BUSINESS PLAN 2014-2017
ABOUT THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF LEGAL EXECUTIVES Funded in 1963 the Chartered Institute f Legal Executives (CILEx) is the prfessinal assciatin fr mre than 7,500 qualified Chartered Legal Executive lawyers and 12,500 paralegal and ther legal practitiners in England and Wales. In the last 25 years, mre than 100,000 peple have chsen the CILEx rute t pursue their lawyer qualificatin.
1.0 Executive Summary The Chartered Institute f Legal Executives (CILEx) is the prfessinal assciatin fr Chartered Legal Executives, legal practitiners and paralegals. Our Plan is designed arund three key strands; grwth, membership and regulatin. We identify the key activities that will assist us t deliver these strands, rganised by ur awards, membership, marketing, verseas and equality and diversity activities. We als prpse a significant prgramme f emplyer engagement. Our Plan will assist us t ensure ur educatin, qualificatins and membership value remain fit fr purpse. We recgnise the changing landscape f the legal sectr. Our Plan addresses hw we will exceed the expectatins f ur members, and thse with whm we cllabrate. Our members and ptential members hld a diverse range f rles, and jin us frm diverse backgrunds. We will grw this diversity further and set the standard fr thers t fllw. Our activities extend beynd England and Wales, t the Cmmnwealth and beynd. We have a significant prgramme underway t extend ur internatinal reach. Our qualificatin will remain pen and accessible t all. Regulatin has a rle t play in enhancing the attractiveness f CILEx as a prfessinal assciatin. Our regulatry activities are undertaken by ILEX Prfessinal Standards (IPS) fr which a cpy f its Strategy and Business Plan is annexed t urs. Increasingly gd regulatin is the key t career develpment. This is underpinned by ur Ryal Charter and bligatins under the Legal Services Act (2007) as an Apprved Regulatr t uphld the regulatry bjectives which include: t act in the public interest, t secure fair access t justice and t the legal prfessin, t uphld the rule f law and the prfessinal principles. 2.0 Objectives 2.1 T prvide a prfessinal assciatin fr thse wh are registered r studying with CILEx. 2.2 T prmte in the public interest c-peratin and mutual assistance amngst persns emplyed in the legal prfessin r engaged in legal wrk. 2.3 T serve the public interest by prmting and maintaining prper standards f ethical cnduct, efficiency and training n the part f Fellws and ther members f the Institute, whether by acting as an apprved regulatr under the Legal Services Act 2007 r therwise. 2.4 T prvide fr the educatin and training, and develping the prficiency, f Fellws and thse wh wish t becme prficient in the law, including thse persns seeking t qualify as Fellws, in all subjects and skills, whether in the law r therwise. 2.5 T enhance and maintain public cnfidence in the wrk f Chartered Legal Executives within the administratin f justice and the service f clients. 2.6 T prtect and preserve cnsumer and public interests and secure fair access t justice and t the legal prfessin. 3.0 Financial Cnsideratins 3.1 Secure sufficient incme frm cmmercial and licensing surces and the planned increase in membership, t prgressively reduce the per capita cst f membership by 2017. 3.2 Deliver a real-terms reductin in the cst f administratin per member by 2017 supprted by external advice. 3.3 Prvide cntinued funding t maintain excellent regulatry standards whilst aiming t reduce the fee charged per regulated persn. 3.4 Ensure that surces f funding are available t invest in the innvatin pprtunities that are identified t deliver strategic bjectives. 3.5 Ensure that surces f funding are available t invest in pprtunities fr cmmercial and prfessinal develpment. 4.0 Organisatinal Summary 4.1 Gvernance CILEx is incrprated by Ryal Charter and is gverned by elected Cuncil representatives. Cuncil members are drawn frm and represent five regins in England and Wales. Additinal members may be appinted t the Cuncil as specialist r C-pted members t represent particular areas f legal practice r special knwledge. Cuncil members are respnsible fr ensuring that the affairs f CILEx are cnducted diligently, legally and transparently. Cuncil makes all the strategic and plicy decisins f CILEx which are implemented at an peratinal level by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and her team f managers and staff. CILEx BUSINESS PLAN 2014-2017 I 3
