Closed Consultations

We issue consultations to seek views of stakeholders on our proposals to change our regulatory rules or procedures. We also regularly respond to consultations issued by other organisations.

Consultation: Transparency Rules

CILEx Regulation consulted on the Transparency Rules that will underpin its approach to implementing Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) recommendations to legal regulators.

Consultation: 2019 Practising Certificate Fee

For the 2019 practising certificate fee, we consulted on the following proposals:

Consultation: Publishing transparency information for consumers

CILEx Regulation consulted on information we propose to require our regulated firms to publish to deliver transparency information for consumers in the legal services market.

Consultation: Proposal to amend the CPD regulations and CPD handbook

CILEx Regulation consulted on a number of proposals to make changes to the CPD regulations and handbook. The consultation closed on 18 August 2017.

Consultation: Changes to our Investigation, Disciplinary and Appeals Rules to extend them to cover Alternative Business Structures and to provide operational clarity.

CILEx Regulation consulted on proposals to change our Investigation, Disciplinary and Appeals Rules to extend them to Alternative Business Structures. The consultation closed on 20 July 2017.

Consultation: Proposal to alter the Associate Prosecutor Rights of Audience and Litigation Certification Rules

CILEx Regulation consulted on a number of proposals to make minor changes to the Associate Prosecutor Rights of Audience and Litigation Certification Rules, in order to reflect the changes in the criminal justice system, notably the prosecution of road traffic offences now being almost exclusively conducted by the police. The consultation closed on 17 July 2017.

Consultation: Changes to the Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) Scheme Rules and Minimum Wording to Cover the Insurance Act 2015 and Alternative Business Structures (ABS)

CILEx Regulation consulted on a number of changes that are required to bring the CILEx PII Rules and Minimum Wording up to date ahead of the proposed application by CILEx Regulation on behalf of CILEx to become a Licensing Authority in 2017. The consultation closed on 2 June 2017.

Consultation: transitioning towards an insurance backed compensation scheme

CILEx Regulation consulted on proposals to change the CILEx Compensation Fund Rules with a view to moving towards a largely insurance backed compensation scheme. The consultation closed on 5 May 2017.

Licensing Authority application

CILEx Regulation consulted on making an application for CILEx to become a Licensing Authority. The consultation closed on 18 March 2016.

Removal of the 7-year Rule from Exemptions Policy for Qualifications

This consultation proposed to remove a requirement, which stated that where a member sought an exemption from a CILEx subject, based on equivalent alternative qualifications, the applicant must have successfully completed the qualification within the previous seven years of the date of application for the exemption. This consultation closed on 2 October 2015.

Fines

IPS consulted on the approach it will take to fining CILEx members, authorised persons, entities and approved managers in entities regulated by IPS after a finding of misconduct is made and where the Tribunal decides a fine is an appropriate penalty. This consultation closed on 22 April 2014.

Complaints and Disciplinary Arrangements

IPS consulted on the approach it will take to the investigation of complaints made about the conduct of CILEx members and entities regulated by IPS and its disciplinary powers. The consultation closed on 2 November 2012.

Professional Indemnity Insurance and Client Protection Arrangements

IPS consulted on Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) and Client Protection arrangements for the protection of clients of future IPS regulated entities. This consultation closed on 19 October 2012.

Application for Reserved Legal Activity rights and regulatory arrangements for immigration advisors

IPS consulted on applications under the Legal Services Act 2007 for CILEx to become an approved regulator for awarding reserved legal activity rights to conduct litigation; to undertake reserved instrument activities and probate activities; and to introduce regulatory arrangements for immigration advisors.

This consultation closed on 19 October 2012.

Code of Conduct

IPS consulted on changes to the Code of Conduct in light of the practice rights. The consultation covers entity and individual conduct and accounts rules. The consultation closed on 19 October 2012.

CPD Scheme

IPS consulted on proposals to revise the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme for CILEx members. The consultation closed on 21 September 2012.

Risk-Based and Outcomes-Focussed Regulation

IPS consulted on its proposed approach to regulating entities ahead of its applications to seek Practice Rights for CILEx members in litigation, conveyancing and probate and to become a regulator of legal practices. The consultation closed on 10 August 2012.

