TESTIMONIALS “I want to be a conveyancer and it is a quicker route, plus the qualification allows me to train to be an expert in that specialist area of the law.” “I initially wanted to take the GDL course to convert to law after my History degree. However I found the costs were too much. The Chartered Legal Executive lawyer route was highly recommended instead.” CAREERS AND “My employers advised me qUALIFICATIONS GUIDE about the course and agreed to pay for me to study my Chartered Legal Executive lawyer courses.” Earn As You Learn: Your best route to a career as a lawyer “At first I wanted to get a paralegal qualification to recognise the practical experience I already had. Now I will carry on to qualify as a Fellow.” THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF LEGAL EXECUTIVES Kempston Manor, Kempston, Bedford MK42 7AB T +44 (0)1234 845777 | F +44 (0)1234 840373 E [email protected] | www.cilex.org.uk Information correct at time of press. 12.10.12 CLX13705-03 brochure v06 AW.indd 16-17 16/03/2012 12:35 ABOUT THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF LEGAL EXECUTIVES Changes in legislation mean that Chartered Legal Executive lawyers are increasingly on a level playing field with solicitors or barristers, as they can now become judges, advocates and partners in law firms. The role of a Chartered Legal However, if you already have a whilst gaining valuable practical Executive lawyer is so similar to that qualifying law degree gained within experience in their workplace. Around of a solicitor that the most clients the last seven years, we also offer 75% of employers pay for their staff to THINKING OF A are unlikely to be able to distinguish a cost-effective alternative to the study to be Chartered Legal Executive between them. In fact, many Legal Practice Course (LPC) or Bar lawyers. As such, the route offers you CAREER IN LAW? supervise solicitors. The Professional Training Course (BPTC) a head start in your law career, and difference is that a Chartered Legal through our Graduate Fast-Track allows you to earn whilst you learn. Executive is a qualified lawyer Diploma, which takes nine months who is trained to specialise as an to complete part-time and costs Salaries expert in a particular area of law, under £2,400. whereas solicitors have a broader, Salaries will vary according to your And there’s no need to secure a general legal training. location and chosen specialist area of training contract or pupilage, whether The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives law, but starting salaries are usually you do our full route or the fast-track. approximately £25,000 a year whilst Instead you will need to complete offers unparalleled access to a flexible career Becoming a Chartered Legal you are qualifying. When you reach a five-year qualifying period of Executive lawyer Graduate Member grade you can as a lawyer. employment (working as a paralegal JOIN US NOW There are two routes to becoming expect to earn up to £30,000. Fully while studying can count towards this). a Chartered Legal Executive lawyer, qualified Chartered Legal Executive Since 1963 the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives has offered Call 01234 845777 or email depending on whether you hold a lawyers can then expect to earn unparalleled access to a flexible career as a lawyer. We are the professional [email protected] qualifying law degree or not. If you Qualifying around £35,000 on average. Latest body representing around 20,000 members, of which 7,500 are qualified surveys show annual salaries of don’t have a qualifying law degree Qualifying as a Chartered Legal Chartered Legal Executive lawyers and 12 ,500 are practising paralegals over £100,000 for some Chartered then you will need to take the full Executive provides access to an and trainees. Legal Executives. Since 1989, around route, which is comprised of our interesting, valued and prestigious The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives is recognised by the Ministry of 92,500 people have level 3 qualification (set and assessed career: as a Chartered Legal Justice as one of the three main approved routes to becoming a qualified lawyer at A-level standard) and our level 6 Executive lawyer you will have great (along with Barristers and Solicitors). chosen our route to qualification which is set and assessed opportunities to work in the legal Qualifying as a at honours degree level. This full route Law is the most popular subject out of all applications to study at university, pursue their lawyer profession, in corporate in-house legal Chartered Legal costs up to around £4,500 - £7,650, and so each year around 80% of people applying to study law are rejected. departments, or in local or national qualification - why not depending on where you choose to government. Executive lawyer We provide a cost-effective way of obtaining law qualifications without having join them? study, and typically takes four years provides access to an to complete a law degree (although graduates of law or non-law subjects can still to complete part-time, although time Most people combine studying choose to become a lawyer using our route). www.cilexcareers.org.uk scales can be flexible. their qualifications through academic interesting, valued and institutions or via distance learning prestigious career. 