Legal Executives
By Lisa Incledon
Legal Executives



Qualified lawyer
Normally specialising in a particular area of
law
To be a fully qualified ‘Legal Executive’ you
must reach the level of Fellow of the Institute
of Legal Executives (ILEX)
Becoming a Legal Executive
 Two
aspects to qualifying:
Academic training
– Qualifying Employment
–
Academic Training

Two stages of academic training:
–
–
ILEX Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law
and Practice
ILEX Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma
in Law and Practice
Qualifying Employment

What is qualifying employment?
–
–

Work of a legal nature, under the supervision of a
Solicitor, Legal Executive, Barrister or Licensed
Conveyancer
Can be in legal practice, legal department of a public
company or local/national government
5 years qualifying employment in total
–
Final 2 years must be after the academic training is
complete
Levels of Membership




Student
Affiliate (ILEX Level 3 unit qualification,
relevant level 2 legal qualification or
minimum of 3 years work of predominantly
legal nature)
Associate (completed Level 3 Professional
Diploma or qualifying law degree)
Graduate (completed ILEX Level 3 and 6 or
LPC/BVC graduates)
Specialisms of Legal Executives
Civil Litigation
 Criminal Litigation
 Family law
 Conveyancing
 Public law
 Corporate
Etc.

Employment



Often employed in solicitors’ firms (and can become
partners in firms)
May also be self-employed
Cannot undertake reserved legal activity unless
working under supervision of an authorised person:
–
–
–
Conveyancing
Applications for probate or letters of administration
Conducting litigation and exercising advocacy rights
Work of Legal Executives





Draft wills
Draw up documents to assist in the formation
of a company
Advise in relation to matrimonial problems
Advise clients accused of crime
Advise on compromise agreements (if
employed in a solicitor’s firm)
Work of Legal Executives




Licensed by BarDirect Committee of Bar
Council to instruct barristers directly
Act as Commissioners for Oaths
If of 3 years’ good standing – sign client
account cheques on principal’s account
Appear in relation to certain unopposed
applications in County Court and applications
for judgment by consent
ILEX members may…

Provide immigration and services if registered to
do so (with ILEX before 2004 or OISC)

Become District judges or chairmen of tribunals
(Fellows are now eligible for judicial
appointment)

Qualify as Legal Executive Advocates with
further training and receive further rights of
audience
Legal Executive Advocates

Further rights of audience to represent
clients in:
–
–
–
–
–
County Court
Family Proceedings Court
Magistrates Court (including Youth Court)
Coroners Court
Most tribunals.
Conduct

Members of ILEX must comply with the ILEX
Professional Standards Code of Conduct which
sets out nine principles
–

What are the principles?
The Code of Conduct and other rules and
guidance for members can be found on the ILEX
Professional Standards website.
Conduct

Members of ILEX may also be subject to other
Codes:
–

Qualified Legal Executive Advocates must comply
with the ‘Rights of Audience Conduct Rules’
Members employed in practices regulated by
other professional bodies must comply with
codes of employers:
–
E.g. those in solicitors’ firms are governed by the
Solicitors’ Code of Conduct
Complaints
Two types of complaints:
Service
–
–
complaints
Complaints relating to the quality of service
To whom should these complaints be made?
Conduct
–
–
complaints
Complaints relating to the conduct of ILEX members
To whom should these complaints be made?
Service Complaints
1.
Complain to the practice
–
2.
Clients should be given information about the firm’s
complaints handling procedure
Can further complain to the Legal Ombudsman
–
–
If the complaint is not dealt with or the client finds
the response unsatisfactory
Clients should be given information about this right
Conduct Complaints
Dealt with by ILEX Professional Standards
(IPS)
Investigated and referred to the Professional
Conduct Panel
In
some instances the Professional Conduct
Panel will refer the case to the Disciplinary
Tribunal
–
Formal process, usually with legal representation