CILEx Regulation

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CILEx Regulation discuss the benefits of their authorisation schemes for rights of audience and independent practice rights.

Gain Advocacy Rights

Have you ever considered applying to become a Chartered Legal Executive Advocate?

If you are working in civil, criminal or family practice and have had some experience of providing advice at the police station or conducting advocacy in court, then it may be your next step in terms of career progression.

If you would like to be able to represent your clients in court, then you have two options for authorisation:

• Independent Practice Rights for Litigation and Advocacy Completion of an application under this scheme would mean you would be authorised as a CILEx Litigator and Chartered Legal Executive Advocate for civil, criminal or family proceedings; or
• Extended Rights of Audience Completion of an application under this scheme would mean you would be authorised as a Chartered Legal Executive Advocate for civil, criminal or family proceedings.

For both schemes, you are required to demonstrate you have sufficient knowledge of the area of practice you are seeking rights, experience of handling litigation matters and representing your clients orally either at court or at the police station.

CILEx Regulation will consider the initial application and will ask an external assessor to review your submissions. If the external assessor determines the application demonstrates sufficient competency, then you will be issued with a Certificate of Eligibility so that you can attend an accredited advocacy skills course.

The advocacy skills course is provided by an accredited provider, Altior by Barbri, and always receives positive feedback from delegates. For example: ‘Advocacy is always a frightening concept and I would not have thought I would have gained as much confidence as I did from the course. I left believing I was ready to undertake a trial’ (Sarah Phippen, Chartered Legal Executive Advocate).

During the course, you will cover the basics of advocacy, specific to the nature of proceedings you are seeking rights, including opening speech, closing speech and cross examination of a witness. The course is six days in duration, so you will have lots of opportunities to learn and practice before the assessment days towards the end of the course.

If you would like to know more, CILEx Regulation recently presented some webinars on both the independent practice rights route and the extended rights of audience scheme. These can be found on myCareer and the Regulation Matters resources page. We would recommend having a look at these to find out more about the application process.

Gain Independent Practice Rights

What are Practice Rights?

Some legal work can only be undertaken by, or under the supervision of, an authorised person. These are known as `reserved activities’ (as defined in the Legal Services Act 2007). However, CILEx Regulation is able to grant authorisation to qualified individuals to become a qualified CILEx Practitioner, and practise as an independent lawyer with the right to conduct one or more reserved activities.

‘I would recommend other CILEs members to apply for Practice Rights without hesitation! It allows members to have something to show for their years of hard work. It’s a fantastic feeling when you receive your practising certificate for the first time; it puts us on an equal footing with other legal practitioners as we should be! It is a very proud moment indeed.’  
​Sian Turvey, Chartered Legal Executive and CILEx Conveyancing Practitioner at Robertsons Solicitors 

What rights can I apply for?

Any person who can demonstrate the necessary competence can apply to CILEx Regulation to become authorised for the reserved activities of Probate, and/or Conveyancing.

Chartered Legal Executives are eligible to apply for additional practice rights in the following reserved/regulated activities: Criminal Litigation and Advocacy; Civil Litigation and Advocacy; Family Litigation and Advocacy; and Immigration advice and services.