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Criminal Litigation Legal Practice Qualification

A clear, direct route to becoming a criminal litigator with practice rights.

We are an approved CILEX Regulation training provider

If you want to qualify in criminal litigation, our CILEx Regulation-approved course gives you the education you need to become a Chartered Legal Executive Litigator (Criminal Litigation). You can study online around your employment and other commitments, with tutors who practise law to help you understand what you are learning and how it applies to the cases you will handle.

Alongside the qualification, you will need to complete the required work-based learning. Once you have completed both, you will be eligible to apply to CILEx Regulation for authorisation to conduct criminal litigation in your own right. We explain what that means below.

You do not need to complete CILEX’s CPQ or qualify as a solicitor through the SQE to obtain criminal litigation practice rights through this route.

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What is a Chartered Legal Executive Litigator (Criminal Litigation)?

A Chartered Legal Executive Litigator (Criminal Litigation) is authorised by CILEx Regulation to conduct criminal litigation in their own right. This is a protected professional title. It means you can take responsibility for that work without needing a solicitor to supervise you, whether you work in a law firm or establish your own practice.

If you want to establish your own law firm, the firm will also need separate authorisation. Your individual criminal litigation practice rights do not authorise the firm itself.

You will see the term ‘authorised person’ used to describe this status. It means a legal regulator has authorised you to carry out specified reserved legal activities. For this route, that activity is conducting criminal litigation.

What do they do?

As a criminal litigator, you advise and represent clients involved in criminal investigations and proceedings. You help them understand their rights, the case against them and the choices they face.

The work includes reviewing evidence, interviewing witnesses, preparing legal documents and liaising with the police and Crown Prosecution Service. You bring those pieces together to prepare your client’s case and guide them through the criminal justice process.

Police-station advice and representation require the relevant accreditation or eligibility. If you also want to represent clients as an advocate in court, you will need separate rights of audience.

Key information

  • Qualification: Criminal Litigation Legal Practice Qualification
  • Title and practice rights: Chartered Legal Executive Litigator (Criminal Litigation), authorised by CILEx Regulation to conduct criminal litigation in your own right. Authorisation requires you to meet CILEx Regulation’s qualification, experience, competence and suitability requirements
  • Regulator: CILEx Regulation
  • Start any time: Enrolment is open all year round
  • Course size: 13 units, study one at a time, or multiple concurrently
  • Assessment: Online, remotely invigilated examinations, with three assessment windows each year

Who is this course for?

This course is for people who want to qualify as a criminal lawyer.

Start where you are. You do not need a law degree or previous legal work experience to begin. You might be leaving school, changing careers or already working as a paralegal and ready to qualify.

If you have studied law before, your relevant previous study will give you exemptions, reducing what you need to study and your course fee. Tell us about your qualifications and we will explain your starting point and what you need to complete.

Your route to authorisation

Plan your studies and supervised legal work together. Knowing which responsibilities and case examples you need helps you build relevant experience while working towards the qualification.

Step 1: Complete your CILEX Regulation qualification

Complete the required units of the Criminal Litigation Legal Practice Qualification, taking account of approved exemptions.

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Career opportunities and practice rights

Once authorised by CILEx Regulation, you can take responsibility for conducting criminal litigation within the scope of your practising certificate. Further training and authorisation can extend your practice rights.

On authorisation

Once authorised as a Chartered Legal Executive Litigator (Criminal Litigation), you can conduct criminal litigation in your own right. You can take responsibility for your clients’ cases without needing a solicitor to supervise that work, whether you work in a law firm or establish your own practice. You will also have Commissioner for Oaths rights.

If you want to establish your own law firm, the firm will also need separate authorisation. Your individual criminal litigation practice rights do not authorise the firm itself.

Add advocacy rights

If you also want to represent clients in court as an advocate, you can plan that next step with us. Our own Advocacy Skills Course will launch once approved by CILEx Regulation.

You can speak to us now about how advocacy training will fit alongside your criminal litigation qualification and the work experience you will need. Advocacy rights require approved training, assessments and separate authorisation by CILEx Regulation.

You do not need to complete advocacy training to obtain criminal litigation practice rights. You can add it later.

Eligible criminal advocates can later work towards Higher Rights of Audience in criminal proceedings, after the first renewal of their advocacy certificate. Further training, assessment and authorisation are required.

Enquire about advocacy skills training

What you will study

A foundation in law, with advanced study focused on criminal practice

The ten core units give you the grounding in law and professional skills required by CILEx Regulation. They include introductions to conveyancing, wills and probate, and other areas of legal practice.

These core units are taught and assessed at Level 3, broadly A-level standard. They introduce the principles and processes you need to understand.

Your specialist study goes into greater depth. Criminal Law, Criminal Litigation and Rules of Evidence (Criminal) are taught and assessed at Level 6, degree level, developing your ability to analyse legal issues and apply the law to criminal cases.

Your clients may face legal issues beyond the criminal case you are handling. A grounding in other areas of law helps you ask the right questions, spot issues that need another specialist’s advice and work effectively with colleagues across the firm.

