Legal Executive

Introduction

Legal Executives work within the legal system of England and Wales. The work of a Legal Executive is very similar to that of a Solicitor. The main difference is that Legal Executives tend to specialise in only one or two areas of the law. Also known as

Lawyer, Legal Executive Work Activities

As a Legal Executive, you will have specialist knowledge of one or two areas of the law. The most common areas you might specialise in are civil litigation, conveyancing, family law, criminal law and probate.

If you specialise in probate work, you will be responsible for drawing up wills and advising clients on how best to provide for relatives. You'll work out the amount of money that people named in a will are entitled to receive, and may trace named relatives who have left the country.

In conveyancing, you will help to arrange the transfer of property rights and ownership. You may also advise couples on matrimonial law or draw up documents to help in the formation of a company. In a criminal law case, you may be present when the police interview the client.

You'll help clients to prepare for court cases. This will involve interviewing them and carrying out research to gather the details of the case. Not all cases go to court, but when a court hearing is unavoidable, you must help to prepare the client's advocate (such as a Barrister, Solicitor or Legal Executive Advocate).

You may prepare a 'brief' for the Barrister, which outlines the case, gives details of the evidence and the names of witnesses who will appear in court.

Legal Executive Advocates, who have appropriate experience and qualifications, have the right to represent their clients in the Magistrates' or County Court.

Legal Executives often have responsibility for administrative work such as drawing up wills, and issuing writs and summonses. You may have management responsibilities, planning and supervising the work of Clerks and Secretaries.

Being able to read, write and speak Welsh may be an advantage when you’re looking for work in Wales. Personal Qualities and Skills

To become a Legal Executive, you'll need:

an in-depth knowledge of law excellent communication skills to be able to absorb and interpret complex information the ability to use concise, plain English to explain things to clients good organisation skills to plan and prioritise cases, which you may have to take on at short notice the ability to work well under pressure strong listening skills and to know how to ask the right questions to find out more about a client's situation IT skills

In many specialist areas, including probate, civil law compensation claims and conveyancing, good number skills are important.

Pay

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Starting: £15,000 - £28,000 With experience: £28,000 - £55,000 Senior Legal Executives earn £50,000 - £100,000

Hours of work

As a Legal Executive, you'll normally work 35-37 hours a week, with extra hours as required.

Where could I work?

Employers include Solicitors' offices or the legal department of a local authority, the Civil Service, or an industrial or commercial company. You may also apply to become a Judge in Magistrates' and other courts.

Opportunities for Legal Executives occur in offices in towns and cities throughout the UK.

Self-employment

Opportunities occur for Legal Executives to become self-employed, for example, working from home under contract to a Solicitor or as Sole Practitioners if you are undertaking unreserved activities. In the next few years you are likely to be granted wider opportunities to be sole practitioners.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in local/national newspapers, on recruitment and employers' websites, and on Find a Job ( www.gov.uk/jobsearch).

Social media websites, such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, are a great way to network, find vacancies and get in contact with possible employers. Make sure that your profile presents you in a professional manner that will appeal to potential employers.

Take a look at our General Information Article 'Finding Work Online'. Entry Routes and Training

Entry routes

New entrants to the Legal Executive Lawyer training course are recommended to have a minimum of four GCSEs at grade C/4 or above. However, many entrants have higher level qualifications.

Higher apprenticeships in legal services are available and can be used as a route into this career. These courses are aimed at people with GCSEs and A levels, or equivalent qualifications.

The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) offers a fast-track route for law graduates holding a qualifying law degree awarded within the last seven years.

If you already hold a Legal Practice Course (LPC) or Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) qualification then you are exempt from the CILEx academic qualifications.

Students who do not meet the minimum access requirements may get on the programme by taking the one-year vocational Paralegal studies diploma qualification offered by CILEx in conjunction with City & Guilds.

Training

The academic part of the CILEx training programme is made up of two stages. These are:

When students successfully complete the CILEx examinations, they become members of the Institute. To become a Fellow, which means you're fully qualified, members must have five years' work experience in a law firm or the legal department of a private company or local/national government. This must include two consecutive years of experience after passing all the examinations.

Only Fellows of CILEx can use the title Legal Executive.

Progression

You can go on to dual-qualify as a Solicitor. Depending on the subjects you've taken for the CILEx membership examination, there can be exemptions from equivalent subjects in the Common Professional Examination (CPE), which solicitors need to take.

After the CPE, you would join the vocational stages of the Solicitor's qualification scheme - the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and the Professional Skills Course (PSC). If you are a Fellow of CILEx before your complete the LPC then you should be exempt from the two-year Training Contract.

Work experience

Previous experience working as a Legal Secretary would be really useful for this career.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act

This career is an exception to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to. Qualifications

The minimum entry requirements for The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) training are four GCSEs, or equivalent, at grade C/4 or above. An English subject is compulsory.

To get on to a higher apprenticeship in legal services, you'll need some GCSEs and A levels.

Relevant vocational qualifications or the International Baccalaureate Diploma is an acceptable alternative to A levels.

Many other qualifications will be considered for entry. Check with the employer to see whether your qualifications are accepted.

Some universities accept the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate as equivalent to one A level. Adult Opportunities

Age limits

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Skills/experience

The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) takes into account business, commercial, academic or other experience, plus suitable references, for applicants without formal qualifications.

Entrants with relevant skills, for example, as a Legal Secretary, have a good chance of entering training.

Courses

Part-time study, including evenings and sometimes weekends, is available at many local colleges of further education.

Contacts

City & Guilds Address: 1 Giltspur Street, London EC1A 9DD Tel: 020 7294 2468 Email: [email protected] Website: www.cityandguilds.com

Skills for Justice Skills for justice, community safety, armed forces and legal services Address: Distington House, 26 Atlas Way, Sheffield S4 7QQ Tel: 0114 2611499 Email: [email protected] Website: www.sfjuk.com

Law Society of England and Wales Address: The Law Society's Hall, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL Tel: 020 7242 1222 Website: www.lawsociety.org.uk

Law Society of Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Enquiries Address: 96 Victoria Street, Belfast BT1 3GN Tel: 028 9023 1614 Email: [email protected] Website: www.lawsoc-ni.org

All About Law Address: 89 Worship Street, London EC2A 2BF Tel: 020 7392 2648 Email: [email protected] Website: www.allaboutlaw.co.uk

Getting into Law Author: Lianne Carter Publisher: Trotman

Law Society Gazette Publisher: The Law Society Email: [email protected] Website: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Law Careers.Net Address: New Hibernia House, Winchester Walk, London Bridge, London SE1 9AG Tel: 020 7234 0606 Email: [email protected] Website: www.lawcareers.net

Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) Address: Kempston Manor, Kempston, Bedford MK42 7AB Tel: 01234 841000 Email: [email protected] Website: www.cilex.org.uk/careers/careers_home.aspx

CILEx Recruitment Publisher: Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) Email: [email protected] Website: www.cilexrecruitment.org.uk

Careers Wales - Welsh Apprenticeships Tel: 0800 028 4844 Website: ams.careerswales.com/

People Exchange Cymru (PEC) Public sector recruitment portal for Wales Email: [email protected] Website: www.peopleexchangecymru.org.uk/home

Legal News Website: blog.simplylawjobs.com/ Related Careers

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