First Legal Executive Advocates Take Centre Stage

15 May 2008 pr011.08

The first Legal Executive Advocates to be trained under the agreement announced last year with altior consulting & training have completed their course and are ready to appear in court.

The seven ILEX Fellows all qualified in criminal proceedings, six as defence advocates and one as a prosecution advocate. A further group of Fellows will shortly complete the first Family Law course.

As Legal Executive Advocates they will be able to offer a seamless service to clients taking their case right through to the magistrates court and, in the case of appeal and bail applications, the Crown Court without the need to instruct a solicitor, something ILEX Fellows have not been able to do in the past.

In October 2007Altior, based in Cardiff, became the first ILEX accredited organisation to deliver training courses and assessments to members enrolled under the revised ILEX Advocacy Qualification Scheme.

Over 400 ILEX Fellows and Members have already expressed an interest in obtaining rights of audience and in the training to become advocates Prior to enrolling onto a course, Fellows and Members have to apply to ILEX for a Certificate of Eligibility which requires them to show that they have the necessary level of legal knowledge and experience before they can undertake the six-day course.

Advocacy Certificates can be awarded in the following three areas:

• Criminal proceedings
• Family proceedings
• Civil proceedings

Legal Executive Advocates will be required to renew their Certificate within one year of issue and then every three years after that. At the first renewal they must produce portfolios of the advocacy experience they have gained. Legal Executive Advocates must also complete five hours CPD each year on advocacy skills.

“I am delighted that the first Legal Executive Advocates have completed the training course and are now ready to hone their skills in court on behalf of their clients” said ILEX President, Lesley Graham, “And I am sure they will be the first of many.”

“Extended Advocacy rights are something which ILEX has campaigned long and hard for. The expertise and knowledge of Legal Executives has long been recognised and Rights of Audience is the first of many forthcoming important changes within the legal profession that affect ILEX members and will enable them to broaden their areas of practice and status.”

Mark Loosemore, Chief Executive of altior commented, “Our trainers were very impressed by both the standard of the delegates’ performance on the course and also their level of enthusiasm and commitment. I am sure they will go on to do very well in court. The feedback from the delegates was very encouraging too, so we feel the course has got off to a great start!”.

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