Cilex

[Cats345]

Hello,

I'm a law graduate, from previous posts I am in such a dilemma at the moment.

As stated I am a law graduate and was wondering is cilex worth it?

In my view you would be better off doing the legal practice course and a training contract (if you can find one which allows the LPC) OR doing an SQE1 and 2 course and training contract/QWE under the new system.

I recently left the legal field. Cilex was useful for those going into certain support roles in the legal sector. If you didn’t get a training contract whilst an undergraduate it may be worth looking at allied roles as (sorry) more often than not getting a role after graduation in a well paid role is less likely. Not impossible, also can get a paralegal role or a non-city type role but post degree if you don’t have a contract it starts getting that much more difficult.

Allied roles may include paralegals, knowledge (PG in Library and Info Studies helpful), data discovery etc

I would do a SQE and qwe if you want to qualify as a solicitor. If you don't but want to work in a paralegal type role with potential to earn more then you get quite a lot of exemptions for your law degree and would need do only 3 more papers to get the CILEX. A FILEX just became a partner at my husband's top 50 firm.

Cilex route is usually fine by staff without a law degree.
Have you looked at paralegal jobs?
What type of work are you looking for?
I’m a solicitor but small northern firms now in house Local authority. Working as a paralegal for a few years then qualifying is very common route. It’s light years away from city firms.

I'm a CILEx lawyer with a law degree. I'm very lucky in that my firm pays me the same as solicitors but it wasn't always like that and a lot of firm do pay CILEx lawyers less. If I was graduating now I'd do the SQE route, no question (and in fact I am tempted to cross qualify to future proof my earning potential in case I move firms)

I would encourage you do so. BPP do a part time online SQE1 prep course that a friend has done in one year alongside working full time as a corporate paralegal. In fact her firm have reimbursed her fees for her once they found out she had started!

@Spirallingdownwards thanks, that's useful. I'd certainly apply for my firm to fund it upfront if I go for it.

Depends what area of law ur doing. If it's conveyancing/family Cilex is fine. My firm wouldn't let me do Cilex as I'm in litigation and they told me that in my area Cilex is looked down upon.