Legal Services Board certifies CILEx compliance with internal governance rules
Legal Services Board certifies CILEx compliance with internal governance rules
31st July 2020
The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) has received a Certificate of Compliance with the Legal Services Board’s Internal Governance Rules, confirming that there is appropriate separation between its regulatory and representative functions.
The board changed its rules last year to tighten up the requirements that ensure regulatory functions within approved regulators of legal services are independent from their other activities.
This aims to provide consumers with confidence that the regulation of CILEx Lawyers is carried out in the public interest.
Professor Chris Bones, Chair the CILEx Board, says: “Compliance with the Internal Governance Rules is an important milestone towards maximum possible independence. We welcome the Legal Services Board’s ongoing monitoring of compliance across the market and believe these steps, when implemented fully across the profession, are a welcome reinforcement of the need for independent regulation in the interests of the public.
“We still believe that, even with this welcome change, the current regime does not go far enough. Having organisations that hold accountability for both regulation and represention is unsustainable. Until the law changes, we will look to take whatever other steps we can to reassure the public that CILEx Lawyers are regulated without fear or favour.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Louise Eckersley, Black Letter Communications on 0203 567 1208 or email:
Kerry Jack, Black Letter Communications on 07525 756 599 or email:
Notes to editors:
The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) is one of the three main professional bodies covering the legal profession in England and Wales. The 20,000-strong membership is made up of Chartered Legal Executives, paralegals and other legal professionals.
CILEx members are regulated through an independent body, CILEx Regulation. It is the only regulator covering paralegals.
CILEx provides career support and training, with qualifications open to those holding GCSEs, A levels or a degree. Over 100,000 students have chosen CILEx over the last 25 years, with the majority studying whilst in full or part-time employment.
CILEx offers the opportunity of a non-graduate route to qualification as a lawyer, although graduates are also welcomed and the Graduate Fast-track Diploma offers a more affordable and viable alternative to the LPC.
Those who complete the full CILEx qualification are known as Chartered Legal Executives. They can become partners in law firms, coroners, judges or advocates in open court.
CILEx is committed to supporting members to deliver accessible legal services to the public.
The membership is diverse – 72% of members are women and 12% are from a BAME background.