A legal executive is a person who has qualified as a lawyer through the ILEX designated two part training scheme, and has worked in qualifying employment for a minimum of five years, and is at least 25 years old.
Legal executives are much more specialised than their solicitor colleagues.
Being a legal executive allows you to be a commissioner for oaths, and with further training it is possible to acquire certain rights of audience in some court hearings. This varies enormously, depending on the amount and type of experience possessed, and the sector in which the individual practises. Generally, rates of pay will be below that of solicitors, but where a fee earner's skill is in great demand it may be possible to earn more than a solicitor in general practice. It is the five years employment experience gained working under the supervision of a solicitor. The solicitor must be working as a solicitor, rather than being a solicitor who works as a marketing manager, for example.