The Non-Graduate (ILEX) Route

It's possible to satisfy the academic stage of training and qualify as a solicitor without obtaining a degree, through the Institute of Legal Executives. Read on if you like the idea of earning and learning at the same time.

It is possible to satisfy the academic stage of training and qualify as a solicitor without obtaining a degree, through the Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX). This route requires students to take ILEX exams while working in qualifying legal employment.

ILEX students need a minimum of four GCSEs grades A-C in academic subjects including English (alternatively, two A-levels and one GCSE, three AS-levels, a BTEC general or first certificate at ‘merit’ grade or the ILEX preliminary certificate in legal studies).

Even without formal qualification, enrolment over the age of 25 can be on the basis of business, commercial, academic or other experience. Each application will be considered on its individual merit.

Qualifying as a Legal Executive
Membership
Students must pass both Part 1 and Part 2 exams to attain ILEX membership. Part 1 exams are at around A-level standard, while Part 2 exams are considered to be degree level.

Part 1 exams cover most of the areas of law and legal practice encountered in the profession. The exams consist of two three-hour papers in law and two four-hour papers, each set in two parts, in legal practice. Part 2 exams comprise one specialist practice paper and three associated law papers.

A major advantage of choosing the legal executive route is that students earn and learn at the same time. Most students work full-time and study part-time, combining academic achievement with practical experience in the workplace. Study is usually at a local college or through a home-study course.

All Part 1 and Part 2 exams are set twice yearly in May and October and all exams may be taken at different sittings.
There is no time limit within which these exams must be passed nor is there any limit on the number of attempts that are permitted for each exam. The majority of trainee legal executives complete the membership exams over a four-year period taking two papers in the May exams each year.

You need not undertake any qualifying legal employment experience in order to achieve membership status. However, qualifying experience legal employment must be taken in order to attain fellowship status.

Fellowship
In order to qualify as an ILEX fellow you must:

• be 25 years old;
• be a member; and
• have completed five years’ qualifying legal experience, of which two years must have been completed after attaining membership status.

During the five years you will be building up your client base and becoming a valued fee earner to your legal practice. Many employers pay for training, as a qualified lawyer is of great value to the firm.

Qualifying as a Solicitor
Exemptions
In order to qualify as a solicitor, a legal executive (ie, an ILEX fellow or member) must complete the academic and vocational stages of training in accordance with the provisions of the Training Regulations 1990 and the Directions given to the Common Professional Examination (CPE) Board.

To complete the academic stage a legal executive must either pass or claim exemption from a CPE. This exam comprises the following subjects:

• Obligations 1 (Contract);
• Obligations 2 (Torts);
• Criminal Law;
• Equity and the Law of Trusts;
• Law of the European Union;
• Property Law;
• Public Law; and
• One other area of legal study.

A legal executive can claim exemption from the CPE by virtue of having passed corresponding papers in ILEX’s Part 2 membership exams. Exemption from the other area of legal study is gained by passing another substantive law subject in the Part 2 exam.

Most legal executives wishing to claim partial exemption from the CPE must claim CPE subjects, including the ‘other area of legal study’. A legal executive who has passed one, two or three corresponding subjects must take the full exam.

Most legal executives choose to complete the academic stage by taking the corresponding papers in the institute’s Part 2 exam plus one other substantive law subject and then claiming full exemption from the CPE.

Vocational stage
In order to meet the requirements of the vocational stage of training you must:

• be enrolled as a student member of the Law Society;
• satisfactorily complete the LPC;
• satisfactorily complete or be exempted from a two-year training contract; and
• satisfactorily complete the Professional Skills Course.

LPC
Before starting the LPC a legal executive must either:

• be an ILEX member;
• have served at least three years in qualifying employment since reaching 18 years of age;
• have been granted exemption from the PGDL/CPE or completion by examination and partial exemption of the PGDL/CPE (this gives completion of the academic stage);
• be a student member of the Law Society; and
• have been granted a certificate of completion of the academic stage.

Or:

• be an ILEX fellow;
• have been granted exemption from the PGDL/CPE (this gives completion of the academic stage);
• be a student member of the Law Society; and
• have been granted a certificate of completion of the academic stage.

Note that legal executives may not start the LPC before they have been granted either complete exemption from the PGDL/CPE or completion by partial exemption and examination of the CPE.

If any outstanding paper or re-sit is to be taken at ILEX’s Part 2 exams in October (after the start of the LPC), the start date of the LPC will be delayed until the following year.

Training contract
The two-year training contract requirement will normally be waived for fellows, provided that
five years in qualifying legal employment up to the start of the LPC has been served.

The two-year training contract requirement will also be waived for members who are due to be admitted as fellows within six weeks of the start of a full-time LPC or before the end of the first term of a part-time LPC, provided that five years in qualifying employment up to the start of the LPC have been served.

Mere members must undertake a two-year training contract and complete the Professional Skills Course during it.

Finally, note that members and fellows must apply for exemption from the CPE within seven years of gaining the membership qualification. They must also have passed any outstanding papers needed for exemption within four years during the seven year period following the granting of membership.

Contact Details
ILEX
Kempston Manor
Bedford
MK42 7AB
Telephone: 01234 841 000
Website: www.ilex.org.uk