. Criminal litigation
As most family proceedings work is dealt with in the lower courts, and the existing advocacy rights course will provide appropriate rights of audience, CRL has not developed a standard for Higher Rights for family work. However, family lawyers seeking Higher Rights would be able to take the civil route if they wish to seek Higher Rights of Audience. This also applies to immigration lawyers.
Additional Training and Assessment
CRL has developed two new standards, namely:
- Standards for CILEX higher court advocates for civil proceedings
- Standards for CILEX higher court advocates for criminal proceedings
Members seeking Higher Rights of Audience will be required to demonstrate their knowledge and competence by attending an additional course and assessment, developed based on these standards, to ensure they have the necessary knowledge, skills and behaviours required for a Higher Rights Advocate.
The training will be based on a five-day delivery model, i.e.:
- two days written training
- two days practical training
- one assessment day
We are currently in negotiation with an existing approved training provider and are working towards a September 2024 launch date.
Further information to follow.
Which members are eligible?
Only those CILEX Practitioners with litigation and advocacy rights and Chartered Legal Executive Advocates who have successfully completed the first renewal of their advocacy certificate will be eligible to apply to undertake the additional training and assessment required for Higher Rights of Audience.
Application process
CRL is currently finalising the application process and further details will be published as soon as they become available.
Once applicants have successfully completed the additional training and assessment and met the requirements of the application process, they will be authorised with one of the following titles:
Chartered Legal Executive Litigator and Higher Rights Advocate (Civil Litigation); OR
Chartered Legal Executive Litigator and Higher Rights Advocate (Criminal Litigation); OR
Chartered Legal Executive Higher Rights Advocate.
Fees
Fees are currently being calculated and will be published as soon as authorised.
How to start preparations for assessment
In preparation for the launch of the Higher Rights of Audience training and assessment, we encourage eligible members to:
- check you have actioned any correspondence from CILEx Regulation relating to your Advocacy Certificate renewal
- familiarise yourself with the two new CILEX Higher Rights Standards (please see links on the left had side of this page)
- observe cases in the higher courts
- check this webpage regularly for updates and watch out for out for updates on social media.
