WHAT IS A LEGAL EXECUTIVE?
A Legal Executive is a person qualified by accumulated practical experience and/or academic credentials to offer rather more than secretarial or administrative assistance to a Solicitor or other legal practitioner in the handling of client cases relating to conveyancing, probate, criminal, civil, family or other legal matters.
Acting at the direction and as agent of the practitioner and using his/her own personal experience and knowledge of the conventions and other requirements of the statutory agencies, he/she is often entrusted with the practicalities of progressing a given legal transaction initiated by the practitioner.
Some Legal Executives are also Supreme Court-appointed Commissioners-for-Oaths or go on to become Solicitors themselves.
The Legal Executive is a professional bound by codes of confidentiality and conduct established and enforced in Ireland by the Irish Institute of Legal Executives, a body founded for that purpose and for the advancement of the interests of Legal Executives.
ON BECOMING A MEMBER
The Member receives
- A Practising Certificate for the year
- Directory of Members/Diary for the year
- The Brief Magazine- (the Official Journal of IILEX)
- Support and Advice on career
- Opportunity to become Fellows of IILEX after serving three consecutive years on Council.
- Criminal Courts of Justice Access/Pass Cards
- Legal Executives can use appropriate initials after their name e.g. FIILEX or MIILEX
- Full members can vote at an AGM
LEVELS OF MEMBERSHIP
Fellowship Members F.I.I.L.Ex.
This category of Membership represents founder members. Per Special Resolution adopted on 17th August 2007, this category also applies to anyone who sits on Council for three years or more from this date. They are then awarded the title of Fellow.
Honorary Fellowship Members F.I.I.L.Ex. (Hon)
Awarded as proposed to Council.
Life Member
Council award for special services.
Senior Legal Executive Member S.I.I.L.Ex.
This level of membership represents a person who has reached a defined level of expertise, academic achievement and practical experience.
The requirements for this level of membership are as follows:-
University Law Degree/Diploma in Law or Legal Studies from the Educational Bodies recognised by the Institute.
Affidavit of Fitness and Certificate of Attendance from certifying a minimum period of ten years from employer(s) on the Institute's standard form.
Submitted paper on specialist subject approved by Council for publication to existing members.
Ten years continuous full membership of the Institute.
Oral interview with two serving Council Members (if requested by Council)
Completed application for approval by Council.
Legal Executive Member M.I.I.L.Ex.
This level represents a person who has reached the required standard of membership, and has been awarded full membership.
The requirements for this level of membership are as follows:-
University Law Degree/Diploma in Law or Legal Studies from the Educational Bodies recognised by the Institute.
Affidavit of Fitness and Certificate of Attendance from certifying a minimum period of three years from employer(s) on the Institute's standard form.
An oral interview with two serving Council Members (if requested by Council)
Completed application for approval by Council.
Associate Member A.I.I.L.Ex.
This level of membership represents a member who can be either a Law Clerk, Legal Secretray or other person with a reasonable amount of practical experience in a Legal Environment whose duties extend beyond secretarial or administrative in nature with a sound knowledge of practice and procedure as would be expected of a Law Clerk and who is committed to an acceptable course of law studies. An Associate member may attend and speak at general meetings, but is not entitled to vote. Associates are accepted at the discretion of the board.
The requirements for this level of membership are as follows:-
Committed to attending an approved course in law studies from the Educational Bodies recognised by the Institute.
Affidavit of Fitness and Certificate of Attendance from employer(s) on the Institute's standard form.
Oral interview with two serving Council Members (if requested by Council)
Completed application for approval by Council.
Student Legal Executive Member
A student member may attend and speak at general meetings, but is not entitled to vote.
The requirements for this level of membership are as follows:-
Must be attending an approved course in law studies from the Educational Bodies recognised by the Institute.
Submit the names and addresses of two referees.
Oral interview with two serving Council Members (if requested by Council)
Completed application for approval by Council.
Submit copy birth certificate.
Copy leaving certificate results or equivalent.
Please note that not withstanding the provisions of entry requirements for membership, the Council is empowered to waive such requirements as it shall deem fit in considering any application. Further Council reserves the right to make whatever further enquires it deems fit in considering applications for membership.
Council may refuse to register any application for membership in its absolute discretion, without providing reasons for such refusal.
Full details of the membership categories are set out in our Code of Rules
To enquire about joining the Institute click here.