Legal Executive

Legal executives specialise in one area of law. They have trained to the same level as solicitors in that area and do much of the same work. To become qualified in this area you will have to follow one of the training routes offered by the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives. You will also need to have practical experience in a legal environment.

Work

As a legal executive lawyer, you could deal with any of the following branches of law:

• conveyancing – the legal side of buying and selling property
• probate – wills, trusts and inheritance tax
• family law – divorce and children’s matters
• civil litigation – disputes between people
• criminal law – defence or prosecution of people accused of crimes
• company and business law – tax, contracts and employment law.

Depending on your specialism, your work might include:

• advising clients and explaining legal matters to them
• contacting professionals such as mortgage lenders, planning officers or other lawyers on behalf of clients
• researching and summarising legal information
• preparing legal documents
• writing to clients
• drawing up wills
• preparing contracts
• representing clients in county and magistrates' courts
• preparing bills for clients.