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Media release
Issued: Monday October 22nd 2007
The Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) has accredited altior to deliver training courses and assessments to its members under ILEX’s new Advocacy Qualification Scheme.
The Scheme implements the Lord Chancellor’s decision to give suitably qualified Fellows of ILEX the opportunity to obtain extended rights of audience. In order to be authorised to exercise the extended rights, Fellows will first have to obtain a certificate of eligibility from ILEX, having shown they have the requisite levels of legal knowledge and experience. Fellows will then have to attend and successfully complete the 6-day advocacy skills course provided by altior, and pass an advocacy skills assessment and a written test of the law of evidence. Successful candidates will be awarded an Advocacy Certificate and gain the right to use the designation ‘’Legal Executive Advocate’.
Fellows must choose to specialise in either family, criminal or civil proceedings, although it will be possible to obtain a Certificate in more than one subject area. The extended rights of audience include the right to appear in committal proceedings in family and civil cases, and in criminal cases in the Magistrates and Youth Courts.
altior will run the first courses under the new Scheme in London in early 2008 and with subsequent courses in Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and Leeds. Group sizes will be strictly limited and delegates will take part in practical case-studies and interactive exercises to ensure they can develop their advocacy skills before they are assessed.
This Scheme presents an exciting opportunity for Fellows who want to improve as advocates, and progress in the legal profession. Mark Loosemore, Chief Executive of altior commented: “This accreditation demonstrates our expertise in providing advocacy training and assessments, and is a significant additional to our strong existing portfolio of skills courses for the legal profession. We have been very impressed by ILEX’s approach to the Scheme and we look forward to working closely with them to offer their members high quality training courses and the prospect of a career-enhancing qualification.”
Diane Burleigh, Chief Executive at ILEX said: “altior is an excellent partner for our Advocacy Qualification Scheme. We are delighted to bring this opportunity to our members and I am sure altior will offer our members a first class training experience.“
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Notes to editors –
About ILEX and the Scheme
ILEX is the professional body which represents Legal Executives and trainee legal executives and enhances their role and standing within the legal profession. ILEX currently has in the region of 24,000 members in various grades. Fellows are those members of ILEX who have completed the ILEX Professional Qualification, which comprises Level 3 Professional diploma in Law and the Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law, and a minimum of 5 years in qualifying employment in legal work. Fellows may describe themselves as Legal Executives. They are Commissioners for Oaths and may instruct Counsel under the Bar licensing arrangements. The Extended Rights of Audience which ILEX is able to award are as follows:
Family Proceedings Certificate confirms the right for a Fellow to appear:
• in Court (including open Court) in all County Court family proceedings;
• before Justices or a District Judge in the Family Proceedings Court; and
• before Coroners’ Courts in all matters determined by those courts and to exercise rights of audience similar to those exercised by solicitors and barristers.
Criminal Proceedings Certificate confirms the right for a Fellow to appear:
• before Justices or a District Judge in all adult Magistrates Courts in all matters within that court’s criminal jurisdiction;
• before Justices or a District Judge in all Youth Courts in all matters within that court’s criminal jurisdiction;
• in the Crown Court or High Court before a judge in chambers to conduct bail applications;
• in the Crown Court on appeal from the Magistrates Court, the Youth Court or on committal of an adult for sentence or to be dealt with, if s/he, or any solicitor by whom s/he is employed or any other solicitor or Fellow in the same employment as her/him, appeared on behalf of the defendant in the Magistrates Court or Youth Court; and
• before Coroners’ Courts in all matters determined by those courts and to exercise rights of audience similar to those exercised by solicitors and barristers.
Civil Proceedings Certificate confirms the right for a Fellow to appear:
• in open Court in the County Court in all actions, except family proceedings;
• before Justices or a District Judge in the Magistrates Court in matters originating by complaint or application, including under the licensing, betting and gaming legislation
• before any tribunal under the supervision of the council on Tribunals where the tribunal rules provide for a non-discretionary right of audience being available to barristers and solicitors; and
• before Coroners’ Courts in all matters determined by those courts and to exercise rights of audience similar to those exercised by solicitors and barristers.
About altior
altior specialises in skills training for the legal profession. Founded in 1979 by current chairman John Loosemore and Robert Parsons, altior is recognised as a UK market leader in advocacy, financial, communication, and legal practice management skills training.
altior is accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to offer the Professional Skills Course (PSC), Management Course Stage 1 & Stage 2, Higher Rights of Audience training and assessment (Civil and Criminal), and the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test (QLTT). Its highly qualified team of trainers lead many other courses (on a public and in-house basis) across a range of topics including: the Solicitors Code of Conduct 2007, Solicitors Accounts Rules, anti-money laundering rules, time and stress management, negotiation, drafting and writing, presenting, marketing, business development, financial management, billing, client management, and staff management.
Contact details
altior – Alana Hopkins, Marketing Manager, tel: 02920 451000, email: alana@altior.co.uk |
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