IPS and CILEx welcome QASA approval

29 July 2013

ILEX Professional Standards (IPS) and the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) have welcomed the approval given by the Legal Services Board (LSB) to the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA). The scheme applies to advocates appearing in criminal proceedings in the Magistrates and Crown Courts.

Ian Watson, CEO of IPS said: “This scheme will go a long way in assuring the public that their advocates are being held to quality standards, and that they are being regularly reviewed. CILEx Advocates and Associate Prosecutors employed by the Crown Prosecution Service will need to comply with QASA. However the requirements are broadly the same as those which they meet currently,”

Diane Burleigh OBE, CEO of CILEx agreed, saying: “Just as it was with the LETR, CILEx is ahead of the game on quality assuring our advocates. Through our Advocacy Qualification Scheme we have required Chartered Legal Executive Advocates to reaccredit every three years. Whilst QASA will standardise this across the professions to every five years, it is good to see the rest of the legal profession catching up with us.”

IPS was one of the regulators responsible for drafting the scheme and QASA Handbook, along with the Bar Standards Board and the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

ENDS