Paralegal

A paralegal is a person who performs substantive legal work that requires knowledge of the law and procedures, but who is not a qualified solicitor or barrister. Paralegals may work within a law firm, the public sector or in-house.

It is increasingly recognised as a separate profession, however, it is also a great way to get legal experience on the way to a training contract. Also worth noting is that the SRA piloted a work-based learning training contract in 2009 that would allow a paralegal to qualify as a trainee while working in his or her current job. The pilot was declared a sucess with the findings fed into the currently ongoing legal education review.

For more on being a paralegal, see our Paralegal page, or contact the Institute of Paralegals or the National Association of Licensed Paralegals.

Outdoor clerk

An outdoor clerk is employed by a solicitors' firm to assist with court-related matters. Tasks may include taking witness statements, attending hearings, taking notes in court, filing documents at court, prison visits, legal research and administration. They may work in a range of practice areas, including crime, immigration, family and personal injury. Firms often look to hire people who are LPC or BPTC qualified, and it can be a useful way for students or graduates keen on the Bar to get valuable experience.

The job is often done on a freelance basis, so may not necessarily provide full-time employment. However, it is also usual for a clerk to be used by a number of different firms at any one time, so a decent wage is possible!

Licensed conveyancer

A licensed conveyancer is a specialist property lawyer who is trained and qualified in all aspects of the law dealing with property. They advise on the transfer of ownership of property or land from one person to another and can act for buyers, sellers and lenders.

Conveyancers are regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers. Various exams must be passed and a period of practical training completed, but some exemptions are available to LLB, LPC and ILEX graduates. Contact the council for more detail.

Law costs draftsman

A law costs draftsman is a specialist lawyer who deals with all aspects of client costs and ensures clients are properly charged for their solicitor's work. They will often be employed in situations where there is a need to prepare case budgets, or prepare a detailed analysis of costs in a disputed settlement or bill.

Law costs draftsmen are regulated by the Association of Law Costs Draftsmen, which provides training and education. Entrants to the profession might be exempt from some exams if they have the appropriate legal training. Contact the association for more detail.

Legal executive

A fully qualified and experienced legal executive is able to undertake many of the legal activities that solicitors do. Becoming a legal executive is recognised by the Ministry of Justice as being one of the three core ways of becoming a lawyer. For example, legal executives will have their own clients and can undertake representation in court where appropriate. Some common areas of specialism are conveyancing, family, crime, personal injury, civil litigation, and company and business law.

The Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) is the professional body that represents around 24,000 qualified and trainee legal executives. ILEX is particularly attractive to those seeking a law qualification from a variety of groups, including recent school leavers, graduates, legal support staff, mature students and career-changers. For more on becoming a legal executive, see our ILEX page and the ILEX website.

Court clerk

Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS) employs many qualified solicitors and barristers as court clerks (or justices' clerks). Clerks advise lay magistrates on law and procedure, and are key figures in the daily running of the courts and in the administration of justice. They also play a vital role in the management and administration of the service, organising the arrangement of court time, payment of fines and other related matters.

Clerks who are interested in administration can work towards becoming a justices' chief executive, with responsibilities for increasingly large groupings of magistrates' courts. Further information can be found on the HMCS website.

Court reporter

Court reporters record verbatim court hearings for official transcripts of court proceedings. Increasingly, reporters use a computer-aided transcription system rather than traditional shorthand. Court reporters need not be legally qualified to enter the profession, although it is an advantage. Details of training and careers are available through the British Institute of Verbatim Reporters.

Barristers' clerk

Broadly speaking, a barristers' clerk is responsible for running the day-to-day business of chambers and organising barristers' caseloads. At the junior end of the job, a clerk will prepare papers, carry documents to and from court, and perform other administrative tasks. As the clerk becomes more senior, he or she will manage diaries, liaise between solicitors, clients and barristers, and bring new business into the chambers. For more on being a clerk, see the Institute of Barristers' Clerks.

Chartered secretary

A chartered secretary works as a company secretary and in other senior positions in companies, charities, local government, educational institutions and trade bodies. They are qualified in company law, accounting, corporate governance, administration, company secretarial practice and management. They are trained to deal with regulation, legislation and best practice, and to ensure effective operations. For more detail, visit the website of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.