Criminal Litigation – Specialist Pathway in Criminal Law
Criminal Litigation – Specialist Pathway in Criminal Law
The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives’ (CILEX) specialist pathway in Criminal Law and Litigation, delivers the knowledge and experience required to deal with Criminal Law in England and Wales. The pathway educates in criminal law, including criminal liability, criminal damage, theft, homicide and other criminal offences as well as the nature and requirement for criminal defence. The pathway includes experience of the criminal justice system, police powers, the criminal court system and criminal proceedings.
Download our Criminal Litigation and Advocacy diagram for an overview of the pathway which prepares individuals for a career in criminal law to deal with witnesses, experts, clients (potentially in custody) and undertake case work and file preparation for Magistrates Court or Crown Courts in support of a Counsel or become a Criminal Defence lawyer or a Litigator and Advocate to undertake criminal proceedings unsupervised.
For key details and suggested course combinations, scroll through our pathway in Criminal Litigation on this page or click on the titles below to go directly to the right section on this page.
Criminal Litigation Pathway – CILEX Level 3 Diploma in Law and Practice
Academic Stage 1
The academic Stage 1 Diploma can be achieved two ways:
1. In two steps: complete 5 units at certificate level and top up with 5 units to complete the Diploma.
2. As one single Diploma program: complete 10 units.
1. Criminal Law and Litigation Pathway – CILEX Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice
Specialism: Criminal Litigation
The CILEX Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice addresses a growing need for a short but rounded introduction to law and practice, or a specific learning need within a specialist area of law and legal practice.
The Certificate consists of 5 units; the selection below provides both a broad introduction to law and a focus on Criminal Law. Level 3 Criminal Law and Criminal Litigation are needed at the Certificate or Diploma stage on this Criminal Litigation Specialism Pathway.
5 units, CILEX Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice
Advised units for a Criminal Litigation specialist career pathway:
| Introduction to Law and Practice* |
| Client Care Skills* |
| Legal Research Skills* |
| Criminal Litigation |
| Criminal Law |
* mandatory units for CILEX Level 3 Certificate
- Recommended entry level: School Leavers, individuals starting or developing a career in Criminal Law.
- Role on commencement: Non-legal role, Legal Administrator or Legal Assistant, Legal Support role.
- Role on completion: Paralegal Administrator, Paralegal Assistant, Case Handler.
- Level 3: Set and assessed at A-level standard.
- Duration: 12-18 months.
- CILEX Membership Grade; Student or Affiliate.
- Progression: The CILEX Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice can be completed on the way to the full, 10 unit CILEX Level 3 Diploma in Law and Practice.
2. Criminal Law Pathway – CILEX Level 3 Diploma in Law and Practice
The CILEX Level 3 Diploma in Law and Practice offers a broad-based foundation across key areas of Law and Legal Practice, which helps gain a wider appreciation of the legal practice areas that might affect but sit outside their specialist area.
- Legal support staff with a minimum of 2 years’ experience, paralegal apprentices, students and career changers may complete a CILEX Level 3 Diploma in Law & Practice qualification which consists of 10 units.
- The choice to complete the Certificate qualification and carry over 5 units into the Diploma is open to all, not just school leavers.
This stage includes mandatory core units in law, to ensure that CILEX members are well prepared for a career in law against the background of continuing changes in the legal sector. There is also room for unit choices to reflect specialist interests such as Criminal Law and Criminal Litigation.
10 units, CILEX Level 3 Diploma in Law and Practice
Advised units for a Criminal Litigation specialist career pathway:
| Introduction to Law and Practice* | Completed CILEX Level 3 Certificate in Law & Practice units may be carried over into the CILEX Level 3 Diploma in Law & Practice. |
| Client Care Skills* | |
| Legal Research Skills* | |
| Criminal Litigation |
|
| Criminal Law* |
|
| Contract Law* | |
| Land Law* | |
| Law of Tort* |
|
| Plus 2 elective units – 1 of which must be in Practice: | |
| Elective practice units: Civil Litigation Conveyancing or Residential & Commercial Leasehold Conveyancing Probate Practice or The Practice of Law for the Elderly Client The Practice of Employment Law The Practice of Family Law or The Practice of Child Care Law |
Elective law units: Employment Law Family Law Law of Wills and Succession |
* mandatory law units for CILEX Level 3 Diploma in Law & Practice
- Recommended entry level: Experience in a Legal Support role, a certified Paralegal Apprentice, a holder of a CILEX Diploma in Law & Legal Skills (tech level) or a career changer.
- Role on completion: Paralegal, Case Worker, Crown Court Case Worker or Magistrates Case Worker: charged out fee-earning time at grade D of the guideline hourly rates.
- Level 3: Set and assessed at A-level standard.
- Duration: Full 10 unit program is 18-36 months, dependent on prior learning and exemptions.
- CILEX Membership Grade: Student or Affiliate.
- Progression: To CILEX Level 6 Diploma in Law and Practice to become a Chartered Legal Executive and able to apply to become a Criminal Defence Lawyer or progress to Litigator and Advocate in criminal court proceedings.
Criminal Litigation Pathway – CILEX Level 6 Diploma in Law and Practice
Academic Stage 2
The CILEX Level 6 Diploma in Law and Practice forms the final academic stage on the career pathway to become a Chartered Legal Executive and Criminal Defence Lawyer.
- The CILEX Level 6 Diploma in Law and Practice follows on from the CILEX Level 3 Diploma in Law and Practice.
