Chartered legal executive litigator and advocate
Level 7 · Degree (Master’s)Legal, finance and accounting 5.5 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
The Chartered Legal Executive Litigator and Advocate apprenticeship builds on CILEx qualifications to develop specialist litigation and advocacy skills at the highest professional level. Apprentices develop the expertise to conduct hearings, present arguments in court and manage complex contested matters. It leads to qualified litigator and advocate status within the CILEx framework.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Advanced civil and criminal litigation procedure
Courtroom advocacy and oral argument techniques
Evidence law and admissibility in contested proceedings
Case strategy, risk assessment and settlement negotiation
Drafting high-quality pleadings, statements and skeleton arguments
Professional ethics and duties to the court for advocates
Case management in complex multi-party disputes
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Conduct advocacy hearings before courts and tribunals
Draft pleadings, witness statements and legal arguments
Develop and present case strategy in contested matters
Negotiate settlements and advise clients on litigation risk
Manage evidence, disclosure and witness preparation
Attend pre-trial reviews and case management conferences
Advise clients on costs, funding and conditional fee agreements
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 7 (Degree (Master’s)) - roughly Master’s-degree level. Usually needs a relevant degree or Level 6 qualification, or significant experience.
What’s next: Leads into senior and chartered professional roles.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
No employer videos yet for this apprenticeship. Employers offering it can add one to show young people what the role is really like.