The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) has recently acquired the Institute of Paralegals (IoP) and its Professional Paralegal Register (PPR) to solidify its position as the leading body for specialist legal professionals. The move will increase CILEX's membership by incorporating the IOP's 1000 members into its community of 20,000 lawyers, chartered legal executives, paralegals, and other legal professionals. This acquisition is part of CILEX's ongoing efforts to boost consumer confidence in providing legal services by ensuring that paralegals have the necessary training, experience, and regulation.
More than 75% of the IoP's members belong to the PPR, a voluntary regulator, while 44% work in law firms, and the remaining 66% work in various settings, such as companies, charities, and local and public authorities. Over the course of 2023, CILEX will manage a phased transition to integrate IoP and PPR members into CILEX membership. The CEO of IoP and managing director of PPR, Rita Leat, will act as a special adviser to CILEX to support members and their employers during this change.
CILEX CEO Linda Ford said that CILEX and the IoP share a common goal of recognizing the important role paralegals play in delivering legal services. As the leading institution for specialist legal professionals, CILEX was the natural choice to take over the IoP and PPR to offer its members a recognized professional status as CILEX Paralegals and access to structured career paths. CILEX has already established itself as a leader in the non-university route into law, having launched the CILEX Professional Qualification.
