Ilex?

[DreamADream]

Has anyone gone down the ilex route? Would you recommend it? I'm already working in a law firm, absolutely love what I do and would like to get more involved. I did consider a law degree, but having a family, I just don't think it's an option.

Just looking for opinions from others as I know it can be looked down on by some!

Will your firm be supportive in terms of paying fees and study leave?

What field are you in now? Is that what you want to continue?

Definitely do the ILEX route!

I did Ilex five gazilliion years ago, having been headhunted by a law firm from what was then the Lord Chancellors Department (now HM Courts and Tribunal Service).

It was pretty time consuming to study at the same time as working FT, and I was only given the very occasional day off to take exams, however I did it over 6 years and went on to have a very successful career as a family lawyer.

It wasn't looked down on at all in my opinion, perhaps because I had tons of experience already, so I was often more senior in terms of years to qualified solicitors who were just a couple of years PQE and over the years I'd say there was absolutely no difference at all, I was always treated exactly the same as a solicitor and usually did my own advocacy so was up against counsel a lot of the time.

Earnings were the same as if I was a solicitor, again because I had a lot of experience and was quite old (27-ish) when I started training.

Go fo it!

Thanks, that's really useful. I'm in private client atm and really do enjoy it. I've not raised it with them yet as I wanted to think it all thru and get opinions on it and be able to put forward a good case for myself. I do think they'd be supportive though.

Sounds to me like you should go for it. Good luck!

I did it that route whilst working full time with a young child. However I went on to do the extra papers to exempt me from GDL and did my LPC at Guildford College of Law with a fast track PSC. As I had 5 years qualifying employment I did not have to do a training contract. I did find however that people in the profession did treat me with more respect once I was a solicitor rather than FILEX.

Pm if you like.

I'm a partner at a high street firm and my assistant is an associate legal exec. She works full time more or less and has a family.

She's amazing. She's now fee earning with me as her supervisor.

One of my counters in our town is FILEx and is very very good. I've just taken on a head of probate who's one step away from Fellowship and she's already impressing me.

Maybe stuffy old solicitors looked down on it but not me nor my contemporaries.

Fellows can be partners so it's on a par.

Better way of doing it tbh.

Good luck!!