A Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) document suggests that legal executives should get the “same status” as solicitors and become aligned in the standards that apply to them, according to reports.
After carefully evaluating both regulators’ comments to CILEX’s “case for change”, CILEX declared that it would move through with its plans to transfer regulation of its members from CILEx Regulation to the SRA.
In a 10-page reply that CILEX released, the SRA stated that it will maintain and promote the “distinct identity” of CILEX lawyers and the CILEX route to the profession.
Where appropriate, the strapline “SRA regulating CILEX Lawyers” will be used in communications, on the website, and in branding, according to The Law Society Gazette.
The SRA’s submission says:
“This will simplify regulation and promote consistency in terms of both public protection and public confidence. Authorised CILEX lawyers will have the same authorised status in their specialist areas of law as solicitors and will effectively be regulated to the same standard.”
The regulator anticipates using “broadly the same processes as we do for complaints about solicitors and firms (triage, assessment, investigation, notice and decision)”.
The Law Society Gazette state that “annual reporting and accounting arrangements will deal separately with the regulation of law firms and solicitors” and CILEX lawyers to ensure “each branch of the legal profession appropriately funds their regulation”.
CILEX’s consultation closes on 5th November and any transfer will not take place until April 2024 at the earliest.
