The Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) is the professional body representing around 24,000 qualified and trainee legal executives. Ray Barrowdale, press and media officer at ILEX, explains the way the qualification works and describes why it could be just the path to law that you're looking for.

ILEX offers a cost-effective route to becoming a lawyer and is accessible to those holding a wide variety of qualifications. ILEX offers recognised and accredited qualifications in law and legal practice at all levels for personnel working across the legal profession and a cost-effective alternative route to a career in law.

ILEX is recognised as one of the three main regulators of the legal profession alongside the Bar Council and the Law Society, and a legal executive is a qualified lawyer who specialises in a particular area of law. The role of a legal executive is sufficiently similar to that of a solicitor that the average client is unlikely to be able to distinguish between them.

So whether you are an existing student or exploring what career options are available, ILEX is one way of achieving a successful career in law. ILEX can provide the ideal route to obtain a law qualification for recent school leavers, graduates, legal support staff, mature students, career-changers and those with family commitments.

The ability to 'earn and learn' and avoid debt is an important feature of ILEX courses, as is the fact that most students receive valuable practical experience and on-the-job training in their workplace, while also attending classes in law and practice at academic institutions or via distance learning.

This can give a head start to your law career as well as enabling you to earn fee-income for your employers. And around 80% of ILEX students have at least part of their study costs funded by their employers.

An ILEX course will typically take four years to complete, although time scales can be flexible according to your personal and professional needs. You will need to complete a five-year qualifying period of employment (working in a legal environment while studying counts towards this), with at least two years undertaken after achieving your ILEX qualification, to become a Fellow of the Institute and the right to call yourself a legal executive.

Studying with ILEX

To start an ILEX course, you should ideally hold a minimum of four GCSE grades C or above including English Language or Literature, or qualifications at an equivalent level.

If you do not have any formal qualifications, we strongly recommend that you consider studying for a City & Guilds/ILEX Level 2 Certificate in Vocational Paralegal Studies before embarking on the legal executive training route.

ILEX qualifications are taken in two stages: the ILEX Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice, which is equivalent to an A-level, and the ILEX Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice which is set at honours degree level.

Exemptions from parts of the ILEX professional qualifications in law may be available if you hold an A-level in law or a recognised qualifying law degree course. Full exemption is available for those who have completed the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or the Bar Vocational Course (BVC). You can apply immediately to become an ILEX member.

If you have a non-qualifying law degree or a degree with sufficient legal content, these will be assessed on a subject-by-subject basis. Exemptions may also be granted for other appropriate qualifications. Exemptions are entirely at the discretion of the Institute.

ILEX has recently redeveloped and updated the ILEX professional qualifications. These are now unitised, credit-ready and flexible in line with the government's Qualifications and Credit Framework so as to provide a greater range of professional qualification outcomes.

The ILEX Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice is the first part of the ILEX Professional Qualification in Law, the academic qualification you will need to pass to become a legal executive. It provides a broad introduction to law and legal practice. The courses are set at a level of study equivalent to A-level and most students elect to study their Level 3 qualification either over one year full-time or two years part-time.

The ILEX Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice is the second stage of training to become a legal executive and is set at honours degree level. It will typically take two years to complete.

The Level 6 comprises three qualifications– the ILEX Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice, the ILEX Level 6 Diploma in Legal Practice and the ILEX Level 6 Single Subject Certificate. Students can choose from a selection of Law, Practice and Professional skills to build their qualification.

Students will now also be able to gain recognised qualifications in law and legal practice on their way to the full professional qualification. Success in any law or legal practice unit is recognised by the awarding of a Level 6 Single Subject Certificate in the subject studied.

To find out what options would suit you best, visit www.ilexcareers.org.uk.

Study close to home

ILEX has a network of over 100 accredited study centres that are approved to deliver ILEX courses. These are quality assured to ILEX standards, giving students the confidence that they will meet your needs, and fulfill your full potential in the field of law. All ILEX Level 3 examinations, and the majority of ILEX Level 6 examinations, are set twice a year in January and June, and all examinations may be taken at separate examination sittings to suit your plans and study needs.

