The CILEx (formerly ILEX) route to becoming a Solicitor
Qualification as a Chartered Legal Executive lawyer does not prevent you from also qualifying as a solicitor, and there are advantages in selecting this route to train to be a solicitor. There are three options shown on this page, and you need to scroll down to find the one that describes your circumstances. Using the Chartered Legal Executive lawyer qualification to become a solicitor is quite a complicated process as it involves satisfying two regulatory bodies - the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). CILEx is the new name for ILEX since the award of the Royal Charter in January 2012. Titles of individual qualifications remain 'ILEX' until they are changed on the Government's National Qualifications Framework.
We strongly advise that you contact our expert, Rosemary Verlander-Smith, on 01234 844305 to discuss your personal circumstances before embarking on any courses with CILEx Law School. She will give advice on the routes available, your eligibility and any time limits that apply. Any advice given in respect of the SRA will need to be confirmed with them by contacting their training and education department on 0870 606 2555.
Important note: if you have already studied a law degree and a Legal Practice Course before qualifying as a Chartered Legal Executive, you cannot use the CILEx route to gain exemption from the solicitors' training contract. This route is only relevant for those who become a fully qualified Chartered Legal Executive before completing the LPC.
If you have not started any legal training
You can become a solicitor without having a law degree. If you have not started your training yet, why not consider studying through the CILEx route? This way, you work through the CILEx exams and qualifying employment , and then top up your CILEx qualifications with some additional CILEx Level 6 Single Subject Certificates (see below) to satisfy the academic stage of training required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (the SRA). You then embark on the Legal Practice Course. If you are already a fully-qualified Chartered Legal Executive lawyer before you complete the Legal Practice Course you may be exempt from undertaking the two-year training contract usually required by the SRA.
If you have already studied the CILEx Level 6 Professional HIgher Diploma in Law and Practice
If you have qualified as a Graduate Member of CILEx through the CILEX Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice, your CILEx Level 6 law subjects will count towards the SRA's academic stage of training. You can study with CILEx Law School to obtain CILEx Level 6 Single Subject Certificate exams in the remaining subjects from the SRA's core list:
- Tort
- Equity and Trusts
- Contract
- Land Law
- Public Law
- European Law
- Criminal Law
In addition to these, you will need one further law subject of your choice. This, too, may be an CILEx Level 6 exam you have already passed.
Once you have satisfied the SRA's academic stage of training you need to embark on the Legal Practice Course (LPC). If you are already a Fellow of CILEx (ie you have completed the qualifying employment requirements specified by CILEx) before you complete the Legal Practice Course you may be exempt from undertaking the two-year training contract usually required by the SRA. It is important that you contact the SRA's training and education department on 0870 606 2555 to confirm that the route you intend to take will meet their requirements in terms of eligibility and time limits before enrolling on any courses with CILEx Law School.
If you have already studied the CILEx Graduate Fast-track Diploma
If you have become a Graduate Member of CILEx through studying a law degree followed by the CILEx Graduate Fast-track Diploma you will have already satisfied the SRA's academic stage of training with your law degree. To qualify as a solicitor you need to start your Legal Practice Course (LPC) within seven years of completing your law degree. If you are already a Chartered Legal Executive (ie you have completed the academic and qualifying employment requirements specified by CILEx) before you complete the Legal Practice Course you may be exempt from undertaking the two-year training contract usually required by the SRA. It is important that you contact the SRA's training and education department on 0870 606 2555 to confirm that the route you intend to take will meet their requirements in terms of eligibility and time limits before enrolling on any courses with CILEx Law School.
Please contact Rosemary Verlander-Smith, our Professional Courses Manager, on 01234 844305 for advice before enrolling on any courses.
Apply for CILEx Level 3 or Level 6 courses on-line, or print off and complete the course enrolment application form below, and submit by post or fax. Enrolment applications can also be taken by telephone on 01234 844300.
Download application: CILEx course enrolment form 2012-2013
Apply for the LPC online via the link on our LPC course information page.