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Is a legal executive the same as a paralegal?
Claudia Chan
Last updated 3rd November 2022
A legal executive is not the same as a paralegal; the two are often confused. This article seeks to set out the differences between the two.
What is a legal executive?
A legal executive refers to a Chartered Legal Executive. These are qualified lawyers who specialise in one or two particular areas of law. To become a Chartered Legal Executive, you have to complete the CILEx Level 3 and Level 6 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice. Note that the Level 3 qualification is being phased out in favour of the new CILEx Professional Qualification (CPQ).
After completing the qualification, you would have to do a three-year qualifying employment under the supervision of a solicitor, senior chartered legal executive, barrister or licensed conveyancer.
What is a paralegal?
A paralegal is someone who has extensive knowledge of the law but is not a qualified lawyer. They primarily conduct administrative and legal work on a day-to-day basis and are typically employed in law firms, in a specific department. They may work with solicitors, barristers and legal executives.
While they may be associate members of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx), they are different from legal executives. Their main role is to support qualified lawyers in a specific area of law.
Paralegal or legal executive—what sets them apart?
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Similarities
There are some similarities between a legal executive and a paralegal, this includes: - Advising clients and explaining legal matters
- Conducting legal research and summarising legal information
- Preparing legal documents
Differences
Differences include:
- Legal executives are qualified lawyers who are regulated by a professional body (CILEX); paralegals are not regulated by a professional body
- Legal executives can represent clients in court, whereas paralegals cannot
- Legal executives can become a partner in a law firm, become a coroner, and a judge
- No official qualifications are required to become a paralegal. On the other hand, legal executives will have to complete vocational training: the CILEx Professional Qualification (CPQ)
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