Chartered Institute of Legal Executives

Name

Chartered Institute of Legal Executives

Legal name

The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives

Website

https://cilex.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bedford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Recurring annual membership fees paid by members (e.g., CILEX Paralegal £230/year, CILEX Chartered Paralegal £288/year).
2. Qualification Assessment Fees: One-time fees for each stage of the CILEX Professional Qualification and standalone qualifications (CPQ stages ranging £6,500–£15,000; CILEX Paralegal £945; CILEX Chartered Paralegal £1,575).
3. Registration and Application Fees: Upfront fees for trainee registration (£475), re-submissions (£150), Recognised Degree programme applications (£1,500 initial + £500 annual renewal), and Experience Assessment Route applications (from £1,260).
4. Course and Training Delivery (CILEX Law School): Revenue from tuition and course delivery for apprenticeships, paralegal courses, and CILEX Law School programmes.
5. End-Point Assessment (EPA) Fees: Fees charged to training providers and employers for government-regulated apprenticeship end-point assessment.
6. Provider Accreditation Fees: Annual and initial fees from higher education and training providers for CILEX accreditation (e.g., Recognised Degree £1,500 application + £500 renewal).
7. Partnership and Sponsorship Revenue: Industry partner programme fees, event sponsorship, and CILEX Awards sponsorship revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CILEX is the professional association and governing body for chartered legal executive lawyers, paralegals and other legal practitioners in England and Wales. It delivers professional qualifications (CILEX Professional Qualification, CILEX Graduate Qualification, CILEX Certificate in Legal Practice), a portfolio of legal apprenticeships, end-point assessment services, ongoing membership grades with practising rights, and continuing professional development resources, supported by a member portal and a network of approved higher education and training providers.

Product overview

Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) operates a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on professional qualification and membership services for legal professionals in England and Wales. The core offering comprises the CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ) — the new unified route replacing the legacy Level 3 and Level 6 Diplomas — alongside the CILEX Graduate Qualification (CGQ) and the CILEX Certificate in Legal Practice, all delivered through the CILEX Law School (CLS). These sit alongside a portfolio of apprenticeships (Level 3 Business Administrator, Level 3 Paralegal, Level 6 Chartered Legal Executive, Level 7 CLE Litigator and Advocate) where CILEX acts as an End-Point Assessment Organisation delivering CILEX End-Point Assessment (EPA) Services and the CILEX Experience Assessment (CEA) route. Membership is layered via CILEX Membership grades, CILEX Aspire Membership for students, and public-facing registers including the CILEX Authorised Practitioners Directory and the CILEX Professional Paralegal Register (PPR). Governance and support are provided by CILEX Regulation (independent regulator), CILEX Foundation (charity for scholarships), and CILEX Education Publishing, with the myCILEX Portal tying the experience together for members and students. Modern add-ons include the CILEX AI Academy (in partnership with 5mins.ai), CILEX Journal, CILEX Blog and CILEX Events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CILEX Law School (CLS): Delivers legal education and training, including CPQ courses, non-CPQ qualifications, revision courses, and apprenticeships.
• CILEX Foundation
• CILEX Regulation (CILEx Regulation Limited)