6 Units, CILEX Level 6 Diploma in Law and Practice.
Advised units for a Criminal Litigation Specialist Career Pathway
* These units are highly recommended for Level 6 on the specialist pathway in Criminal Litigation.
- Entry level: Completion of CILEX Level 3 Diploma in Law and Practice.
- Role on completion: Senior Paralegal, Case Worker, Crown Court Case Worker or Magistrates Case Worker; charged out fee-earning time at grade C of the guideline hourly rates.
- Level 6: Set and assessed at Honours Degree level.
- Duration: 24-36 months.
- CILEX Membership Grade:
- Start study as Associate Member after completion of CILEX Level 3 Diploma in Law and Practice with designatory letters ACILEX.
- On completion achieve Graduate Membership grade with designatory letters GCILEX.
- Progression: Specialist Chartered Legal Executive, Criminal Defence Lawyer (after required period in Qualifying Employment.)
Criminal Litigation Pathway – Law Graduates
LPC/BVC/BPTC
- Individuals with LPC/BVC/BPTC are exempt from all academic stages.
- Apply direct for exemption and complete the Qualifying Employment period as a CILEX Graduate Member. See Qualifying Employment section below for exemption applications.
Advised units for a criminal litigation specialist career pathway:
| Criminal Litigation |
| Client Care Skills |
| Plus 1 elective Practice unit: |
| Elective units: Civil Litigation Conveyancing Probate Practice The Practice of Company and Partnership Law The Practice of Employment Law The Practice of Family Law |
NB: One of the practice units completed must link to a law unit studied as part of your law degree
- Entry Level:
- LPC/BVC/BPTC can apply for exemption from academic qualifications and complete the Qualifying Employment period as a CILEX Graduate Member.
- Role on completion: Senior Paralegal, Case Worker, Crown Court Case Worker or Magistrates Case Worker.
- Level 6: Set and assessed at Honours Degree level.
- Duration: 125 hours.
- CILEX Membership Grade:
- Enrol as Associate Member designatory letters ACILEX (after application for exemption).
- On completion achieve Graduate Membership grade with designatory letters GCILEX.
- Progression: Specialist Chartered Legal Executive, Criminal Defence Lawyer (after required period in Qualifying Employment.)
Criminal Litigation Pathway – Period of Qualifying Employment
A period of Qualifying Employment is required to achieve CILEX Fellowship and become a Chartered Legal Executive Lawyer.
The period of Qualifying Employment requires that the work is:
- Subject to supervision by an Authorised Person and;
- At least 20 hours per week in work of a wholly legal nature.
The required Qualifying Employment period is a minimum of 3 years:
- At least 1 year has been served at the Graduate grade of membership GCILEX (post-graduation).
- 2 years of consecutive Qualifying Employment are required immediately before the date of application for CILEX Fellowship, whilst completing a portfolio of evidence of 8 competencies called Work-based Learning.
The Qualifying Employment period can start before, during or after studying for qualifications. Time in work whilst studying may count if it meets the criteria; apply early to ensure the work is approved for Qualifying Employment and Work-based Learning.
Law Graduates with LPC or BPTC can apply for exemption.
Up to 43 weeks exemption of the Qualifying Employment period may be granted; the remaining period in the workplace and the Work-based Learning portfolio need to be completed.
CILEX Fellowship / Chartered Legal Executive application
On completion of the period of Qualifying Employment, students are eligible to become a Chartered Legal Executive and CILEX Fellow and use the designatory letters FCILEX.
The application process for CILEX Fellowship is in 2 stages:
- Proof of the required period in Qualifying Employment.
- Assessment of competence which is done through completion of a Work-based Learning Portfolio of evidence.
- CILEX Fellows are able to gain Advocacy or Litigation and Advocacy rights in Criminal Proceedings with additional qualifications.
- There is also a pathway to become an Associate Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service following further qualifications.
CILEX Chartered Legal Executive Litigator and Advocate
Chartered Legal Executives can be awarded Litigation and Advocacy rights by CILEX Regulation for authorisation to conduct litigation and appear in court as an advocate in criminal court proceedings at the Magistrates Court or selective Crown Court proceedings, without supervision.
Applying for Litigation and Advocacy Rights
You can apply for Advocacy Rights alone or for Litigation and Advocacy Practice Rights together.
Applications are open to Chartered Legal Executives who are qualified and suitably experienced.
NB holders of the BPTC may be eligible for exemptions from the advocacy course
Application steps:
Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility for an Advocacy Skills Course verifying the knowledge, skills and experience in advocacy to meet the course entry requirements. As Rights of Audience follow certification, the experience portfolio evidencing relevant experience can provide police station representation work and an element of observed advocacy, as described in our Certification of Eligibility guidance notes.- Complete study and assessment for the Criminal Litigation Advocacy skills course through a CILEX accredited Advocacy course provider.
- Open court Advocacy Rights this is 6 days.
- For Criminal Litigation, complete an application for Litigation and Advocacy Practice Rights which, in addition to the steps above, assesses knowledge, skills and experience in Criminal Litigation.
When the application is approved, an Advocacy or Litigation and Advocacy Certificate is issued with a Practicing Certificate to become a Chartered Legal Executive Advocate or CILEX Litigator and Chartered Legal Executive Advocate.
Get in touch with our experienced team of qualified advisers who are ready to advise you on the best way to develop a career in Criminal Litigation.