4.2 CILEx Law Schl A whlly wned subsidiary cmpany with ver 30 years legal educatin experience, CILEx Law Schl is a leading blended learning law schl with ver 3,000 students studying at any ne time. 4.3 CILEx Pr Bn Trust and CILEx Benevlent Fund CILEx has tw charities dealing with pr bn activities and a benevlent fund fr members and/r their dependents. Each is registered as a charity and gverned by a Bard f Trustees. 4.4 ILEX Prfessinal Standards (IPS) CILEx s regulatry functins are delegated t a whlly wned subsidiary cmpany, IPS, by an independent Bard f Directrs. It versees the educatin, qualificatin and practice standards f Chartered Legal Executive lawyers and ther CILEx members and ensures they maintain prper standards f prfessinal and persnal cnduct. 4.5 Management Structure Grup Executive CILEx s strategy and plicy decisins are implemented and managed by the CEO. The CEO is supprted by a senir Grup Executive cmprising the Chief Executive f IPS, Managing Directr f CILEx Law Schl, and Chief Operating Officer (COO) fr CILEx and the Directr f Grup Services (DGS). The Grup Executive meets mnthly t discuss Grup strategy and perfrmance. The Grup Executive and CILEx Management Team (CMT) are supprted by managers and staff. The CEO and COO hld frtnightly meetings. CMT hld mnthly meetings t discuss the Business Plan, managers and key staff meet mnthly t discuss peratinal matters which are then relayed t each team. Staff meetings are held n a regular basis and a Staff Representative Frum is in peratin. CILEx Management Team The CILEx Management Team (CMT) is led by the COO wh reprts t the CEO. CILEx has three key divisins: Membership Services, Marketing and Cmmunicatins and Internatinal. There are clear lines f cmmunicatin and respnsibility acrss CILEx. Each divisin has a schedule f activities and bjectives which relate directly t the Business Plan. These are built in t the Appraisal and Review prcesses, and cascade dwn t teams and individuals. CMT and the Grup Executive reprt frmally n prgress t the CILEx Cuncil at every meeting, and thrugh fur Standing Cmmittees namely: Gvernance, Educatin, Membership and Finance & Remuneratin. 5.0 Regulatry Status 5.1 Apprved Regulatr CILEx is an Apprved Regulatr under the Legal Services Act 2007 (the Act). Its regulatry functins are led by ILEX Prfessinal Standards (IPS), see 4.4. abve. CILEx s peratins are mnitred and assessed by the Legal Services Bard (LSB). CILEx cntinues t meet all the independent regulatry requirements thrugh the medium f an annual LSB assessment. 5.2 Chartered Bdy In 2011, CILEx was granted a Ryal Charter which delivers a secnd layer f regulatry scrutiny frm the Privy Cuncil fr the apprval f any changes t its cnstitutin. Thse members wh qualify as Fellws are entitled t use the prtected title f Chartered Legal Executive. 5.3 Awarding Organisatin CILEx is a natinally recgnised Awarding Organisatin, regulated by the Office f the Qualificatins and Examinatin Regulatr (Ofqual) and the Welsh Assembly Gvernment. It is subject t the General Cnditins f Recgnitin (GCR). Its qualificatins sit n the accreditatin framewrk and are available at Level 2, Level 3, Level 4 and Level 6. CILEx wrks in partnership with City & Guilds wh are the Awarding Organisatin fr ur Level 2 and Level 3 Legal Secretaries and Level 1 and Level 2 Legal Studies qualificatins. We have develped legal Apprenticeships at Levels 3 and 4 and are part f the gvernment s Trailblazer cnsrtium fr legal services. CILEx is respnsible fr develping assessment arrangements fr units and qualificatins, submitting qualificatins based n agreed rules f cmbinatin fr accreditatin, and assessing learner achievement reliably, validly and cnsistently. CILEx is respnsible fr awarding credits t learners fr the achievement f units, making qualificatin awards within verarching arrangements fr credit transfer and exemptin, supprting a system f credit accumulatin and transfer, and accurately recrding learners achievements in their learner recrds. 4 I CILEx BUSINESS PLAN 2014-2017
6.0 Delivering the Visin We will deliver the visin thrugh three key strategic strands, namely: 6.1 Grwth Grwing ur services and accessibility including thrugh partnering arrangements. Grwing ur membership numbers thrugh targeted media and recruitment campaigns. Grwing ur incme thrugh cmmercial activities utside f membership subscriptins. Grwing ur psitin within the legal sectr thrugh lbbying, law refrm and prfile raising. Grwing the status f all ur members within and beynd the legal sectr by securing further rights, building n the chartered status f Fellws and prmting paralegal career prgressin. 6.2 Membership Building and delivering ur member-centric value prpsitin t meet the expectatins f ur members, bth present and future. Retaining ur existing members by supprting their career develpment aspiratins thrugh a range f custmised services delivered nline thrugh an enhanced mycilex and ur reginal netwrks. Grwing ur membership numbers thrugh targeted media and recruitment campaigns. Extending ur membership ffer t new markets. Imprving cmmunicatin thrugh varius media channels such as the Jurnal and scial netwrking sites. 