Proposals from the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) to be regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) are seriously misguided and fail to consider the wider regulatory context.
These proposals do not consider the serious negative impact it will have on solicitors and chartered legal executives alike and is unsupported by evidence that they will benefit the public.
CILEX is the professional membership body for CILEX lawyers, paralegals and other specialist legal professionals in England and Wales.
It’s seeking to move its regulatory function from CILEX Regulation Limited (CRL) to the SRA. CILEX lawyers can be authorised to practise in specific areas of law, but they are not authorised in all areas as solicitors are upon qualification.
CILEX’s key driver appears to be raising the status of CILEX lawyers to be on the same plane as solicitors or barristers. Both professions are valuable within the wider landscape of legal services provision.
But, they are not equivalent in education and training or scope of authorisation of practice. If the proposals go ahead, it will cause consumer confusion and blur the distinction between the professions.
We’re responding on behalf of solicitors to the CILEX and SRA consultations and are speaking with members to produce as informed a response as possible.
The consultation closed on 5 November 2023. To learn more about this, click here: lawsociety.org.uk/campaigns/cons
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