Products and services

• CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ) The flagship route to qualifying as a CILEX Lawyer, replacing the legacy Level 3 and Level 6 Diplomas. Assessed via online platforms TestReach and Digify.
• CILEX Graduate Qualification (CGQ) A streamlined qualification route specifically designed for law graduates to become CILEX Lawyers, building on prior academic study.
• CILEX Certificate in Legal Practice An introductory qualification providing foundational legal practice knowledge, serving as an entry point into CILEX membership routes.
• CILEX Law School (CLS) The educational delivery arm of CILEX providing structured training, learning materials and support for students undertaking CILEX qualifications.
• CILEX Apprenticeships A suite of apprenticeship standards including Level 3 Business Administrator, Level 3 Paralegal, Level 6 Chartered Legal Executive, and Level 7 CLE Litigator and Advocate, with CILEX serving as the End-Point Assessment Organisation.
• CILEX Membership Professional membership grades (including Student, Affiliate, Graduate, Member, and Fellow/Chartered Legal Executive) providing practising rights, post-nominals and career development resources.
• CILEX End-Point Assessment (EPA) Services End-Point Assessment services for legal apprenticeships, delivered by CILEX as an approved End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO), with published EPA plans for each standard.
• CILEX Experience Assessment (CEA) Experience-based assessment route that recognises prior workplace learning and experience for admission to CILEX membership grades.
• CILEX AI Academy A bite-sized AI learning platform delivered in partnership with 5mins.ai, designed to help legal professionals and teams leverage AI to work faster and smarter for their organisations and clients.
• CILEX Aspire Membership Free student membership for individuals aspiring to a legal career, providing resources, guidance and a route into CILEX qualifications.
• CILEX Education Publishing Publishing arm producing textbooks and interactive coursebooks used for CILEX qualifications, with interactive content delivered via a third-party provider.
• Level 6 Chartered Legal Executive EPA v1.1 Updated End-Point Assessment plan v1.1 for the Level 6 Chartered Legal Executive apprenticeship standard.
• Level 3 Paralegal EPA v1.3 Updated End-Point Assessment plan v1.3 for the Level 3 Paralegal apprenticeship standard.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 18,000 CILEX members in the legal profession
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• University of BedfordshirecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved higher education partner delivering CILEX-accredited law degree programmes as part of the pathway to CILEX qualification.
• University Centre LeedscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved higher education partner offering CILEX-aligned qualifications and training.
• University of PortsmouthcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved higher education partner delivering CILEX-accredited programmes.
• The Open University Law SchoolflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved higher education partner delivering CILEX law qualifications through the Open University's distance-learning model, extending CILEX reach nationally.
• The University of LawflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved higher education partner delivering CILEX pathways alongside its wider legal training portfolio.
• Coventry UniversitycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved higher education partner offering CILEX-aligned law programmes.
• University of Wales - Trinity Saint DavidcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved higher education partner delivering CILEX-aligned programmes in Wales.
• CILEX Law SchoolflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCILEX's own training arm delivering apprenticeship programmes and CILEX qualifications directly to learners and employers.
• Bede Sixth Form CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved training provider offering CILEX courses.
• Brightlink LearningminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved training provider delivering CILEX-aligned courses.
• AstrantiminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved training provider offering CILEX-aligned study materials and courses.
• The Law AcademyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved training provider offering CILEX-aligned programmes.
• Law Training CentrecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved training provider delivering CILEX courses and apprenticeship instruction.
• Gower College SwanseacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved training provider delivering CILEX courses in Wales.
• Weston CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved training provider delivering CILEX apprenticeship programmes.
• 5mins.aiflagshipTechnology or IntegrationAI Academy partner delivering AI literacy training to CILEX members through the CILEX AI Academy programme.
• Black Letter CommunicationscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPR agency partner managing CILEX media relations, press releases, and external communications.
• Index (Index Property Information)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry partner offering CILEX member benefits and services in the property information sector.
• Bluebutton Legal IndemnityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry partner offering CILEX member benefits in legal indemnity insurance.
• Chadwick NottminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry partner (legal recruitment) offering CILEX members career services.
• Landmark InformationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry partner providing property and environmental information services to CILEX members.
• Finders InternationalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry partner offering heir-tracing and genealogy services to CILEX members.
• GroundsureminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry partner providing environmental search services to CILEX members.
• Anglia ResearchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry partner providing research services to CILEX members.
• Title ResearchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry partner providing title research services to CILEX members.
• Totally LegalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry partner providing legal career and job board services to CILEX members.
• CILEX FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable foundation associated with CILEX, focused on widening access to the legal profession, supporting diversity initiatives, and providing bursaries.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales): A chartered professional body operating a similar Royal Charter + membership + qualification + regulated practice rights model, but in accountancy. Structurally comparable as a chartered, regulated professional awarding body with subscription, qualification and CPD revenue streams.
• Kaplan UK (Legal Training): A long-established provider of professional legal training including SQE preparation and apprenticeship programmes, and a competitor to CILEX Law School for legal apprenticeship delivery and assessment pathway revenue.
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS): A chartered professional body with Royal Charter status regulating surveyors globally. Comparable to CILEX as a Royal Charter-holding professional body operating a membership, qualification and disciplinary framework, though in a different regulated profession.
• Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA): The regulator of solicitors and law firms in England and Wales, sitting alongside CILEX Regulation in the same regulatory ecosystem. SRA governs the substantially larger solicitor profession and shapes the qualification framework (SQE) against which CILEX competes.
• The University of Law: The UK's largest provider of legal training and the largest law school network, delivering SQE, LPC and post-qualification courses. It is a flagship CILEX higher education partner and competes directly for the same pool of aspiring lawyers via the solicitor route.
• BPP University Law School: A major commercial provider of legal training in England and Wales, including SQE preparation, LPC and apprenticeship programmes. BPP directly competes with CILEX apprenticeships and qualifications for employer apprenticeship levy funding and learner demand.

Others

• CILEX Regulation (CILEx Regulation Limited): The independent regulatory arm of CILEX itself, responsible for regulating CILEX members. Listed as an ecosystem reference given its direct relationship to the parent organisation and its structural similarity to bodies like the SRA and Bar Standards Board.

Direct peers

• Bar Standards Board: The independent regulator of barristers in England and Wales, structurally analogous to CILEX Regulation. It operates as a separate Approved Regulator under the Legal Services Act 2007 with delegated authority over a distinct branch of the legal profession.
• The Law Society: The professional body representing solicitors in England and Wales, and the closest counterpart to CILEX as one of the three main legal professional bodies. Both regulate membership, award practising rights, and accredit legal qualifications, but The Law Society covers the much larger solicitor population.

Regional players

• STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners): A global professional body for trust and estate practitioners, intersecting with CILEX's private client practice specialism (2,200+ members). STEP operates a qualification, membership and CPD model that overlaps with CILEX in private client and probate-focused segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CILExLawyers
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCEZcEApzd8jh32h_CtDatng
• Facebookfacebook.com/CILExfan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chartered-institute-of-legal-executives
• Instagraminstagram.com/cilexhq/?hl=en

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chartered Institute of Legal Executives