The CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ) is today open for applicants after the qualification was granted regulatory approval by CILEx Regulation.
The new qualification, designed by CILEX (the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives) to ‘produce lawyers with the skills to meet the changing demands of the modern legal market’, is now accepting student enrolments, with CILEX committing £275K to fund up to 22 scholarships annually, for those from disadvantaged backgrounds, through the CILEX Foundation.
CILEX Foundation’s targeted scholarship programme will cover the training costs of becoming a fully qualified CILEX Lawyer, as well as the opportunity to network and learn from thousands of legal professionals who have developed their career through the CILEX route.
To be eligible for a CILEX Lawyer Scholarship, worth up to £12,500, applicants will need to demonstrate that their finances and particular circumstances mean it is challenging for them to access a legal education.
Support will be targeted at those under-represented in the legal profession and/or from a socially disadvantaged background.
Eligible groups include young carers, those with a protected characteristic, as defined by the Equality Act 2010 (such as Black, Asian and other ethnic minority students), previous receipt of free school meals or a history of being in care.
The CPQ provides students with three outcomes – CILEX Lawyer, CILEX Advanced Paralegal and CILEX Paralegal.
Professor Chris Bones, CILEX Chair, said:
“CILEX is committed to improving social mobility within the legal profession – ensuring dedicated individuals can succeed in the sector regardless of their personal circumstances.
“Not only does the CPQ offer a route to a successful legal career to those with or without a university degree, the targeted support offered by the Foundation will also help further remove barriers for promising future legal professionals from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“As the CPQ gains the regulatory stamp of approval, we look forward to transforming the legal profession, developing the brightest future talent from all backgrounds to make the UK legal sector more efficient, more representative and better serve society.”
The new qualification builds on CILEX’s core propositions of accessibility, affordability and flexibility with CILEX students combining work and study. It marries legal knowledge with the skills, behaviours and commercial awareness needed in the modern legal market and introduces mandatory elements of legal technology, business skills and emotional intelligence for the first time in legal training.
Students will be able to study through CILEX Law School or through a number of approved providers including universities, further education colleges and distance learning organisations. By widening access for applicants, CPQ recognises the merit of all aspiring legal professionals, who can, through degree or non-degree routes, become fully qualified CILEX Lawyers.
Further information
For more information and for students who want to enrol, please click here.
For further information about the CILEX Lawyer Scholarship, please click here.