Core modules: General

The Legal System of England and Wales

Develop a foundational understanding of the legal system in England and Wales, including its structure, the role and purpose of law, jurisdiction, and the different types of law and legal practice, preparing you for further study and practice.

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Core modules: Legal Skills, Technology, Conduct and Accounting

Legal Skills and Technology in Practice

Develop the legal skills and understanding of technology needed for modern legal practice.

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Specialism

Criminal Law

Build a comprehensive knowledge of key areas of criminal law, including fundamental legal principles, major offences and general defences, and develop the analytical skills to apply these concepts to practical legal scenarios.

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Why Law Training Centre

Our experience has shaped your course
You may be studying law for the first time, returning to examinations after years in practice or fitting study around a demanding caseload. Over a decade of teaching more than 4,500 learners, we have helped people in each of those circumstances. That experience has shaped how we teach and support you on this course, from explaining the law through practical examples to helping you prepare for assessments. We have brought it into our own qualification with CILEx Regulation, combining a direct route to practice rights with flexible online study and tutors you can turn to when you need help.

Trusted from the high street to the Top 100
Choosing a training provider is a significant decision. More than 800 law firms have chosen Law Training Centre to train their people across our qualifications, from high street practices to Legal 500 firms and Top 100 names.

Approved by CILEx Regulation
You want to know that your studies count towards the practice rights you intend to gain. Our course is approved by CILEx Regulation and meets its education requirements for authorisation in your chosen area of law.

Tutors who practise law
Understanding a legal rule is one thing. Knowing how to apply it to a client’s case takes more. Our tutors practise law and bring that experience into their teaching, helping you connect what you study with the decisions you will make in practice. “It also really helped that, as they had practical experience working in law, they could also see things from my perspective.” Tasha Peeters

Someone to ask
When a legal point is not clear, you need someone you can talk it through with. You can ask your tutors, explore questions in live workshops and use personal academic coaching to help plan your studies around your work and other commitments. “With Law Training Centre, they’ve got someone on hand to help them.” Richard Durrant, Boys & Maughan

Someone to ask
When a legal point is not clear, you need someone you can talk it through with. You can ask your tutors, explore questions in live workshops and use personal academic coaching to help plan your studies around your work and other commitments. “With Law Training Centre, they’ve got someone on hand to help them.” Richard Durrant, Boys & Maughan

Real story

“I was a Met Police Community Support Officer when I first started studying. As there is no progression in this role, my career wasn’t going anywhere and so I decided to study CILEX Level 3 Diploma in Law and Practice. I had some experience with CILEX because I did a Legal Secretary course 12 years earlier.”

Claire Smith,

Completed earlier CILEX qualifications with Law Training Centre

Read Claire’s story

Entry requirements and exemptions

Entry requirements

There is no single entry route. Where you start depends on your previous legal education and experience. You may be eligible if you hold a law degree, GDL, LPC, CILEX Legacy or CPQ qualifications, or SQE.

Not sure which route applies to you? Tell us about your qualifications and experience and we can help you identify your route, including any exemptions available to you.

Exemptions

You may be closer to authorisation than you think. If you already hold relevant legal qualifications or have completed previous legal training, you may not need to complete the full pathway. Law degrees, CILEX qualifications and other recognised legal training may provide exemptions.

We can review your previous qualifications and confirm any exemptions you may be eligible for.

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Fees and Funding 

Before you plan the cost, check what you need to study. Previous qualifications may give you exemptions. We can review your starting point and explain the fees that apply.

 

£[TBC] full course fee

Spread the cost with a monthly payment plan, or ask us about employer sponsorship, many of our learners are funded by their firm.

 

What the course fee includes
  • All course materials and structured learning within our online learning platform
  • Mock assessments
  • Unlimited tutor guidance
  • Exam fees (excluding resits)

Other costs

CILEX Regulation charges separate fees, subject to change by CILEX Regulation:

  • £92 to assess your qualifying experience and £450 for your final application;
  • an annual practising fee once you are authorised, currently £387 for Chartered Legal Executives and £453 for CILEX Practitioners.

These fees are listed separately to give you a clear understanding of the overall cost of qualification before you enrol. Please see CILEX Regulation’s application and practising fees for current rates.


Funding options
  • Self-funding: Pay in full or spread the cost through monthly instalments by Direct Debit.
  • Sponsored by an employer
  • Scholarships

Price Match does not apply to these qualifications.

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Scholarships
Employer-funded study

If a colleague is ready to take greater responsibility in criminal practice, this qualification can give their development a clear direction. They can study while continuing to work, building knowledge relevant to your team’s cases. 

We can support you to: 

  • review previous qualifications to identify any exemptions;  
  • plan funded study; 
  • agree suitable supervised casework;  
  • provide portfolio support
Talk to us about developing your team

How to apply

1. Submit the online application form.

2. Tell us about your qualifications and legal experience, and we will confirm your entry route and any exemptions.

3. Receive your enrolment confirmation and course guidance, and start studying.

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Common questions (FAQs)

Do I need a law degree?

How long does the course take?

What experience do I need?

What can I do once I am authorised?

How is it assessed?

How is this different from qualifying as a solicitor?

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Speak to an adviser
Check my exemptions