CILEX Fellowship Portfolio…Plan Ahead & Crack On!

I remember the week I qualified as a CILEX Lawyer because I was due to attend the CILEX Graduation for my graduate status (so although I had qualified as a Fellow, who would wear the maroon/red gowns, I wore the blue gown). Everyone I spoke to had the same exhausted feeling I had when completing the ridiculously large portfolio required to apply for fellowship. You can see from the above photograph just how extensive it was. My practice rights application was, fortunately, a digital application due to COVID and was smaller in comparison.

On the 5th September 2017 I had finished my CILEX Fellowship Portfolio and I took a photograph before sending it to CILEX Regulation to be approved. I was fortunate for two reasons; (1) It was just around the time CILEX Regulation had managed to get their fellowship application consideration time down to four weeks and (2) I had my application approved on the first attempt (whereas many people I knew had it returned because for various reasons).

I still speak to people and I ask “are you waiting on your Fellowship outcome?” and their response is “I’m still working on it” with a single tear falling down the tear. It was over five years ago but I still give tips and tricks to those looking to apply for Fellowship (or CILEX Lawyer status).

Don’t leave it until the eleventh hour

I remember so many people at my firm who started putting together their applications when they were eligible and looking at the criteria and thinking “how on earth can I find something that demonstrates that”. It is so much easier to get hold of examples as you go along. If you are anything like I was, you would have handled 100s case over the two-three year period and recalling specific examples would be a night mare

I started collating my evidence the moment I obtained my Graduate status, because I knew I had one year before I would be eligible to apply and I made sure that it was ready so once that anniversary arrived, I could send my application.

Prepare a table or spreadsheet for each Work Based Learning criteria

Trying to prepare your portfolio without any plan or guidance will be overwhelming. Setting out a table with each learning outcome will make the process more bitesized. The relevant learning outcomes are in the work based learning handbook which can be found here https://cilexregulation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Work-Based-Learning-and-Qualifying-Experience-Handbook-1.pdf

Collate the evidence as you go

If you find an example, save it immediately. Whether you are doing a hard copy or a PDF version, do not leave it to chance. Quite often I will be walking my dog or in bed and an idea or thought comes to mind. I don’t record it somewhere and all I have is the memory of something important, but no clue what it was.

Organise your evidence

Do not leave a bundle of evidence examples without any clear indication as to what they pertain to. Use the table or speadsheet to write down what the evidence was going to be and label the evidence in some way. You can always change your mind if you find something that is a better example.

Redact as you go

Redacting is so much easier when you are preparing it digitally (if it’s a word document, use the highlight feature and use the black colour. You can then print as a PDF and the sensitive information will be protected). I think for many, the time consuming aspect was redacting.

Don’t be afraid to explain you cannot demonstrate something with evidence

Although you could not do this often, I recall one learning outcome was something I simply did not have evidence of and could not think of a way it would come up naturally. I set out why I could not evidence it but explain why I understood it. If you are sat there with one or two learning outcomes left because you don’t know how to demonstrate it, consider an alternative option.

Commit to completing your portfolio

The very nature of CILEX qualification means you will most likely be working full time. It is incredibly stressful trying to complete a fellowship application whilst working. There is no magic solution to the application. It will take time and it is so easy to put it off. What I did was commit to it. I allocated time during evenings and weekends to do my application. Even if it was only 30 minutes, 1 hour, any time meant that every day I had completed some work towards the portfolio, the closer I was to finishing

Remember – CILEX will tell you if they want more evidence

Although it was great that my application was approved first time, it didn’t mean my status of a CILEX Lawyer was any different to others. What it meant is I happened to have been able to provide the right evidence they needed to meet the criteria. However do not panic, the best thing is that CILEX will tell you if there are any particular parts of your application that need improving. They don’t just refuse your application and leave you to work out what is wrong, CILEX will actively help you to qualify.

You can do it!

Information

AJH Advocacy Limited, a Limited Company which is regulated by the Bar Standards Boards (entity number 190758), ceases trading on the 12th January 2026.

From the 12th January 2026 and onwards, Alec Hancock will practice as a Barrister at Magdalen Chambers in Exeter. For instructions on matters on or after 12th January 2026, please contact Magdalen Chambers via clerks@magdalenchambers.co.uk or by telephone on 01392 285 200.