Building a legal career through CPQ: My experience at Ellis Jones

The CILEX Professional Qualification, also known as the CPQ, is a flexible route into a legal career. It is designed by the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) and offers a practical alternative to allow you to study alongside working, as an alternative to the traditional solicitor training contract / SQE routes.

Similarly to the apprenticeship route, rather than focusing purely on academic study, the CPQ combines legal knowledge, professional skills, ethics, and real workplace experience, however unlike the apprenticeship route (which culminates in the SQE), the CPQ and qualification as a CILEX is primarily evidenced through a professional portfolio.

Understanding the three stages of CPQ

Foundation stage: Building legal knowledge

This is the starting point for many learners, including me.

The Foundation Stage is made up of 6 compulsory modules across various areas of law, alongside study of Ethics and Professional Responsibility.

There is also an optional Professional Experience portfolio at the Foundation Stage to become an accredited ‘CILEX Paralegal’. Learners who complete the assessments and Ethics and Professional Responsibility module without the Professional Experience will be awarded the CILEX Diploma in Law.

Advanced stage: Developing practical legal skills

If you have already completed a law degree, you may be able to skip the Foundation Stage and begin at the Advanced Stage.

This stage develops both technical knowledge and practical application. Learners study Professional and Legal Skills, compulsory Litigation Modules, plus at least one optional practice area such as Family, Probate and Private Client, Property and Conveyancing, or Business and Employment Law.

Completion of this stage awards the ‘CILEX Advanced Paralegal’ status.

Professional stage: Qualifying as a CILEX lawyer

The final stage focuses on specialist legal practice, higher-level decision-making and demonstrating competence through professional experience. If you already hold an LPC, BPTC, or equivalent, you may be able to enter the CPQ at this stage.

For the Professional Stage, you choose one practice area of your choice (usually the area in which you are already working and intend to qualify) alongside a mandatory Professional Skills module.

Completion of this stage awards the status of a qualified CILEX Lawyer and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives. Being a CILEX Lawyer is very similar to being a qualified solicitor with the ability to conduct reserved legal activities, and to obtain further qualifications and accreditations to be able to do everything a solicitor can do – such as administering probate, conducting litigation, exercising rights of audience, swearing oaths and attestations, and much more.

Who can apply for CPQ?

One of the main attractions of the CPQ is its accessibility. You do not need a law degree, or even a degree at all, to get started. It can suit school leavers, career changers, non-law graduates, mature students, and people already working in legal roles who want to formalise and progress their experience. However, those with previous legal qualifications or experience may be able to start at a later stage or apply for exemptions.

Why I chose the CPQ route

The CPQ is particularly appealing because it is practical, flexible and work-focused. Students can earn while they learn, apply their studies directly to client matters and build a qualification around their existing commitments.

I personally found the SQE route unsuitable for me, particularly as I had never studied law before and did not want to go back to university having already completed an English degree. I also was drawn to the CPQ as completion of each stage awards a separate qualification, giving continual recognition throughout the process. I was unsure if I wanted to qualify as CILEX Lawyer, but I knew that if I wanted to reach a CILEX Paralegal status and then end my studying, I could. However, once I started, I knew that law was the right choice for me and my goal is to qualify as a CILEX Lawyer and practice in Dispute Resolution.

The benefits of studying while you work

The CPQ exams for each course can be taken in any order and at any time within your allotted period for each course (which is usually 3 years). Currently, assessment periods run in January and June and you can choose to sit each exam one by one, or sit multiple exams per assessment period, to fit around what’s best for you. The flexibility of this is largely what drew me to CILEX and allows me to balance studying alongside working full time.

Studying law with no previous legal background

Before enrolling on to the Foundation Stage, I had reservations about passing the exams as I had never studied law before. However, the Foundation Stage is designed to introduce you to the broader topics, before you narrow your focus and enhance your knowledge in the later Advanced and Professional Stages. I never felt as if I was unequipped for exams, and many training providers offer online lectures and personal tutoring alongside the textbooks which CILEX provide.

Looking ahead: My career goals

However, once I started, I knew that law was the right choice for me and my goal is to qualify as a CILEX Lawyer and practice in Dispute Resolution.

Interested in joining us?

We are proud of our values and culture. If you think that you would fit into our culture, please give us at least one example of how in a covering letter attaching your CV. Please send your CV/Covering letter to recruitment@ellisjones.co.uk.

You can find out more on our key dates for legal placements, vacation schemes and training contracts page.