A scheme allowing legal executives to set up their own law firms offering litigation and probate services has been put to the government.

The Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) has applied for the power to grant members civil and family litigation and advocacy rights, as well as probate rights. ILEX would regulate their practices if they set up independently.

Some legal executives already run firms offering non-reserved work, while licensed conveyancers and chartered accountants have also gained probate rights in recent years.

ILEX has made a further application to grant litigation and advocacy rights to associate prosecutors, who now comprise a division of ILEX. The Director of Public Prosecutions will be prevented from conferring rights of audience on his staff from 2011.

ILEX chief executive Diane Burleigh said: ‘ILEX has had a long-term goal to provide greater career opportunities for our members, and to give clients a wider choice of lawyer. These applications represent a big step towards achieving this goal.’