How to qualify as a legal executive

A legal executive is a qualified lawyer specialising in a particular area of law. As a legal executive you will have great opportunities to work in the legal profession, in corporate in-house legal departments, or in local or national government.

The Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) is the professional body which governs the education and training of legal executives.

The academic part of the ILEX training programme is made up of two stages of training. The links below give full details of each of the two stages of training

ILEX Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice.

ILEX Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law.

Once you complete the academic part of your training you will become a Member of ILEX. Then you need to fulfil the requirements for qualifying employment in order to become a Fellow of ILEX. The term ‘legal executive’ can only be used by Fellows of the Institute of Legal Executives.

Qualifying employment is carefully defined by ILEX, but in broad terms it includes carrying out work of a legal nature under the supervision of a solicitor, senior legal executive, barrister or licensed conveyancer. Employment can be in legal practice, in the legal department of a private company or in local/national government.

You can start your qualifying employment at any time. However, the final two years of the five-year period of qualifying employment must be gained after you have achieved your academic qualification. This means that you can achieve up to three of the five years’ qualifying employment concurrently with your studies.

We strongly recommend that you 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 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.

Exemptions from parts of the ILEX Professional Qualification in Law may be available if you hold an A level in law, a recognised law degree or if you have already done a postgraduate Legal Practice Course. Exemptions are entirely at the discretion of ILEX so you should confirm your entitlement to exemption with the ILEX membership department before enrolling on any courses.

For full details of the route to qualification and to apply for ILEX student membership contact ILEX on 01234 841000.

You should register with ILEX as a student member at the same time as you enrol on your training course.