When most people think about careers in law, the first roles that come to mind are usually solicitors or barristers. However, there is another core legal profession in the UK that offers similar levels of responsibility and opportunities as solicitors and can come with a more flexible route to qualification.
In this guide, we’ll explain what a Legal Executive is, how to become one, and what you can expect in terms of salary and career progression.
What is the Role of a Legal Executive?
A Legal Executive is a qualified lawyer who specialises in a particular area of law. Unlike solicitors, who are trained to cover a wide range of legal fields, Legal Executives focus on building expertise within a specific field such as conveyancing, litigation, family law, or corporate law.
Legal Executives in the UK are considered one of the main branches of the legal profession, alongside solicitors and barristers. To maintain their professional standing, they must stay informed about changes in the law and undertake ongoing training throughout their careers. You’ll find them employed in a wide range of settings, including private law firms, corporate legal departments, and public sector organisations.
What is a Chartered Legal Executive?
The title Chartered Legal Executive is formally regulated by the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX), which sets the professional standards and training requirements. Once a Legal Executive completes their qualifications and becomes a full member of CILEX, they earn the title of Chartered Legal Executive. This is the protected and official term for the role, and it carries the same professional recognition in law.
In practice, “Legal Executive” and “Chartered Legal Executive” are often used interchangeably, but only those who have completed the full CILEX route and gained membership can legally use the “Chartered” title.
Chartered Legal Executive Vs Solicitor – Is a Legal Executive a Solicitor?
No. While a Chartered Legal Executive specialises in one chosen area of legal practice, solicitors must cover several practice areas before they can qualify.
Why Become a Chartered Legal Executive?
For many aspiring lawyers, the Legal Executive pathway provides a more flexible and cost-effective route into the profession. It’s particularly appealing to those who prefer to specialise early and gain practical experience while studying, for a fraction of the cost of other legal routes.
In practice this means qualifying in as little as three years for a price starting from £13,112 for non-law graduates (from £6,554 if you already hold a law degree), depending on your chosen field of specialism. For those who have completed an LPC or BPC after their law degree, the cost and timeline to qualification can reduce even further by entering the qualification at a more advanced level.
What Does a Legal Executive Do?
Becoming a Legal Executive offers a prosperous career path, honing in on specialist knowledge and expertise. Generally speaking, a Legal Executive carries out many of the same day-to-day responsibilities as a solicitor, but with a focus on a specific field of law.
Although the specific responsibilities of a Legal Executive will differ depending on their employer and area of specialisation, their work typically involves a wide range of legal and client-focused tasks, including:
- Advising and guiding clients by explaining legal processes and complex issues in clear terms.
- Communicating with other legal professionals on behalf of clients to progress cases.
- Carrying out legal research and drafting documents such as contracts, wills, or case files.
- Supporting court proceedings, which may include advocacy in County or High Court once qualified.
- Administering oaths and handling the swearing of legal documents as a commissioner for oaths.
- Keeping up to date with legal developments to ensure accurate and current advice.
- Managing practice accounts and other administrative duties within a legal practice.
- Collaborating with colleagues, including solicitors, paralegals, and legal secretaries, to deliver a complete legal service.
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How to Become a Legal Executive?
If you are exploring career pathways in law, you may be wondering: “How do I become a Legal Executive, and how does this route compare to studying an LLB or BA in Law?”.
Unlike an academic law degree (LLB, BA/BSc in Law), the Chartered Legal Executive qualification is a professional pathway that combines practical work experience with structured study. This means you develop not only the legal knowledge required for practice but also the hands-on skills needed to work effectively in the profession.
As a result, Chartered Legal Executives qualify with both academic grounding and real-world experience for a long-term career in law.
CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ)
From 2021 onwards, you can qualify as a Chartered Legal Executive (CILEX Lawyer) through the CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ).
Before registering on CILEX qualification pathways, you first need to become a CILEX member by following a simple process. Once you’ve done that, you can then start your journey to qualification as a Legal Executive.
Stage 1 – CPQ Foundation Stage Diploma (Entry Point for Non-Law Graduates)
This is the first academic stage in the process of becoming a Chartered Legal Executive. If you’re a school leaver, changing your career path, or working in the legal profession without a university law degree, this is where you start from.
Requirements:
You don’t need any formal qualifications to begin this programme. That said, CILEx suggests that learners will benefit most if they already hold at least four GCSEs at grade C/4 or above – including English Language or Literature – or an equivalent qualification. The course is open to anyone aged 16 and above, making it a flexible starting point for those beginning their journey in law.
Mandatory units of CPQ Foundation Stage include:
- Professional & Legal Skills
- Legal Systems
- The Law of Tort
- Contract Law
- Introduction to Property & Private Client
If you’re working in a legal role at the same time, you can also complete your Professional Experience portfolio (a later requirement of the CPQ) – this will allow you to gain the CILEX Paralegal Status once you complete this stage.
