General Pathway

For key details, scroll through our pathway on this page or click on the titles below to go directly to the right section on this page.  Alternatively, download our General Pathway diagram.

     

CILEX Level 3 Diploma in Law and Practice

Academic Stage 1

2.   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.

• Legal support staff with a minimum of 2 years’ experience, paralegal apprentices, students and career changers may complete the CILEX Level 3 Diploma qualification which consists of 10 units. 
• The choice to complete the Certificate qualification and carry over 5 units into the Diploma is also possible.

This stage includes mandatory core units in law, practice and skills, to ensure that CILEX members are well prepared for a career in law, which is particularly important when considered against the background of continuing changes in the legal sector. There is also room for unit choices to reflect specialist interests.

CILEX Level 3 Diploma in Law & Practice – Rules of combination:

Introduction to Law and Practice*	Completed units from a CILEX Level 3 Certificate in Law & Practice may be carried over into the CILEX Level 3 Diploma in Law & Practice
Client Care Skills*
Legal Research Skills*
Criminal Law*
Law of Tort*
Contract Law*
Land Law*
Plus 3 elective units – 2 of which must be in Practice:
Elective practice units: Civil Litigation Conveyancing or Residential & Commercial Leasehold Conveyancing Criminal Litigation 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 Level 3 Diploma in Law & Legal Skills or a career changer.
• Role on completion: Paralegal Administrator, Paralegal Assistant, Case Handler or Officer: 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 Litigator and Advocate.

 
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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.

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, Senior Litigator; fee earning time set at Grade C of the guideline hourly rates. 
• 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 or Litigator and Advocate, after the required period in Qualifying Employment.

 
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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 have your role assessed to ensure the work is approved for Qualifying Employment and Work-based Learning.

LPC/BVC/BPTC

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 will still need to be completed. 

 

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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.

 
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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 (civil/criminal/family) 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.

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.
• Complete study and assessment for the applicable Litigation Advocacy skills course through a CILEX accredited Advocacy course provider.
  • For Chambers Advocacy Rights this is 2 days. 
  • Open court Advocacy Rights this is 5 days.
• Complete an application for Litigation and Advocacy Practice Rights together, which in addition to the steps above assesses knowledge, skills and experience in the relevant specialism.

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.

 
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