2 | CILEx Your best route to a legal qualification CILEx Your best route to a legal qualification | 3 CLX13705-03 brochure v06 AW.indd 2-3 16/03/2012 12:34 Benefits of the Chartered Legal Executive route We offer an achievable, How our route compares to affordable and flexible route to other lawyer routes becoming a qualified lawyer: Whether you take the full • Study, exam and registration fees Chartered Legal Executive lawyer cost up to around £7,650 which route, or our graduate fast-track are spread over the four years’ of qualification, we offer by far the MEMBERSHIP GRADES part-time study (the typical time most affordable way to be a lawyer taken to study all of the academic compared to the other traditional qualifications required). If you are routes: To study to become a Chartered Associate member To be admitted as a Chartered Legal eligible for exemptions then your Legal Executive lawyer you need Open to those who have completed Executive lawyer/Fellow you also need • As well as University fees, the study time may be shorter and you to join the Chartered Institute our Level 3 Professional Diploma in to complete a minimum of five years’ biggest cost potential Solicitors will pay less study fees. of Legal Executives (CILEx). The Law and Practice; or who are graduates employment experience in legal work, face is the LPC fees of around including at least two consecutive years’ • Combining study with full-time grade you are allocated is based with qualifying law degrees. Associate £12,900. For aspiring Barristers, the experience which falls after completion of work can enable those studying on your qualifications and/or legal members will be entitled to use the Bar Professional Training Course your studies. experience. Whether you are new designatory letters ACILEx after to be Chartered Legal Executive (formerly the Bar Vocational lawyers to earn in the region of to the sector, a graduate or a senior their name, and will be required to Please note that, for entry into any grade Course or BVC) usually costs of membership, you must have satisfied the £63,000 over the typical four-year lawyer, there is a grade that’s right undertake 8 hours of Continuing around £15,750. Chartered Institute of Legal Executives’ Council study period. for you. Membership is a mark Professional Development (CPD). • Non-law graduates will also have of credibility and accountability. of your fitness for admission. The application • You don’t need to get a training Graduate member criteria stated above is at the discretion of to pay approximately £3,000- It demonstrates to clients and contract or pupillage. Open to those who have completed the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives £7,000 for their CPE/GDL fees. employers your commitment to both the Level 3 Professional Diploma and applicants will be admitted into a excellence, with the reassurance that in Law and Practice and the Level 6 grade accordingly. all members are regulated by ILEX Professional Higher Diploma in Law Combining study with full- Professional Standards (IPS). We also offer a separate membership time work can enable those and Practice; our Graduate ‘Fast-Track’ grade for Associate Prosecutors working for Use the criteria below to select studying to be Chartered Diploma; or who are Legal Practice the Crown Prosecution Service, although they the membership grade you should Course (LPC) or Bar Professional may also join one of the grades above. Legal Executive lawyers to apply for: Training Course (formerly the Bar The details shown above relate to the earn in the region of £63,000 Vocational Course or BVC) graduates. Student member academic year 2012/13. Visit our website for over the typical four-year Graduate members will be entitled to Open to those wishing to enter the latest details. use the designatory letters GCILEx study period. the legal profession; those who have after their name, and will be required no relevant legal qualification; or to undertake 12 hours of CPD. those with less than three years’ work experience of a predominantly Fellows legal nature. When you have successfully completed a period of qualifying Affiliate member employment, you can become a Open to those with at least one Fellow, a qualified lawyer, and be of our Level 3 qualification units; eligible to use the term Chartered Legal or who have completed a relevant Executive and the designatory letters legal qualification atL evel 2; or FCILEx.