License details
Creator: Daniel Kulinski
Copyright: Daniel*1977, 2009
♫ Something new is going on tonight
I like this grove, it makes me feel so right
Darling you know you better hold on tight
Something new is coming on tonight… ♫
— Music and lyrics by A. Mae, N. Yanofsky, F. Golde, J. Faulker, H. Hancock,
J. Watley, A. Cymone, R. Kleiner, Q. Jones and recorded by Andrea
In April 2021 I wrote a column on CILEX, the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (“CILEX”) in the UK for my regular column PracticeTalk for the Canadian Bar Association. As of June 2021, CILEX was offering the CLIEX Professional Qualification (“CPQ”) program that offered a different path to becoming a legal professional in the UK. At that time there was a lot of talk about what CILEX’s entrance into the market might mean for students, for the legal profession, for regulators, for the public and the like. Well I thought we could take a step back and see where CILEX is today.
The original column:
In an article published February 21, 2021 in legalfutures.com entitled “Legal education and training: Unfit for purpose,” Professor Chris Bones states: “The revolution starts now. Legal education and training is not fit for today, let alone the future….”
Prof. Bones is Chair of CILEX, the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (“CILEx”) in the UK. CILEX is the professional association for 20,000 Chartered Legal Executive lawyers, paralegals, and other legal practitioners in England and Wales. They are recognized in England and Wales as one of the three core approved regulators of the legal profession alongside barristers and solicitors.
CILEX offers education and training to become a legal secretary and an apprentice program that leads to being a paralegal, advanced paralegal or Chartered Legal Executive and Chartered Legal Executive Lawyer.
While traditional lawyers are generalists on graduation, CILEX lawyers can achieve a specialist designation on graduation in: Dispute Resolution; Criminal Litigation; Residential Conveyancing; Commercial Conveyancing; Employment Law; Business & Commercial Law; Family Litigation; Wills & Probate; or Immigration Law.
CILEX claims that their professionals are demonstrably more diverse and representative of the UK population than their peers in other branches of the profession. CILEX does not restrict access to candidates with a specific set of prior qualifications; it opens up the profession to people from all backgrounds, including those who have not gone to university.
Their education program requires their students to work in a legal environment from the very beginning of their studies. CILEX states that students apply their learning to practical scenarios and build and refine the skills of a practising lawyer as they progress. They claim that their model requires their employers to validate their experience and competence at every stage, meaning practical, work-based skills are “baked-in” to the training and that CILEX trainees become adept at using legal expertise to address real-world challenges for their clients from the outset.
They recognize that legal technology holds immense potential to benefit both the consumer and the legal services provider by improving efficiency, by reducing costs and by enhancing accessibility. CLIEX states that they support the responsible uptake of technology and innovation in the legal sector, insofar as such progress continues to benefit the consumer.
CLIEX states that they have a focus on technical expertise and practical skills with the development of the core behaviours required to create forward-thinking, commercially minded, adaptable lawyers who really understand the clients they serve.
The CLIEX Professional Qualification (“CPQ”) program “sets new standards in practice-focused training and work-readiness, broadens access to legal careers and develops professionals at all levels who are equipped from the outset to add real value to their employers and clients.”
Students will be able to register for CPQ in June 2021. Something new is coming.
According to CILEX, as of November 2021: “Some 140 new CILEX Fellows* and Advocates** swore an oath to mark their qualification at the annual graduation ceremony held by CILEX (Chartered Institute of Legal Executives) on Saturday.
They were joined by a further 237 members, who were recognised for becoming Graduates, the step before becoming a CILEX Fellow.”
CILEX Fellows have completed the academic stage of training, have been in qualifying employment for at least three years and have met the relevant work based learning outcomes. They are authorised by CILEX Regulation.
CILEX Advocates are Fellows who have gained extended rights of audience in their practice area, allowing them to undertake advocacy in certain proceedings.
CILEX Graduates have completed both their CILEX Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice and their CILEX Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice, or equivalent studies.
CILEX President, Caroline Jepson praised the graduates for their hard work and perseverance, recognising that so many achieved qualification while studying alongside full time work.
She stated:
“I have a plea for you today, and it is this – let us hear your voice. Join us in elbowing our way through the elite snobbery and let us together shut down those perceptions which have held us back for far too long.
“Help us create a legal profession that is ‘qualification-route blind’ – one that appoints, rewards and promotes based on merit alone. Build pride in CILEX and help us reach the point where CILEX lawyers are automatically recognised and valued as specialist lawyers.”
It seems that the experiment continues and these new legal professionals journey to find their new groove continues…
© 2022 David J. Bilinsky