What Legal Executives Do

Legal Executives specialise in a particular area of law which means that  the everyday work of a Legal Executive is similar to that of a solicitor.  Depending upon which area of law they work in, Legal Executives may handle the legal aspects of a property transfer, be involved in actions in the High Court or county courts, draft wills, draw up documents to assist in the formation of a company, or advise husbands and wives with matrimonial problems or clients accused of serious or petty crime.

A Legal Executive is normally an employee and currently cannot be a partner in a firm of solicitors, although it may be possible to become an associate in a law firm and Fellows can go on to become advocates.  The names and status of Fellows may appear on the professional notepaper of the solicitors by whom they are employed.

Alternatively, a Legal Executive may be self-employed and provide legal services to solicitors and unregulated legal work to the public business.

Legal Executives are fee earners.  In private practice, their work is charged directly to clients making a direct contribution to the income of a law firm.  This is an important difference between Legal Executives and legal support staff who tend to handle work of a more routine nature.  Professional responsibilities increase with experience and Fellows of ILEX become one of the main points of contact for clients seeking professional advice on legal matters.  Legal Executives may also run specialist departments in a legal firm.

Legal Executives are able to act as Commissioners for Oaths, and Fellows of three years good standing may sign cheques drawn on their principals’ client account (Solicitors’ Accounts Rules 1991).  With extended rights of audience in civil, criminal and family proceedings, those Fellows who train and qualify as Legal Executive Advocates can represent their clients in the County court, Family Proceedings Court, Magistrates' Court including the Youth Court, Coroners Court and in most Tribunals depending on the area of law in which they practice.

Fellows who are employed in a solicitors firm are able to advise on compromise agreements. Fellows are licensed by the BarDirect committee of the Bar Council to instruct barristers directly without first going through a solicitor.

ILEX is currently developing a framework for a litigation rights scheme. This will enable them to issue proceedings in their own name. Fellows are now eligible for judicial appointments for District Judges in civil and criminal courts and for Tribunal Chairman.

Legal Executives have the option to become solicitors in one or two years after becoming Fellows and usually are exempt from the training contract graduates must complete to qualify as solicitors. However, new emerging rights, including the right to become a partner in a firm from 2009, will mean that the role and standing of Legal Executives and solicitors moves ever closer.