Legal Executives

• Legal executives work in solicitors' firms as assistants. They are qualified lawyers who have passed the ILEX professional qualification in law.
• Legal executives specialise in a particular area of law.
• There are over 20,000 legal executives practising in the UK.
• Legal executives must pass the Professional Diploma in law and the Professional Higher Diploma in Law. They must have also worked in a solicitors firm for a minimum of 5 years.
• Legal Executives have similar day to day work as an solicitor. They can:

  • Handle aspects of property transfer
  • Assist in the formation of a company
  • Draft wills
  • Advise people accused of crime
• Since 2008, legal executives have been able to take a course on advocacy and obtain wider rights of audience. This means they can deal with a greater range of cases in the Magistrates Court.
• The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives provide a code of conduct and regulation is done by the CILEX regulation board who will also investigate complaints.