The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) has launched a less expensive rival to the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).
The CPQ (CILEx Professional Qualification) will have three levels―Foundation, which is aligned to the role of a paralegal; Advanced, for those handling cases at an advanced paralegal level; and Professional, for those who want to be CILEx Lawyers.
A CILEx Lawyer will have equivalent rights to a solicitor within their particular practice area. Eight specialisations will be available initially, including litigation, employment, private client and conveyancing.
The whole process, including training, assessment and course materials, costs £12,500. By comparison, CILEX estimates the SQE route will cost students about £40,000.
Each stage is likely to take between 18 months and two years; therefore the full qualification could be achieved in five to six years. Students with law degrees or postgraduate legal qualifications can potentially join at the end of Advanced level and qualify in two to three years. Students will combine work with study, thereby earning while they learn. Current Chartered Legal Executives can take a conversion course.
Linda Ford, CILEx CEO, said she expected an initial cohort of 400 students to start in June, subject to Legal Services Board approval at Easter time. Another 400 students are expected to start at the Advanced stage.
‘We consulted with employers in private practice, in-house and in local government about what they needed, such as commercial and legal tech skills, and tailored accordingly,’ Ford said.
‘Our view is some opportunities have been missed with the SQE and there is an issue about how accessible it actually is, when students require a degree. We also think they missed a chance to review the solicitor standard, and could have listened more to employers, for example, about the need for business and legal tech skills.’
