Legal executive (England and Wales) : Career development

Legal executives develop high-level specialist legal knowledge throughout the minimum five-year qualifying period required to achieve The Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) . With increasing experience and expertise, they may progress to more complex cases and build a comprehensive client base.

Opportunities exist for legal executives to run their own departments, supervising other legal executives, administrative staff and junior solicitors. In smaller practices, opportunities to become practice managers may arise.

Qualified legal executives may also become solicitors. The ILEX training route may be used for entry to the final stages of the solicitors' qualification scheme - the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and the Professional Skills Course (PSC). An added advantage is that ILEX Fellows are exempt from the two-year training contract, which may be difficult to obtain. For further information about the route to becoming a solicitor, contact The Law Society of England and Wales .

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 practise, allowing them to manage a case from start to finish.

Through ILEX it is possible to pursue further ambitions, such as becoming a partner in a firm. Legal executives can also apply for a range of judicial appointments up to and including District Judge, provided they have the relevant experience and have completed the required qualifying time.