Stage 2 – CPQ Advanced Stage Diploma (Direct Entry Point for UK Law Graduates)
Once you’ve completed the CPQ Foundation Stage you can then enter the CPQ Advanced Stage. If you are a law graduate you can enter the CPQ at this stage directly.
Mandatory units of this diploma include:
- Professional & Legal Skills
- Dispute Resolution
- Criminal Law & Litigation
There are also four optional modules to choose one from, allowing you to specialise in your area of interest:
- Business & Employment Law
- Family Law & Practice
- Probate & Private Client
- Property & Conveyancing
On completion of this stage you will become a trainee CILEX Lawyer and be equipped to handle more complex work. You can either pause your progression here or move to the next stage to gain practice rights in your chosen area of law.
Stage 3 – CPQ Professional Stage (Direct Entry Point for UK Law Postgraduates)
This stage forms the highest level of your legal education, enabling you to complete your specialist training.
At this stage you will undertake Professional Skills as a compulsory module alongside one optional as specialist law and practice module. You will also need to complete your Professional Experience portfolio, coupled with your Qualifying Work Experience and your Advocacy Course (optional for those working in litigation areas) to qualify as CILEX Chartered Legal Executive (CILEX Lawyer).
If you are specialising in family law, criminal law or dispute resolution, you will also be required to pass an Advocacy Skills Course.
Upon completion of this stage you will have the same rights in your specialism as those held by solicitors.
Tips To Qualify Earlier
The time to qualify as a Chartered Legal Executive is relatively reasonable, especially when compared to more traditional routes, like solicitors or barristers. However, there are steps you can take to shorten the timeline even further:
- Start Working in a Legal Role Early – Because qualifying employment can count before, during, or after your studies, gaining relevant experience early on helps you build your portfolio while studying.
- Maximise Exemptions – Law graduates and postgraduates can enter the qualification at a later stage.
- Work and Study Simultaneously – The CILEX route is designed to allow flexible study alongside employment. Balancing both helps you progress faster and gain practical skills that reinforce your learning.
- Specialise Wisely – Choosing a practice area that aligns with your current role makes it easier to demonstrate competence for your Work-Based Learning portfolio.
- Leverage CPQ Flexibility – Since CPQ is modular, you can move through stages at your own pace. Committing more time each week can shorten the overall duration.
With careful planning, some candidates can complete the academic and qualifying employment stages in as little as 3–5 years, compared to the typical 6–7.
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What is a Legal Executive Salary?
The salary of a Legal Executive can vary widely depending on factors such as location, area of specialism, level of experience, and whether they work in private practice, in-house, or the public sector. However, according to the National Careers Service, Legal Executives can earn anything between £17,000 (starter) and £60,000 (experienced) per year.
If you are comparing this route with other legal career pathways, it may be useful to explore how solicitor and barrister salaries differ – check out our full guide on lawyer salaries.
Conclusion
Becoming a Legal Executive is a flexible route into the legal profession, offering the same rights as solicitors in your chosen law specialism. Whether you’re starting with no legal background, holding an LLB, or progressing from another career, there are clear pathways to qualification as a Chartered Legal Executive at a fraction of the cost of traditional academic routes.
With opportunities to earn while you learn, gain courtroom rights, and build a long-term career in law, this route is an excellent choice for those seeking a more practical and work-focused alternative to the LPC or Bar training.
If you’re still weighing up your options in law, you may also find it helpful to explore other roles in the profession – for instance, what is a Paralegal?, or How To Become a Lawyer? – so you can compare career paths and decide which is best suited to your goals.
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FAQs
1. What is the difference between a Legal Executive and a Solicitor?
A Chartered Legal Executive is a qualified lawyer who specialises in a particular area of law, while a Solicitor typically trains more broadly across several fields. Both can have rights of audience in court, manage cases, and advise clients, but the training routes and qualification processes differ.
2. Is a Chartered Legal Executive the same as a Paralegal?
No. Paralegals provide legal support but are not qualified lawyers, whereas Chartered Legal Executives are fully qualified lawyers with the ability to specialise and gain independent rights of audience in court.
3. Can a Legal Executive become a Solicitor?
Yes. Many Legal Executives later requalify as Solicitors if they choose. Their CILEX qualifications and work experience can often be credited towards the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), making the transition faster.
4. How long does it take to qualify as a Legal Executive?
The time varies depending on your starting point. Non-law graduates typically take around 3–7 years (study plus qualifying employment), while law graduates can qualify in as little as 3–5 years.
5. Do Chartered Legal Executives have the same rights in court as Solicitors?
With the right advocacy qualifications, yes. Chartered Legal Executives can apply for litigation and advocacy rights, allowing them to represent clients in family, civil, and criminal proceedings.
