Institute of Legal Executives
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| Institute of Legal Executives | |
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| Formation | 1892[1] |
| Type | Professional body |
| Legal status | Company limited by guarantee (since 1963) |
| Headquarters | Bedford, United Kingdom |
| Region served | England and Wales |
| Membership | 24,000 |
| Official languages | English |
| Website | http://www.ilex.org.uk |
The Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) is the professional body for legal executives in England and Wales and an examination board providing qualifications for legal executives, paralegals and legal secretaries.
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[edit] History
It was established in 1963 with the help of the Law Society of England and Wales to provide a more formal process for training so-called "solicitors' clerks".
Traditionally, solicitors' clerks were not formally trained in law, but through experience had built up a working knowledge of specific aspects and could carry out legal paperwork as a fee earner.
[edit] Purpose
The Institute set out to create a formal process for training legal support staff that would be recognised and respected in the legal community. With growing recognition the Institute's purpose has evolved: it now has its own front line regulator, Ilex Professional Standards (IPS) and provides a vocational career route from paralegal to professional lawyer.
The profile of the Institute's membership is also changing. Some of the most able legal executives are now law firm partners and legal executives can also become Judges in England and Wales[2].
Law graduates may also take an alternative route to becoming a solicitor by using ILEX's Graduate Fast-track scheme.
