Tuesday 22 January 2013 by Jonathan Rayner

The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) is to introduce a new advanced apprenticeship in legal services which it says will provide a springboard to qualification as a lawyer.

The Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship in Legal is being developed in partnership with Skills for Justice and the University of Law, formerly the College of Law, and is due to be launched in autumn.

CILEx chief executive Diane Burleigh said that CILEx and national apprenticeships were a perfect match: 'CILEx is already home to apprenticeship style learning.

'We've been leading on vocational learning in law for 50 years and we're already the awarding body for the Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship in Legal Services, so continuing to lead on the creation of further legal apprenticeships and providing more options for paralegals and aspiring lawyers is only natural.'

Burleigh added that the apprenticeship could sow the seed for further vocational legal training.

'Anyone who has completed the level 3 legal apprenticeship, and wants to work towards becoming a fully qualified lawyer, will be exempt from certain CILEx modules. This apprenticeship will give them a strong foundation for a future career as a lawyer too, but also offers an excellent qualification in its own right,' she said.