Legal
Executive Advocates
ILEX members are able to qualify as Legal Executive
Advocates. The qualification enables members to exercise
greater rights of audience as solicitors' employees than they
otherwise can.
Qualification
Structure
The rights of audience that ILEX can grant are split into civil,
criminal and family proceedings. The rights of audience
available in each practice area are set out below.
The qualification scheme is available to Members and Fellows,
although Members will not be able to exercise their advocacy rights
until they qualify as Fellows. Members and Fellows will seek
rights in the area in which they practice.
Advocacy Skills
Course
Members and Fellows need to complete an application to enrol on
to the qualification scheme. The application asks for details
of their existing knowledge and experience in the area in which
they seek rights. They are also required to complete
portfolios of litigation and advocacy/police station advice cases
they have dealt with. The portfolios are marked by assessors
and then the full application is referred to a committee for
approval. If approved, members then complete the advocacy
skills course.
The course is a six-day course focussing on advocacy skills
training. Applicants should have a good knowledge of the law
of evidence before attending the course. A study manual on
the law of evidence is available from ILEX Tutorial College
(ITC).
The final day of the advocacy skills course will involve an
assessment of advocacy skills and knowledge of the law of
evidence. Upon successful completion the applicant will be
able to apply for an advocacy certificate in their specialist
area.
The first accredited course provider is Kaplan Altior Consulting and Training
Ltd. Courses are offered at a range of
locations. Kaplan Altior can be contacted at info@altior.co.uk. Read more about the course.
Post Qualification
Legal Executive Advocates will be required to undertake CPD each
year in advocacy skills to renew their certificates. The
first renewal will also require a submission of portfolios showing
the advocacy undertaken during the first 12 months.
The Rights of
Audience
The rights of audience available for each certificate are set
out below.
Civil Proceedings
Certificate
- To appear in open Court in the County Court in all actions,
except family proceedings
- To appear before Justices or a District Judge (Magistrates'
Court) in the Magistrates' Courts in relation to all matters
originating by complaint or application, including applications
under the licensing, betting and gaming legislation
- To appear before any tribunal under the supervision of the
Council on Tribunals where the tribunal rules provide for a
non-discretionary right of audience being available to barristers
and solicitors
- To appear before Coroners' Courts in respect of all matters
determined by those Courts and to exercise rights of audience
similar to those exercised by solicitors and barristers.
Family Proceedings
Certificate
- To appear in Court (including in open court) in all County
Court family proceedings
- To appear before Justices or a District Judge (Magistrates'
Court) in the Family Proceedings Courts;
- To appear before Coroners' Courts in respect of all matters
determined by those Courts, and to exercise rights of audience
similar to those exercised by solicitors and barristers.
Criminal Proceedings
Certificate
- To appear before Justices or a District Judge (Magistrates'
Court) in all adult magistrates courts in relation to all matters
within that Court's criminal jurisdiction
- To appear before Justices or a District Judge (Magistrates'
Court) in all Youth Courts in relation to all matters within that
Court's criminal jurisdiction
- To appear in the Crown Court or High Court before a judge in
chambers to conduct bail applications;
- To appear in the Crown Court on appeal from the Magistrates'
Court, the Youth Court or on committal of an adult for
sentence or to be dealt with, if s/he, or any solicitor by whom
s/he is employed or any other solicitor or Fellow in the same
employment as her/him, appeared on behalf of the defendant in the
Magistrates' Court or Youth Court;
- To appear before Coroners' Courts in respect of all matters
determined by those Courts, and to exercise rights of audience
similar to those exercised by solicitors and barristers.
Next Steps
If you are interested in qualifying as a Legal Executive
Advocate the application pack can be downloaded from the following
links:
Guidance
notes
Alternatively an application pack and further information can be
obtained from the Professional Development and Regulation
Department (bbasra@ilex.org.uk).