The regulatory body for 20,000 legal executives has turned to practitioners in its latest move to challenge the representative body’s plans to transfer regulation to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

The first question of CILEx Regulation’s consultation, published today, is: ‘Do you consider it to be a priority to change the current regulatory system? Yes/No. Please give reasons for your answer.’ Legal executives are also asked about CILEx Regulation becoming more independent from CILEX.

The timing of today’s consultation will raise eyebrows – SRA leaders held transfer talks with CILEX last week after the Legal Services Board confirmed that CILEX, in principle, had the power to explore redelegating its regulatory functions.

CILEx Regulation chair Jonathan Rees said: ‘Our overall aim in this consultation is to help create an improved regulatory system which makes the most of independent regulation tailored to the unique contribution CILEx practitioners provide to the legal system and ultimately leads to more competition and a better deal for consumers of legal services generally. We believe the best way to do this is to ask all those with an interest in an open and evidence-based way.

‘The people we regulate are unique. They work alongside solicitors and barristers, argue cases in court, and advise on specialist areas of the law. Having come into the law from diverse backgrounds, they are known for their ability and experience, but it has not always been easy for their needs to be understood, their status to be recognised, and their voice to be heard.’

Rees acknowledged much has changed in the 15 years since CILEx Regulation was established. ‘Equally we need to preserve what has worked well: independent regulation informed by the contribution of CILEX professionals as one of CRL’s stakeholders, a regulatory system that recognises the distinctive and specialist contribution CILEX professionals make, a broad scope embracing people at different stages of professional development, and a system that encourages diversity of supply by companies and individuals offering legal services.’

The LSB’s investigation into the civil war revealed that CILEx Regulation planned to consult on regulatory arrangements last year, but the consultation was paused after CILEX complained to the oversight regulator.

The consultation closes on 26 June.

 

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