Study from afar

If distance learning is something that would be better suited to an individual’s circumstances, then ILEX can offer this through the ILEX Tutorial College (ITC). There are a wide range of courses and options available from the college for the prospective law student to choose from and the college offers enrolment at any time of year. To get more information on the range of distance learning options available through ITC, visit www.ilex-tutorial.ac.uk.

Training to be a solicitor

A career as a legal executive is a worthwhile, rewarding and fulfilling career its own right, but ILEX does recognise that there are those who have ambitions that are more traditional. That is why ILEX qualifications can be used to count towards qualifying as a solicitor.

If you are a Fellow of the Institute before you complete the LPC, you may be exempt from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) training contract. It is important that you contact the SRA to get full details as this exemption is at the discretion of the SRA.

Let's talk money

Starting salaries for trainee legal executives can be around £14,000-£18,000, progressing as you move forward in your studies. And remember - no debt while you study.

Salaries for qualified legal executives can rise to over £50,000 and for those who go on to become (from March 2009) partners in law firms, higher still.

What legal executive lawyers do

Increasingly students are looking to ILEX as their starting point to a career in law. Professional responsibilities increase with experience and Fellows of ILEX are likely to become one of the main points of contact for clients seeking professional advice on legal matters. Fully qualified and experienced legal executive lawyers are able to undertake many of the legal activities that solicitors do. For example, they will have their own clients (with full conduct of cases) and they can undertake representation in court where appropriate.

Although legal executives can be involved in many areas of law, the most common areas of specialism are:

• conveyancing - the legal side of buying and selling property;
• family issues - advising on divorces and matters affecting children;
• crime - defending and prosecuting people accused of crimes;
• company and business law - advising clients on legislation that affects their business such as tax, contract and employment law;
• litigation - where a client is in dispute with someone else;
• probate - dealing with wills, trusts and inheritance tax; and
• personal injury - handling accident claims.

Legal executive lawyers must adhere to a code of conduct and, like solicitors, are required to continue training, known as continued professional development (CPD), throughout their careers in order to keep themselves abreast of the latest developments in the law.

There are opportunities for legal executives to run their own departments, and manage other executives, administrative staff and junior solicitors. It may be possible to become an associate in a law firm and, from March 2009, a partner. Fellows may also go on to become advocates. Qualified legal executives can also continue their studies to qualify as solicitors and the ILEX training route may be used as entry to the final stages of the qualification scheme for a solicitor.

ILEX Fellows are now eligible to apply for a range of judicial appointments, including tribunal chairmen and deputy district judges. From 2010 Fellows will be able to apply for district judge appointments. ILEX fully supports the government’s strategic goal of ensuring greater diversity within the judiciary so that it better reflects the diverse nature of the society it serves. It has campaigned vigorously for its members to compete on an equal footing alongside others and to be considered on merit for appointment to these important positions. Not only is this good for ILEX members, more importantly it is good for the justice system.

Looking ahead, from March 2009 legal executive lawyers will be able to become partners in legal firms (2009) and later managers in alternative business structures (firms with external ownership and investment). These are exciting times to be a legal executive.

Of course, it is not just legal firms that employ legal executives. Our members fill key legal roles in a wide variety of government bodies, local authorities and business organisations. For example, at the 2008 ILEX graduation ceremony, there were newly qualified legal executives employed by a diverse range of organisations, ranging from Disney Corporation, ABC International Television, HSBC Insurance UK Ltd and AXA UK PLC through to the Ministry of Defence, Kent County Council, Rentokil Initial PLC, the RSPCA and The Peabody Trust.

So if you are looking for a worthwhile career in law, ILEX is worth some serious consideration. For all the latest information, visit www.ilex.org.uk.

Ray Barrowdale is the press and media officer at ILEX.