You will need to meet some core criteria to apply to become a CILEx Practitioner. Additional criteria apply to litigation and advocacy rights.
KNOWLEDGE |
Level 6 assessment in the area of law and practice that you are applying for (or equivalent) or five portfolios from your work to evidence your understanding |
EXPERIENCE |
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SKILLS |
Demonstrate competence outlined in the competence framework for your specialist area |
Chartered Legal Executive status for Litigation rights and Immigration rights
If you are looking to qualify as a CILEx Practitioner in either one of the litigation rights or in immigration, you must also be a Chartered Legal Executive. You can complete the applications at the same time if you would like, but we cannot admit you as a practitioner in one of these rights until you are a Chartered Legal Executive (for application process see here).
Advocacy requirements for Litigation rights
To practise litigation as a CILEx Practitioner you must also complete the advocacy requirements (for process see here).
Completing the core requirements
The competence framework for your specialist area sets out the outcomes that you must demonstrate in order to be admitted as a CILEx Practitioner. These are broken down into:
- Knowledge
- Experience
- Skills
Knowledge
This sets out the minimum academic requirements for becoming a CILEx Practitioner. You can demonstrate these by:
- Successful completion of the relevant CILEx units
- Holding an equivalent qualification
- Five portfolios from your work to evidence your understanding
There is detailed guidance in the practitioner handbooks to help you provide us with enough information that we can assess your knowledge and application of the subject area.
Remember, if you are seeking authorisation in litigation or immigration, you must also meet the requirements to become a Chartered Legal Executive.
Experience
Everyone applying for admission as a CILEx Practitioner has to complete three case outlines (explanations of cases they have worked on) to demonstrate their experience is the subject.
You must also outline your general experience of working in legal practice for at least five years and the nature of your experience in the two years preceding your application (which must be in the area of practice for which you are seeking authorisation).
Skills
The skills section of the application process further divides into two parts:
- Client Care and Legal Research
- Demonstrating your competence in your specialist area of practice
Client Care and Legal Research
You can provide evidence of these skills in the following ways:
- CILEx Level 6 units in Client Care and Legal Research
- Holding a qualifying law degree* and an LPC or BPTC
- Holding an equivalent qualification that can be mapped to the skills outcomes
- Completing log sheets and portfolio which demonstrate meeting the outcomes set out in the competence framework
Competence in your specialist area of practice
To meet this requirement, you must complete either:
- A course of study which satisfies the competencies, or
- Provide a logbook and portfolio which demonstrates meeting the outcomes in the competence framework
You must also provide details of two referees who have experience of your work and who can provide CILEx Regulation with assurance of your competence.
*A qualifying law degree or QLD is one defined as such by the SRA/BSB
