13 October 2011

ILEX awarded Royal seal of approval

The Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) has been granted the accolade of a Royal Charter, proving its continued strength within the legal sector.

ILEX President, Susan Silver, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded a Royal Charter. This recognition affirms the quality and integrity of the Legal Executive qualification and the important role our members play in the provision of legal services.

“This also shows how ILEX continues to be a hard working organisation committed to supporting its members in their careers and ensuring the legal sector continues to become more diverse, providing high quality legal services consumers have come to expect.

”ILEX is 50 years old in 2013 and built its reputation on the firm foundations of the ethical and professional standards set by the former Managing Clerks Association founded in the 19th century. I pay tribute to them, and to all our members, for the long history of service they have given to law and legal services.”

Chief Executive at ILEX, Diane Burleigh, added: “ILEX is absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our members provide the best legal services possible. The public have been able to rely on us as a regulator for many years. This Charter will ensure future growth of public confidence in Legal Executives, and in all those who that join the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.”

The application to gain chartered status was supported by the Ministry of Justice and several legal professional bodies.

In his response to ILEX’s news, Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly said: “This is an exciting step forward for ILEX and is important for increasing public recognition of their role in the legal services market”

Chris Kenny, LSB Chief Executive said, “I congratulate ILEX on their receipt of a Royal Charter. This recognises their long-standing commitment to working in the public interest through the development of the legal executive profession in England and Wales.”

Being awarded a Charter will hold many benefits for the public, giving formal public recognition for our high standards in qualification, regulation and representation. Members of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives will continue to be regulated by the respected ILEX Professional Standards (IPS). Importantly chartered status has the added benefit of:

• Promoting and maintaining high standards of ethical conduct, efficiency and training.
• Enhancing and maintaining public confidence in the work of Legal Executives and the commitment they have to their clients.
• Promoting in the public interest co-operation and mutual assistance amongst other parts of the legal sector.
• Readily identifying Legal Executives and other ILEX members to the public ensuring that legal practices are client focused.
• With the introduction of Alternative Business Structures, the public will be reassured that traditional law firms and new legal businesses will provide quality legal services.
• Increasing the authority of the Institute during public debate and review of legal policy.

ILEX Fellows will be able to call themselves ‘Chartered Legal Executives’, which is a protected title under the Charter. All members will benefit from the Institute’s chartered status as it will encourage more people from all backgrounds to enter the legal sector via a Chartered Institute. This will help to create a more diverse legal sector, representative of the public it serves.

Our new official status as the ‘Chartered Institute of Legal Executives’ will come into effect towards the end of this year. Members and partner organisations will receive updates about the progress of our transition at regular intervals.

For more information about the ILEX route to qualification as a lawyer, visit our website www.ilexcareers.org.uk.

ENDS