Legal Executives Flashcards
What qualifications must a legal executive have?
Legal executives are qualified lawyers who have passed the Institute of Legal Executives’ Professional Qualification in Law.
Approximately how many legal executives are there practising in England and Wales?
There are over 20,000 legal executives practising.
Where do most legal executives work?
Most legal executives work in solicitors’ firms as assistants, though some also work in Local Government.
What type of work do legal executives usually do?
Legal executives deal with more straightforward legal matters such as drafting wills, conveyancing, or advising on matrimonial problems. They also interview clients, advise them, draft documents, and may brief barristers.
What is the difference between contentious and non-contentious work, and what types do legal executives do?
Contentious work involves legal disputes (e.g. personal injury litigation, criminal prosecutions), while non-contentious work does not (e.g. wills, conveyancing). Legal executives undertake both.
Do legal executives have rights of audience in court?
Yes, they have some limited rights of audience, for example in County Court civil cases or non-defended family cases.
How can legal executives obtain wider rights of audience?
Since 2008, they can complete an advocacy course and obtain a Civil Proceedings, Criminal Proceedings, or Family Proceedings Certificate.
What does a Legal Executives’ Advocacy Certificate allow them to do?
It allows legal executives to act as advocates in the Magistrates’ Court and Youth or Family Courts (e.g. make bail applications).
How do legal executives contribute financially to their firm?
Like solicitors, they charge clients an hourly rate and contribute to the firm’s income.
Can legal executives qualify as solicitors? If so, how?
Yes, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives can qualify as a solicitor by completing the Law Society’s Legal Practice Course (LPC).