6.3 Regulatin Maintaining and meeting external standards. Setting high standards fr ur members and thse wishing t becme authrised. Delivering cst-effective regulatin, apprpriate t member needs, in the public interest. Prviding regulatin t ABS and ther businesses, supprted by a range f ther value-added services. 7.0 Membership Services Divisin Our Membership Services divisin cmprises fur key teams; Qualificatins, Member Services, Operatins and the Jurnal. Each team has its wn strategy t deliver the Business Plan requirements and the Member Value Statement. The ver-arching bjectives are as fllws: Qualificatins Strategy Ensure the CILEx suite f prfessinal qualificatins remain valid, fit fr purpse and meet the needs f the public, members and emplyers. Deliver effective supprt t learners, centres and emplyers abut the pprtunities prvided by the CILEx suite f prfessinal qualificatins and mnitr public funding. Understand the needs f accredited centres thrugh effective and practive accunt management. Ensure cntinuing and effective relatinships with Ofqual and the Welsh Gvernment and cmpliance with the GCR. Cntinue effective relatinship with ILEX Prfessinal Standards (IPS), the regulatry bdy fr CILEx members, t ensure CILEx qualificatins meet IPS regulatry requirements. Develp links with Higher Educatin Institutins t frmalise exemptin pathways t CILEx Membership. Develp exemptin pathways int CILEx fr ther qualificatins Cnsider and act upn the Legal Educatin & Training Review recmmendatins, as apprpriate. Wrking with key stakehlders t address and design apprenticeship framewrks that meet the skills needs f the legal sectr Extend custmised awards prgramme t meet emplyers needs. Ensure that ur qualificatins meet the needs f ABS and ther new legal mdels. Member Services Strategy Prvide pastral and practical supprt fr the develping branch netwrk thrugh head ffice and a team f Reginal Develpment Officers. Prvide apprpriate reginal pints f cntact fr new and existing members thrugh the Reginal Develpment team. Prvide relevant, timely and accurate infrmatin t Careers Advisrs and ther agencies n the numerus rutes available t becming a paralegal, legal prfessinal r Chartered Legal Executive with CILEx. Supprt the careers aspiratins f all ur members thrugh infrmatin, advice and guidance that meets their expectatins and needs thrughut their jurney with us. Prvide encuragement t members t prgress thrugh the CILEx membership grades t achieve their ptimum ptential. Develp prducts and services that enhance the value f membership fr existing and new members. CILEx BUSINESS PLAN 2014-2017 I 5
Wrk in cllabratin with IPS t deliver a new, utcmes-based CPD system with apprpriate infrmatin and guidance. Develp membership recruitment pprtunities by visiting new and existing emplyers. Develp membership and qualificatin pprtunities by building psitive relatinships with centres that deliver paralegal qualificatins. Prvide infrmatin, advice and guidance t members wh wish t apply fr additinal practice rights. Signpst infrmatin and guidance t nn-members wishing t becme authrised persns. Design and deliver events that meet the crprate needs f CILEx and its members such as Graduatin, Fellwship admissin, President s lunch, Centre and Branch days. Represent the views f members and the public interest thrugh practive law refrm activity and cnsultatin respnses achieving recgnitin fr ur members and psitive utcmes where pssible. Operatins Strategy Manage the membership database efficiently, ensuring accurate recrds are maintained. Prvide accurate advice and guidance in line with custmer service standards. Deliver a psitive member experience fr all examinatins, frm registratin t certificatin. Supprt the peratinal requirements f the Member Services and Qualificatin teams ensuring agreed service levels are met. Jurnal Strategy Design a membership publicatin which visually excites members and nn-members thrugh its unique style and layut. Deliver a membership publicatin which infrms its audience thrugh stimulating features, legal sectr news and member-rich cntent. Generate additinal incme thrugh Jurnal advertising, recruitment and the CILEx Design and Print service. Emplyers strategy We will engage with existing emplyers thrugh: Apprenticeships partnering with emplyers t supprt this mdel f learning in-huse. Paralegals wrking with the sectr t manage and develp this grup f nn-lawyers, thrugh a structured ffer. CILEx members helping them t raise their prfile within their cmpany empwer them t sell ur messages. Raising emplyer knwledge f ur members, t include rights and respnsibilities. Scial Mbility and Diversity shwcase ur perfrmance in this area, which aligns t firms wh aspire twards CSR and diversity. We will engage with new emplyers thrugh: Targeted reginal visits t key emplyers, raising the prfile f CILEx and selling the benefits f ur ffers. Generating leads thrugh netwrking at emplyer-fcused frums and events, supprted by an accunt management prgramme. Building relatinships with nn-law firm emplyers, ensuring regular cntact and cmmunicatin abut CILEx and ur ffering. 