Qualify as a lawyer without needing a degree The CILEX route is inherently inclusive and diverse. Unlike other routes into a legal career there are no formal entry requirements to start on the CPQ Foundation Stage; it is open to all. The CPQ is a substantially more affordable way for students to become lawyers than other routes into law – delivering on CILEX’s commitment to accessibility while not compromising standards. To qualify as a CILEX lawyer will cost a maximum of £12,500 – less for those who already have some kind of legal qualification. How longwill it take to qualify? This will vary from trainee to trainee. Those with undergraduate or postgraduate legal qualifications will not have to start at the beginning and the flexibility of the qualification means it is possible to pause learning and progress at whatever speed suits an individual. Not everyone will want to study all three stages. It is expected that each stage takes between 18 months and two years, so a student could qualify as a CILEX lawyer in five to six years. Studying with CILEX There’s a range of study options offered by CILEX Approved Training Providers, including further education colleges and specialist distance learning providers, with many providers offering blended learning and other flexible options, including CILEX Law School, which is wholly owned by CILEX. All CILEX Approved Training Providers must meet the approval standards and regulatory requirements to offer the CPQ. Training providers fees vary, depending on the delivery of the course in a classroom or remote setting, on whether the course is delivered full or part- time, on the learning platforms used and on the level of support given to students. Salaries Salaries will vary according to your location and legal specialism. Starting salaries start
from £20,000 per year while qualifying. Many trainee CILEX members report that they are on higher salaries than the trainee solicitors they work alongside. What CILEX Lawyers do Although CILEX lawyers can be involved in many areas of law, the most common areas of specialism are: • conveyancing – the legal side of buying and selling property; • family – advising on divorce and matters affecting children; • crime – defending and prosecuting people accused of crimes; • company and business law – advising on legislation that affects clients’ businesses such as tax, contract and employment law; • litigation – advising clients who are in dispute with someone else; • probate – dealing with wills, trusts and inheritance tax; and • personal injury – handling accident claims. All CILEX members are independently regulated by CILEx Regulation and must adhere to a code of conduct. They are required to continue training throughout their careers in order to keep abreast of the latest developments in the law. Where CILEX Lawyers work CILEX lawyers are found in many of the top UK law firms, but it is not just legal firms that employ them. Such lawyers fill key legal roles in a wide variety of government bodies, local authorities, charities and business organisations, including Caterpillar, HSBC, Admiral Insurance, Disney, the UK Border Agency, the Ministry of Defence, the Crown Prosecution Service, the NHS, county councils, the RSPCA and The Peabody Trust. They also join in-house legal teams and are represented in some of the top companies in the UK.
The move to allow CILEX fellows to apply for judicial positions has seen the appointment
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