Becoming a Lawyer in the United Kingdom is a rewarding and exciting journey. For those leaving school later this year, or even if you just fancy a career change, it’s important to understand the routes into the career.
In our first article, we hear from Kelly Jefferson who is a CILEX Legal Executive in our Dispute Resolution team. Kelly joined the team in January 2023 having completed her training with CILEX and qualified as a Chartered Legal Executive in February 2022. Day to day, Kelly services one of the largest local authority clients with housing disrepair claims.
Kelly discusses her experience in progressing her legal career with CILEX and her next steps in becoming an authorised practitioner.
Kelly’s CILEX story!
I started looking into CILEX when I was working in a previous role as I felt I wanted more recognition within the legal profession without having to undertake the LPC and go back to studying at university.
Studying with CILEX meant I could continue to work full-time gaining experience and using my spare time to study. CILEX wasn’t something I had heard much about when I initially wanted to gain further qualifications but after looking into it, I decided this was the right route for myself at the time.
As I already had my Law Degree and had been working in the legal profession for over 3 years as a civil litigation fee earner, I could begin studying a Level 6 Graduate Fast Track Diploma. This consisted of 3 units in total – two Practice Unit courses and one which needed to be linked to a Law unit studied at degree level. Alongside this, I was required to undertake a Client Care Skills unit.
After completing two exams along with the Client Care unit I then had to compile a work-based Portfolio evidencing certain legal work I had undertaken over a period of 3 years of Qualifying Employment. One year of my Qualifying Employment also had to include one year as a Graduate Member of CILEX.
Once complete I obtained my title of a Chartered Legal Executive. Whilst I am currently qualified as a CILEX Lawyer, I have recently completed the first step of obtaining Practice Rights. This is where I can undertake legal work alone, without supervision in a regulated firm in areas of practice that are restricted. This is the first step towards owning my own authorised law firm (should this be something I ever wanted to do)!
I have passed the first exam for this and am currently awaiting the Advocacy Skills course which will begin in April. The Advocacy Skills course is an intensive course spread over two days with a final oral assessment on the third day. Completing this course will allow me to gain litigation practice rights in Civil Proceedings. Once complete I will be able to exercise advocacy in the Judge’s room in the County Court and the High Court. I will become an authorised CILEX Practitioner in Civil Litigation which will enable me to undertake both civil litigation and advocacy in these Courts without supervision in a regulated firm.
In 2021, CILEX introduced a new qualification framework – the CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ). There are different routes depending on your current experience/qualifications but if you are an experienced legal professional with a law degree then this programme is designed to reflect the legal knowledge you have already acquired and to allow you to focus on your chosen specialist area of practice. If this criteria applies to you then you are only required to complete Stage 2 of the qualification.
More information about the CILEX Professional Qualification can be found at https://cpq.cilex.org.uk/
Quick-fire Questions!
What advice would you give to someone looking to begin their legal career?
The advice I would give to someone looking to begin their legal career would be to be prepared for a lot of hard work but remember that the qualification you gain at the end of your studies makes all of that time pay off. Look at the bigger picture and studying will only be temporary compared to the benefits it will give to your future career. Don’t give up and enjoy the learning experience which you will one day be putting into practice.
The biggest positive about taking the CILEX route?
I would say the biggest positive about working with CILEX is that you are able to work alongside your studies. Gaining knowledge and experience while working was essentially revision for exams and assessments! Working meant that I was constantly gaining knowledge and strengthening my skills which were transferrable with revision and exams.
Describe Swinburne Maddison in three words.
Supportive, caring, reputable.
CILEX is a brilliant way to progress in your legal career enabling you to gain practical experience whilst you earn. For those reading this article who are studying at University or about to leave college or sixth form this year, our summer work placement applications are open. Please visit the work experience page on the website.
