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Chartered Legal Executive Lawyer Qualificationsstudy with ILEX

Becoming a qualified lawyer and then going on to become an advocate, partner in a law firm or even a judge does not mean you have to start your career with masses of student debt.

Taking the Chartered Legal Executive lawyer route means you can earn-as-you-learn and gain valuable practical experience while those studying traditional law degrees are stuck in the classroom. Once your Legal Executive studies and qualifying employment are complete you will be able to call yourself a qualified lawyer straight away without having to undertake an LPC or wait for an elusive training contract to become a solicitor.

"Legal Executive lawyers stand shoulder to shoulder with solicitors in the legal sector"

But don't just take our word for it the facts speak for themselves...

Affordability
With students entering university in 2012 expected to leave with an average student debt of £55,000 the CILEx route is ideally placed to provide an affordable route to a career in law. Our qualifications cost just £7000 from start to finish.

Flexibility
Over 70 centers across England and Wales offer CILEx qualifications with some also offering distance learning options meaning you can fit your studies around your other commitments.

Earn-as-you-learn
While CILEx qualifications are cost effective, 75% of employers pay for their staff to study with us. That means you get your training for free and earn a salary at the same time.

Employment
Law firms across the country recognise the quality and skills that CILEx qualifications bring to their teams. You will find Chartered Legal Executive lawyers working and studying in firms as large as Pinsent Mason and Irwin Mitchell, or regional legal providers like Gordons and Minster Law.

Respect
Completing your Chartered Legal Executive lawyer training means you will have a qualification set assessed at honours degree level and will be tackling specific areas of law with enviable knowledge and skill. 85,000 students have already studied through CILEx and forged successful and rewarding careers at law firms across England and Wales. Some are heading up departments in large law firms where they manage other lawyers (including solicitors), some have gone on to become advocates to help represent clients in court, some have become partners in law firms such as Irwin Mitchell or have set up their own business but there is also the option of choosing the enter the Judiciary later on in their career too. Just like our first Legal Executive Judge Ian Ashley Smith.

Who can apply?

CILEx is the ideal career route for you if you want to become a lawyer, whether you are a recent school leaver; a graduate; hold an LPC or a BPTC; work in a legal support role; are a mature student; wish to change career; or need to juggle your work and study with your family commitments.

More information on the CILEx route, can be found via our dedicated careers site.

How to apply

Entry to CILEx is open to all and how you study with us does depend on the qualifications you already have: 

No Law Degree:

If you don't hold a qualifying law degree there are two stages of CILEx qualifications. Stage one is the Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice. This is set and assessed at 'A' level standard. Students may complete the smaller (5 unit)  Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice en route to achieving the Professional Diploma in Law and Practice.

Stage two is the ILEX Level 6 Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice. This qualification is set and assessed at honours degree level. Students must achieve one Level 6 Legal Practice Unit, three Level 6 Law units and both Professional Skills units. One Law Unit must be in an area of law which underpins the practice area taken. 

Law Degree:

If you already hold a qualifying law degree awarded within the last seven years, then choose the CILEx Graduate 'Fast-Track' Diploma. This is a cost-effective alternative to the LPC or BPTC. It currently costs under £2000 (including all ILEX exam and membership fees) and takes around 9 months by part-time study.

To complete your academic studies required to be a Chartered Legal Executive lawyer you just need to study two ILEX Level 6 Practice units (one of which must relate to the subjects you studied within your law degree), and the ILEX Level 6 Client Care Skills unit.