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Legal executive

Alternative titles for this job include Chartered legal executive

Legal executives specialise in one area of law and carry out similar tasks to solicitors.

Average salary (a year)

£17,000 Starter

to

£60,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

39 to 41 a week

You could work

9am to 5pm

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become a legal executive

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role

University

You could do a law degree, or a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) if your degree is not in law. You would then do:

  • the Graduate Fast-Track Diploma
  • 3 years' qualifying employment

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

College

You could take the following college courses to qualify:

  • CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice
  • CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice

After completing a college qualification, you would do a 3-year period of qualifying employment. This means you'll carry out legal work under the supervision of a solicitor, senior chartered legal executive, barrister or licensed conveyancer.

You could do this in a legal practice, a legal department of a private company or in a government department.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
  • 1 or 2 A levels, a level 3 diploma or relevant experience for a level 4 or level 5 course

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could take start by taking a Paralegal Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.

You could then move on to a:

  • Chartered Legal Executive Level 6 Non-Degree Apprenticeship
  • Chartered Legal Executive Litigator and Advocate Level 7 Non-Degree Apprenticeship

As part of an apprenticeship you will study to gain the following professional qualifications:

  • CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice
  • CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

Work

A lot of people work for a law firm and study for qualifications part time.

You could study for CILEx qualifications even if you're not working in a legal environment, as long as you meet their entry requirements. Qualifications may be studied full-time, part-time or by distance learning.

You'll still need some work experience to give you a chance of finding a job once you're qualified.

More Information

Registration

Further information

You can get more details about a legal executive career from:

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • excellent written communication skills
  • the ability to work well with others
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

Your day-to-day duties will depend on your specialism. You could:

  • advise clients and explain legal matters
  • contact mortgage lenders, planning officers or other professionals on behalf of clients
  • research and summarise legal information
  • prepare legal documents
  • write to clients
  • draw up wills
  • prepare contracts
  • represent clients in court
  • prepare bills for clients

Working environment

You could work at a police station, in a court or in an office.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could take on more complex cases and build up a large client base. You could also progress to leading a team of legal executives and secretaries, or become a practice manager in a law firm.

With further study, you could qualify as a solicitor.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Paralegal Apprenticeship

  • Wage: £18,525.00 Annually
  • Location: Colton, Leeds, West Yorkshire

Paralegal Apprentice

  • Wage: Competitive salary Annually
  • Location: 11-15 Brayford Wharf, Lincoln

Courses In England

CILEX Certificate for Legal Secretaries Certificate 2

  • Provider: The Manchester College
  • Start date: 01 September 2024
  • Location: Manchester

CILEX Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law & Practice

  • Provider: ACTIVATE LEARNING
  • Start date: 11 September 2024
  • Location: Guildford

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