How to Qualify as a CILEX Lawyer

CILEX Lawyers are Fellows who can practise with equivalence to a solicitor, or other authorised person, in their area of practice or specialism.

The routes to become a CILEX Lawyer vary slightly depending on the CILEX academic training (qualification) you have taken.

To become a CILEX Lawyer you must have:

• Completed the academic stage of training
• Been in qualifying experience, defined as work that contributes to the provision of legal services, for at least 2,300 hours, to become a Fellow
• Met the experience requirements to become a practitioner – three years’ general legal experience including practice experience for the chosen CRL approved pathway in the two years preceding the application.
• Met CILEX Regulation’s (CRL) work-based learning or, Professional Experience outcomes through a portfolio of evidence.

Academic stage of Training

To satisfy the academic stage of training, you are required to complete and pass one of the following:

¹This qualification has now closed. ²This qualification is no longer available to new learners

If you have already studied a legal qualification, refer to the CILEX exemptions procedure for more information on the exemptions which may be available to you.

You can find details of CILEX approved training providers here.

Qualifying Experience

You must have completed at least 2,300 hours’ qualifying experience, work that contributes to the provision of legal services to become a Fellow of CILEX. This period is reduced to 1656 hours if you hold an LPC or BPC qualification.

To be in Qualifying Experience (QE) you must be working:

• under the supervision of an authorised person in private practice or
• in an organisation where your employment is subject to supervision by an authorised person employed in duties of a legal nature by that firm, corporation, undertaking, department or office.

When you are ready, you must have your qualifying experience assessed by CRL to continue with an application for Fellowship. We recommend that you have your experience assessed as early as possible so that you can be satisfied that your current employment arrangements satisfy the qualifying experience requirements.

• Application Form

Once you have had your Qualifying Experience approved you are ready to build and submit your portfolio of evidence.

• If you hold a the CILEX Level 6 Diploma in Law and Practice or the CILEX Graduate Fast-Track Diploma, you should refer to work based learning guidance available here. This qualifying route is open for applications until early 2028, under the transition rules.
• If you have achieved or are studying towards CPQ or CGQ, you will be working towards CILEX Regulation’s New Education Standards, or Professional Experience. All the guidance you will need is contained within the relevant handbook for your desired practice pathway and in your CILEX Learn account.

Becoming a CILEX Practitioner

You will find the CILEX Lawyer and Practice Rights hub useful.

To become a CILEX Lawyer you must be a Chartered Legal Executive and Fellow. Where required, you must have also been granted practice rights – a practising certificate. This will allow you authorisation to practice in your specialist area with equivalence to a solicitor.

If you are a CILEX Fellow and have a CILEX Level 6 Diploma in Law and Practice/GFTD you should refer to CILEX Regulation’s website for details on how to apply to become a CILEX Practitioner (in reserved areas or immigration) through the top up routes available. If you obtain practice rights, you will be a CILEX Lawyer.

If you have achieved or are studying towards CPQ or CGQ, CILEX Regulation’s New Education Standards include the full competency outcomes required to become a Chartered Legal Executive and Practitioner – a CILEX Lawyer, in your chosen area of practice.

You will need to submit your Professional Experience to requirement to CRL – your portfolio of evidence against the new CRL Education Standard competencies, and you will need to demonstrate that you have met all the experience requirements listed.

If you wish to qualify through CILEX but have not studied yet, you can qualify via our CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ) route, which you can learn about here.