What is a Legal Executive?
In 1963 The Institute of Legal Executives was established with the aim of recognising the skills offered by lawyers' clerks in England and Wales (there is still no representative body in either Northern Ireland or Scotland). The Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) now represents some 22,000 individuals who are employed in various legal institutions in the UK, including private practice law firms, local government and commerce and industry. ILEX was formed in response to the large numbers and relative experience of the many clerks who had come to be employed by solicitors. Previously these legal support staff had no representative body, little formal training, and no organised professional development. There are estimated to be around 50,000 clerks working in the legal profession, only about half of whom have qualified to become Legal Executives.

What is the role of a Legal Executive?
Legal Executives work in exactly the same way as many solicitors. They are specialist lawyers who have gained their experience and knowledge by working in solicitors' offices and studying part time, earning while they are learning. However Legal Executives are not qualified solicitors, and subsequently cannot become partners in legal practice.

What qualifications do I need?
ILEX really does open the door to a career in the law for everyone. Apart from the minimum qualification requirements shown below, an introductory qualification course is provided for those who do not have the necessary grades. Special provisions are also available for mature students.

4 GCSEs or GCE 'O' levels, grade A, B or C - an English subject is compulsory. (At least three of the subjects must be on the Approved Subjects List)
or
Passes in 2 'A' levels and 1 GCSE level (to include English) or 3 'AS' levels
or
BTEC - National Certificate or Diploma, General or First Certificate at 'Merit' grade (accepted as 2 GCSEs if merit grade not attained).
or
GNVQ - Intermediate or Advanced level, provided a communication skills element included.

If you do not meet any of the above criteria it may still be worth applying to ILEX who will consider each application on its individual merit. As an alternative, you may wish to consider taking a Vocational Legal Studies programme (which will enable you to eventually become a Trainee Legal Executive) .For information contact ILEX (Paralegal Training) Limited on (01234) 840902.

Training as a Legal Executive specialist
Education and training is needed to qualify as a Legal Executive. Although it is not a requirement, most people study while they are working - by day release, evening classes or by taking a home-study correspondence course - combining study and examination with practical experience. The ILEX training scheme leads to a professional qualification in law and legal practice. There are basically three stages to qualification as a Legal Executive; Student, Member and Fellow. The examinations are in two parts, with each part usually taking two years to complete: Level 3: is reckoned to be at 'A' level standard and covers the essential elements of law and practice, and the English Legal System in four papers. Level 6 (previously Level 4): is set at degree level. You will sit four specialist papers; three in law and one in legal practice. When you have passed the exams you can apply for Membership. To become a Fellow you must have five years qualifying employment of which two years must be after you have become a Member of ILEX. The total cost of completing the training is currently about £3,162 spread over four years.

Why be a Legal Executive?
Being a Legal Executive is interesting and rewarding, and will always challenge even the most proficient mind. Professional responsibilities will increase with experience and Fellows of ILEX can reach very senior positions in legal offices - and earn high salaries! Indeed, in October 1996 top city law firm Davies Arnold Cooper announced that it had developed a scheme to allow legal executives the chance to be involved at the same level as partners. This will mean that where the work of a Legal Executive is rated as equal to that of partners at the firm, the individual will be able to attend partners meetings - and will be remunerated accordingly. This announcement adds to the developing career structure for those once dubbed 'managing clerks', and is good news for those coming into the profession through the ILEX scheme. The possibility of training whilst in employment will also appeal to many people, and the opportunity to eventually formally qualify as a solicitor is a real one. For many people ILEX offers a more practical approach to gaining professional qualifications, and for some, the only real possibility.

Career path
The nature of the work that you do in your job as a Trainee Legal Executive, will depend entirely upon the organisation in which you work. Most people entering the legal profession in this way are far more specialised than those who have taken the graduate route (and this should not necessarily be seen as a bad thing), and will often work in departments where the work is heavily procedural (such as property, wills, debt collection and so on). Having passed the necessary exams with ILEX, it is possible to undertake the Common Professional Exam and Legal Practice Course and go on to qualify as a solicitor (if a Fellowship of the Institute has been gained, the Legal Executive does not need to undertake the otherwise obligatory two years Training Contract).

Remuneration
Pay will depend on the value of service that each individual provides, but as a rough guideline:

On joining a legal office straight from school - £8-12k
Level 3 exams completed - £16-19k
Level 6 (previously Level 4) exams completed - £20-24k
Senior Fellow - £25-50k +

Useful addresses
The Institute of Legal Executives,
Kempston Manor,
Kempston,
Bedford
MK42 7AB
Telephone 01234 841000