LEGAL EXECUTIVES

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Role

Qualification + Training

Qualified lawyers who have passed the Institute of Legal Executives’ Professional Qualification in Law

Specialise in a particular area of law

Work in solicitors’ firms as assistants

Over 20,000 legal executives practising


When they have all the qualifications they become a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives

Also had to have worked in a solicitors’ firm (or other legal organisation e.g. the Crown Prosecution Service or local government) for at least 5 years

A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives can go on to become a solicitor

Have to pass the Professional Diploma in Law and the Professional Higher Diploma in Law (PHDL)

Have to pass the Law Society’s Legal Practice course, but they may be given exemption from the 2 year training

There are 3 different practising certificates:

Fee earners

Since 2008 legal executives have been able to do a course on advocacy and obtain wider rights of audience

They can appear to make applications where the case is not defended in family matters and civil cases in the County Court

Have some rights of audience

Within there specialised area of law, their work is similar to a solicitor’s, though they tend to deal with more straightforward matters:

Assisting in the formation of a company

Draft wills


Handling various legal aspects of a property transfer

Advise people with matrimonial problems

Advise clients accused of serious or petty crime

Civil Proceedings Certificate

Criminal Proceedings Certificate

Family Proceedings Certificate

The partners of the firm are responsible for the legal executive’s work

These allow legal executives to do such matters such as makes an application for bail or deal with cases in the Youth Court or Family Court of the Magistrates’ Courts

This means that where a legal executive works for a firm of solicitors in private practice, that legal executive’s work is charged an hourly rate directly to clients

In this way they make a direct contribution to the income of the law firm