8.0 Cmmunicatins and Marketing Divisin Our Cmmunicatin and Marketing divisin delivers public affairs, public relatins, research, branding, and marketing and digital cmmunicatins fr CILEx and IPS. Its ver-arching bjectives are as fllws: Write and implement marketing and cmmunicatin plans fr prmtin f varius initiatives acrss the CILEx grup, including IPS activities. Supprt and advise internal staff acrss the CILEx grup, including IPS, n prmtinal pprtunities. I ssue external CILEx/IPS press releases (n average 40 annually) natinally. Raise the prfile f the CILEx rute t becming a regulated and qualified lawyer amngst the general public thrugh cnsumer editrial pprtunities, natinal press wrk, web activity, vide and advertising. Supprt and advise the regulatry cmpany, IPS, n PR, research, lbbying, branding, marketing and ther cmmunicatin matters. Raise the prfile f the CILEx rute t becming a regulated and qualified lawyer amngst thse deciding their career ptins, their parents, as well as careers advisrs and the educatinal cmmunity in general by prviding web activity (www.cilexcareers.rg.uk), careers brchures and flyers, editrial/advertrial, press wrk, nline partnerships and ther campaign methds. Supprt effrts t raise the prfile f CILEx as a prfessinal membership assciatin fr all thse wrking in the law, including thse in paralegal rles, wh wuld benefit frm prfessinal assciatin membership thrugh media advcacy, partnerships and ther campaign activity. Supprt effrts t raise awareness f CILEx and an understanding f the skills and expertise f Chartered Legal Executives as qualified lawyers amngst prfessinals by prviding web activity, careers brchures, editrial/advertrial, press wrk, advertising, nline partnerships, vide, and ther campaign methds. Raise the prfile f the CILEx President within the legal and public sectr by helping prduce speeches fr inauguratins, gala lunches and receptins and guiding n invitee lists etc. 6 I CILEx BUSINESS PLAN 2014-2017
Prvide a mnthly press cuttings mnitring service t infrm Cuncil and internal persnnel n key trends f an educatinal, plitical, scial and technlgical nature which affect CILEx/IPS and the sectr. Encurage high standards amngst CILEx members by delivering medals and awards ceremnies, bth cnfined t the membership and amngst ther grups f lawyers r prfessinals. Undertake research amngst members, stakehlders and the public t infrm and guide CILEx/ IPS strategy. Prduce crprate cmmunicatins materials, such as Annual Reprts. Develp crprate identity and versee internal and external branding and cmmunicatin standards n an nging basis. Select CMS web tls and versee the prfessinal lk and feel f all websites acrss the CILEx Grup, including IPS. Oversee the weekly email newsletters t mycilex members, as well as generate emails t encurage enquirers t becme CILEx members. Endeavur t ensure that all material prduced by the CILEx Grup (and its branches) meets brand guidelines. Ensure all infrmatin is shared via ur presence n ur wn websites, Twitter, Facebk, LinkedIn and Ggle+, and any new rival scial media. 9.0 Internatinal Divisin Maintain current prvisin, and cntinue t expand interest in the Caribbean fr legal secretaries and Legal Studies qualificatins, bespking as necessary. Actively engage with interested centres/ptential centres fr the Legal Secretaries and Legal Studies qualificatins in the African Cntinent. Explre the ptential t attract funding fr the develpment f qualificatins t ffer in the African cntinent. Thrugh partnership arrangements, cmmence ffering the Legal Secretaries and Legal Studies qualificatins in India. Develp cntacts within the Eurpean Unin t aid the prmtin f Chartered Legal Executives and CILEx itself. 10. Management Infrmatin System Infrmatin technlgy supprts delivery f all ur key services. A strategic review f central MIS systems will be undertaken, with the assistance f external sectr specialists, with a target cmpletin date f end-2014. This will identify suitable MIS ptins available and recmmend the strategic directin and slutin fr MIS. Subject t apprval, a detailed and fully csted implementatin plan will be prduced. It is anticipated develpment and implementatin f the central MIS system will be phased ver the perid 2015-2017. A replacement Web Service cntent management system will be implemented by July 2015. CILEx BUSINESS PLAN 2014-2017 I 7
Fr further infrmatin abut CILEx qualificatins cntact: THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF LEGAL EXECUTIVES Kempstn Manr, Kempstn, Bedfrd MK42 7AB T +44 (0)1234 845777 F +44 (0)1234 840373 E membership@cilex.rg.uk www.cilexcareers.rg.uk CILEx @CILExLawyers CILExfan CILEx Lawyers Channel CILEx Nvember 2014 Infrmatin crrect at time f ging t press.