cilex regulation

If you’re looking to start a new law firm, CILEx Regulation wants you to have the best chance to prosper, succeed and grow your business.

We can:

– guide you through the application process
– show you how to get the right skills and knowledge to run your firm
– guide you on how to prepare your application for authorisation

Take your first step – check our basic principles for applicants to find out if you can be regulated by us.

Benefits of running your own firm

  • Be your own boss
  • Improved work/life balance
  • Convenient office location
  • Gain the remuneration you deserve
  • Focus on the work you want to do
  • Take back control


Types of firm and owner

We can help if your firm wants to offer any of the following:

  • conveyancing
  • immigration
  • litigation (civil, criminal or family)
  • probate

You must have a suitably qualified and approved manager to provide one of these legal activities, for example a solicitor, barrister or conveyancer.

A CILEx Fellow without practice rights can be an owner.  All owners must be authorised to conduct legal work.

A non-legal professional can be an owner if you firm has an alternative business structure (ABS) – a structure which allows non-legal professionals to have a financial stake in the firm.

You must also have a compliance manager to oversee overall practice management and accounts management.


Further information


Independent Practice Rights

Gaining an independent practice right means you can carry out work in a reserved activity without supervision. That can allow you to progress within a firm or open up further career opportunities. Being able to actively supervise colleagues’ work, can mean that more senior roles are then a possibility. If you want to become your own boss now or in the future, then for many, independent practice rights will be a necessary first step.

Find out more:


For more information on your next steps to running your own firm, please contact us today to request a call back from one of our team.