Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Performing Administrative Activities Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

The Work

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. 

Legal Executives work with solicitors and barristers, in the Courts of Ireland, and within other areas of commercial and legal practice.

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.

Legal Executives are members of the Irish Institute of Legal Executives. The Institute was formed in 1987 and incorporated in 1992. It aims to provide a system of training and examination and to obtain a recognised professional qualification for those engaged in legal work. Members of the Institute are employed in private practice, legal departments of banks, public or local authorities or in industry and commerce.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Prepare, proofread, or process legal documents, such as summonses, subpoenas, complaints, appeals, motions, or pretrial agreements.
• Mail, fax, or arrange for delivery of legal correspondence to clients, witnesses, and court officials.
• Receive and place telephone calls.
• Schedule and make appointments.
• Organise and maintain law libraries, documents, and case files.
• Make photocopies of correspondence, documents, and other printed matter.
• Assist attorneys in collecting information such as employment, medical, and other records.
• Draft and type office memos.
• Complete various forms, such as accident reports, trial and courtroom requests, and applications for clients.
• Prepare and distribute invoices to bill clients or pay account expenses.

Further Information

• Legal Executive - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Legal Executive - from: GradIreland

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

The Irish Institute of Legal Executives, in conjunction with Griffith College, Dublin has developed a course specifically for legal executives. The Diploma in Legal Studies and Practice (NFQ Level 7) is a two year course which is designed to give legal executives the necessary academic and practical skills for a legal office.

Having completed the Certificate in Legal Studies and Practice, students can go on to the Diploma in Legal Studies and Practice or the LL.B. (Hons) in Law.

There are a number of levels of membership of the Institute. Members can describe themselves as "Legal Executives" of the Institute or use the applicable initials providing they hold a current annual Practising Certificate.

Training & Development Pathways

FET Centre Traineeship: Business Admin, Customer service in centres around Ireland NFQ Level 5-6 Search FET Courses

FET PLC Courses: Pre-University Law, Law and Criminology, Business Law Pre-University NFQ Level 5 Search FET PLC Courses

Apprenticeship: There are no current apprenticeships in law Search Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO Entry: Business & Law, Law, Arts - Law, Law & Languages, Political Science/Law at NFQ Levels 6-8 Search CAO courses

Professional Development 

Postgraduate Study Options Law NFQ level 9

The Law Society of Ireland

The Irish Inst of legal executives 

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €35k - €60k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
CPL / Morgan Mckinley/ Sigmar/ Lincoln/ Azon/ Brightwater

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment levels have declined annually since 2020 for this occupation, resulting in a negative growth rate for the five-year annual average. There were a small number of employment permits issued for legal counsel across a number of sectors including ICT and the financial sector. However, the professional, scientific and technical activities sector accounts for the majority of employment in this occupation.

• IILEX - The Irish Institute of Legal Executives

  • 22/24 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2
  • (01) 890 4278
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here