Qualifying employment: Work Based Learning

IPS consulted on its refined proposals to revise the qualifying employment arrangements for ILEX members. The consultation closed on 4 November 2011. The consultation paper can be found here.

Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA)

The Joint Advocacy Group consulted on the changes which IPS, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board needed to make to their advocacy qualification schemes to bring into effect proposals for a quality assurance scheme for advocacy in criminal proceedings. The consultation closed on 7 November 2011. View the consultation paper.

Proposals to seek Conveyancing Rights for ILEX Members

IPS consulted on its proposal to make an application under the Legal Services Act 2007 to become an approved regulator to grant conveyancing rights to suitably qualified members of ILEX. The consultation closed on 24 December 2010. The consultation document can be downloaded here and the annexes here.

Proposals to revise the Rights of Audience Certificate Rules: Delegated Decisions

IPS consulted on its proposal to make an application under the Legal Services Act 2007 to revise the Rights of Audience Certification Rules to enable the Admissions and Licensing Committee, established under the Rules, to delegate decision making to IPS officers in suitable instances. This consultation closed on 23 December 2010. The consultation document can be downloaded here.

Quality Assurance Scheme for Criminal Advocates

The Joint Advocacy Group (JAG) consulted on proposals for a scheme to quality assure advocates in the criminal courts. The Joint Advocacy Group (JAG) was established by the Bar Standards Board, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and ILEX Professional Standards to develop a quality assurance scheme for advocates across the three professions. The consultation paper set out the framework for implementing the scheme. The consultation closed on 12 November 2010. The consultation document can be downloaded here.

Criminal Litigation Rights

IPS consulted on its proposals to make an application under the Legal Services Act 2007 to become an approved regulator for the purposes of granting rights to conduct litigation in criminal proceedings to qualified members. The consultation closed on 22 October 2010. The consultation document can be found here.

Qualifying Employment: Work Based Learning

ILEX and IPS consulted on proposals to revise the revise the current arrangements for qualifying employment by replacing them with a work-based learning scheme. The consultation closed on 15 October 2010. The consultation document can be found here and the handbook here.

Legal Executive Advocates as Partners

IPS consulted on their proposal to make an application under the Legal Services Act 2007 to revise its Rights of Audience Certification Rules to enable Legal Executive Advocates to become mangers in legal practices regulated under the Legal Services Act 2007. The consultation closed on 15 October 2010. The consultation document can be found here.

Litigation Rights

IPS and ILEX consulted on their proposal to make an application under the Legal Services Act 2007 to become an approved regulator for the purposes of granting additional rights to its qualified members to conduct litigation, a reserved legal activity, and associated rights of audience. This consultation closed on 3 April 2010. A copy of the consultation paper can be found here and the annexes here.

Probate Rights

IPS and ILEX consulted on their proposal to make an application under the Legal Services Act 2007 to become an approved regulator for the purposes of granting additional rights to its qualified members to carry out probate activities, a reserved legal activity. This consultation closed on 3 April 2010. A copy of the consultation paper can be found here and the annexes here.

Associate Prosecutors

IPS and ILEX consulted on their proposal to make an application under the Legal Services Act 2007 to become an approved regulator in respect of advocacy and litigation undertaken by ILEX members who are Associate Prosecutors employed by the Crown Prosecution Service. This consultation closed on 6 April 2010. A copy of the consultation paper can be found here and the annexes here.

Joint Consultation on Advocacy Standards

IPS, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Bar Standards Board (BSB) consulted jointly on advocacy standards in criminal proceedings. The consultation paper can be found here and a covering note explaining the background here. The consultation closed on 22 March 2010.

Proposals to revise the Code of Conduct

IPS reviewed the Code of Conduct for ILEX members and produced a new draft Code. The consultation paper sought views on the proposed changes. A copy of the consultation paper can be found here. The consultation closed on 18 December 2009.

Proposals to revise Complaints and Disciplinary rules

IPS identified that the rules under which complaints are investigated should be revised. The consultation paper proposed a number of revisions to the existing rules and the introduction of new procedures.