Chartered Legal Executive Apprenticeships

The Chartered Legal Executive Apprenticeship takes approximately 30 months to complete.

People of all ages and educational backgrounds can undertake apprenticeships, provided that the apprenticeship will allow the individual to gain substantive new skills and that the apprenticeship aligns with the skill required in the apprentice’s role.

The Chartered Legal Executive Apprenticeship is designed principally for existing paralegals (including former paralegal apprentices), non-law graduates and law/GDL graduates.

If you have additional or different qualifications, please do get in touch so we can discuss your options with you.

Part 1 of the Chartered Legal Executive apprenticeship, lasting 18 months, involves underpinning training across the common core of legal knowledge and skills required by CILEX regulation. Assessed by multiple choice exams at level 3 and an examination at level 6 in the apprentice’s specialist area.

Part 2, which takes approximately 12 months, includes the extended project which is a high-level, employer-relevant piece of work in the apprentice’s specialist area, assessed via a presentation and structured Q&A. Legal technology and conduct and ethics can be mapped to the project or assessed separately.

Employer partners and apprentices are supported throughout the Chartered Legal Executive Apprenticeship. The apprentice has a dedicated coach who provides one-to-one support, alongside the group coaching sessions and apprentice forums where they can engage with other appentices on the same programme. Review meetings with the apprentice, line manager and coach are held every 12 weeks. 

Apprentices with additional learning needs also have the opportunity to meet with our SEND Co-ordinator, who will put together a personalised support plan.

In addition, employer partners have a business development manager they can contact at any time.

Chartered Legal Executive Apprenticeships include embedded content covering the functional use of maths and English as well as personal development topics in areas such as equality and diversity and British Values. 

Apprentices also undertake a bespoke Introduction to AI in the Workplace course on how AI can support apprentices in their role and the challenges they could face.

All apprenticeships are currently undergoing assessment reform by Skills England and are therefore subject to change but the assessment is expected to include successful completion of the Legal Professional qualification, a portfolio submission and an external paper assessment of the portfolio by the awarding organisation.

For apprentices seeking to cross-qualify, SQE1 can be taken during the programme but separate to the apprenticeship, subject to payment of the SQE1 exam fee.

After qualification as a Chartered Legal Executive, individuals can progress, where appropriate, to SQE2 preparation with BARBRI (fees payable).

If your annual UK wage bill is over £3 million, the cost of training can be funded via the Apprenticeship Levy. We can help you navigate your Apprenticeship Service account to access this funding. 

If your annual UK wage bill is below £3 million, the government covers 95-100% of the training costs (depending on the age of the apprentice).

Additional grants and incentives may be available.

Our first Chartered Legal Executive Apprenticeship cohort will be in September 2026, followed by another cohort in March 2027.