Application guidance
Take your first steps
To make an application to become a Chartered Legal Executive you need to:
- Complete a portfolio of evidence (Work Based Learning – WBL portfolio). Be sure to allow adequate time to put your WBL portfolio together as this forms a key element of the assessment criteria. It is how we assess that you are fully competent to be admitted as a qualified lawyer.
- Submit an application form
- Demonstrate 2,300 hours’ qualifying experience
- Serve at least 1 year in the Graduate or CILEX Member-Advanced Paralegal grade of membership
- Meet the character and suitability requirements
- Pay related fees
It is possible for you to complete the steps for admission as a Chartered Legal Executive in any order, however we would suggest that you undertake the process in the following order:
It is possible for you to complete the steps for admission as a Chartered Legal Executive in any order, however we would suggest that you undertake the process in the following order:
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1.Complete your academic qualifications |
2.Have your work assessed to be sure it is qualifying experience |
3.Start your WBL portfolio once you have become a CILEX member – Advanced Paralegal |
4.Complete the application form |
5. Submit your application with the fee |
When you have completed the academic stage of the process to become a Chartered Legal Executive, this is the time to have your qualifying experience assessed by us (if you haven’t already). You can then be sure that when you come to make your final application, you know you meet this part of the requirements.
Once you’ve had your qualifying experience assessed as a CILEX member – Advanced Paralegal, you can then start putting your WBL portfolio of evidence together. We have created a week-by-week guide to help you with this. By the time you have served 12 months in the CILEX member – Advanced Paralegal grade of membership, your portfolio should be ready to submit.
You will then be ready to complete the application form and submit your full application for authorisation. There is a fee for the assessment of the portfolio, please see our fee information page.
Please note: Because Chartered Legal Executives are qualified lawyers, CILEx Regulation has an exemption from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, which means when you apply, part of the character and suitability requirements will require you to declare spent convictions and we may ask for a standard DBS check. Find out more.
Sending us your Fellowship via WBL application
Please email your application to wblapplications@cilexregulation.org.uk. Please ensure you include the following:
- Fellowship via WBL application form (please ensure you complete parts 8 and 11)
- Reference dated within the last 6 months
- QE decision letter (or confirm that you have emailed your QE application form and reference to qeapplications@cilexregulation.org.uk, if you have yet to have it assessed)
- Portfolio
When sending your portfolio please merge the documents so that the log sheet is followed by the evidence. Depending on the file size you can then send either 1 portfolio or 8 competencies. Please note that the file size should not exceed 10 MB for each document. Please label each document Part 1, Part 2 etc. Please attach the pdf files to an email, you can send multiple emails if needed. Do not send zip files.
After initial checks we will send the application form, reference and a log sheet declaration to cover all outcomes via adobe sign to yourself and your supervisor(s). Please ensure you enter the name of the person who supervised the work on the logbook sheet. If this is more than one person please detail who supervised which outcome and let us have this along with their email addresses when you submit your application.
Final decision
We hope you are satisfied by the decision you receive. However, if you are unhappy with the decision you can appeal. More information on the appeals process can be found here.
