What's the difference between a legal executive and a paralegal?

Dec 23, 2022

Written By Sophie Wilson

Paralegals and legal executives undertake different tasks and are educated to different levels. As a basic introduction, a paralegal assists solicitors and fee earners with their work, providing support through research or preparing legal documents. A legal executive, however, is a type of qualified lawyer.

What is a paralegal?

A paralegal is not a qualified solicitor or barrister, but they generally have some form of legal training. This training may be an undergraduate degree in law or some paralegal qualifications. Paralegals are not constrained to one area of law, but rather they can work in a variety of departments; applicants choose what department they wish to work in and therefore which they apply to.

A typical list of paralegal duties includes conducting research, preparing legal documents, interviewing clients and attending client meetings. Often, paralegal jobs are sought after by recent graduates. The entry level salary is around £18,000-£25,000.

What is a legal executive?

Formerly known as chartered legal executives, legal executives are regulated by a professional body and have to fulfil certain requirements. They have to have completed the CILEx Level three Professional Diploma in Law and Practice as a starting point.

To become an associate of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives, it is then mandatory to complete the CILEx Level six award. Following this, three years of qualifying work experience is necessary to become a fully qualified legal executive.

The qualifications completed by a paralegal and a legal executive are therefore very different. A paralegal role can be obtained with little experience and with or without an undergraduate degree in law, but a legal executive cannot obtain this title until their qualifications and experience have been completed.

This is reflected in their salaries, a legal executive typically has a starting salary of £35,000-£55,000 once the two qualifications and the three years experience have been obtained.

On a day to day basis, legal executives represent clients in court on a limited basis, they provide legal advice to clients, and they research legislation and other areas of law. There is more responsibility than with a paralegal, as they have their own client base.

Legal executives can also become partners of law firms and typically earn a higher wage; they have more responsibility within their respective departments and have to have obtained a legal qualification to be given this title.

Do they both work in the same areas of law?

A paralegal chooses which area they apply for a role in, and consequently assists the team in that department. A legal executive also has a specialism, as they tend to focus on one specialist area of law and devote their time to this.

Why choose the legal executive route?

A legal executive route to becoming a qualified lawyer is less expensive than the traditional SQE. It does not require a large university debt and employers can fund employees through their qualifications.

The competitive nature of training contract applications also means that becoming a legal executive is desired by many. It is a less competitive process, and it also means that studying can be done alongside earning a salary.

Are there any links between the two roles?

For those wanting to become a legal executive, an advanced paralegal apprenticeship can be the first step in this career path. You can then move on to the chartered legal executive higher apprenticeship, and it will be then that the two CILEx qualifications will be completed.

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