CILEX (the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives) has received the Privy Council’s agreement to amend its Royal Charter and introduce the title of CILEX Chartered Paralegal, the first formal recognition of paralegals as a distinct profession with their own progressive career pathway.
Alongside this, CILEX recently launched a public register of CILEX Paralegals and CILEX Chartered Paralegals, which allows the public and employers to check the regulated status and qualification credentials of those holding a professional paralegal status with CILEX. Inclusion on the register is a mandatory requirement for these paralegal membership grades.
CILEX Chartered Paralegal is available to professionals who have been working in a legal role for over five years and can demonstrate extensive legal knowledge and competence across key duties and behaviours. It provides career paralegals with a formal status recognising their achievements.
Designed with input from employers, CILEX Chartered Paralegal status comes with clear standards and independent regulation, supported by a public-facing register. This will promote public confidence in the delivery of legal services and justify commensurate charging rates.
Announcing the new Chartered Paralegal status, CILEX President Yanthé Richardson said:
“This is a significant step to support people who have built careers in the legal profession in non-traditional ways. Paralegals are critical to the operation of many firms and recognition of their abilities and experience is long overdue.
“CILEX Chartered Paralegal status benefits them, employers, consumers and also the wider public interest. This new cadre of experienced and accountable professionals will do much for the provision of legal services, by raising standards and also injecting greater diversity, given the unique make-up of CILEX’s members.”
‘Chartered’ is a title that has credibility with the public, indicating that a person is a professional being held to a set of standards. It will provide reassurance and help distinguish between regulated and unregulated persons.
Applicants must complete a detailed application outlining how they have met the requirements of the qualification, with a referee to validate the information, and then undergo an interview with a CILEX assessor to confirm that they have the required competence level.
CILEX Chartered Paralegal is set at Level 5 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework – equivalent to a foundation degree.
For those with between two and five years of experience, the CILEX Paralegal status remains available. This is at Level 3 (equivalent to A-Levels). CILEX Lawyers are at Level 7 (postgraduate).
