A legal executive is best defined as a qualified lawyer whose work is similar to that of a solicitor. They are normally involved in handling routine cases but assist in the preparation of the more complex ones.

Legal Executives normally specialise in either Company/business law, Conveyancing (this deals with the legal side of buying, selling and leasing property), Probate (making sure people’s property is disposed of as they wanted) and Litigation (dealing with disputes).

Legal executives must have excellent communication skills, an eye for accuracy and the willingness to work under pressure. While most of their work is indoors, in offices, they do have to attend courts and police stations with relation to various issues and situations.

While most Legal Executives work for solicitors in private practice, there are others who work in areas like the local government, Civil Service, commerce and industry.

To qualify as a Legal Executive one must have passed the ILEX professional qualification in Law and have at least 5 years of experience. Possessing at least four GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3) in academic subjects including English are desirable.

Growth prospects are attractive and it is easy to qualify as a solicitor after one becomes a Fellow of ILEX. Compensation packages are attractive and there is always scope for earning more depending on one’s skills and progress.

A Fee Earner’s profession offers a broad spectrum of specialisations. These include personal injury, private clients, residential conveyance, commercial property and even Paralegal. A Fee Earner must be well-versed in his area of specialisation to be able to deal with various matters relevant to a specific subject.

Legal Executives - Fee Earners should be qualified to handle and manage all litigation work. The position involves a high level of autonomy and personal responsibility, and requires the individual to have extensive liaison with external legal and other advisors.

A Fee Earner should be able to make timely and appropriate decisions, develop feasible policies for the organisation to always remain competitive and be able to manage ad hoc projects. Individuals should be able to handle all files in totality, from the initial instruction to the final stage. Excellent communication and organisation skills and the ability to adhere to strict deadlines are a must.

Compensation packets are very attractive and a person can grow extremely fast with a proven track record.

A Loss Adjuster plays the impartial role of an claims specialist. The person has to investigate claims on behalf of insurance companies and has to examine the causes of loss or damage. They also must confirm if they are covered by the insurance policy, and decide on the validity of the claim.

A Loss Adjuster has to deal with all kinds of claims. These include physical damage to property caused by fire, storm or flood, arson, accidental damage, burglaries and even fraud. The procedure begins with an investigation. After the completion of the investigation a report is written for the insurers and recommendations are made for an appropriate payment to be arranged accordingly. At times, a negotiation payment is settled with the insured person.

The responsibilities of a Loss Adjuster include Typical work activities include taking instructions from insurers, visiting the scene of 'loss' (fire, accidental damage, theft, etc), making a thorough survey of various damages and ensuring that the property is protected against theft or weather by making appropriate arrangements for the site to be cordoned off for the builders to carry out requisite repairs.

Once the above formalities are completed they interview the clients or claimants, get their hands on the evidence, inquire about valuation certificates and other reports, view footage from security cameras and commission reports from experts.

In the case of suspected fraud, further investigations will need to be made, which may involve examining a company's accounts or stock records to make sure that the stolen or damaged goods physically existed. The Loss Adjuster is also responsible for advising the insured on relevant procedures, liaising with the insurers of the clients, preparing evidence to support claims against third parties and verification of the claims.

To qualify as a Loss Adjuster one should possess a certificate from ACII or ACILA. A strong and analytic personality coupled with computer skills is a must. Growth prospects are in accordance with the individual’s efforts.

A Relationship Manager is chiefly concerned with the understanding and management of customer relationships. Trainees can begin their jobs with the guidance of more experienced Private Client Relationship Managers. The areas of specialisation could vary across industries ranging from Banking, Property, Insurance, Finance, Health and even Entertainment.

A Relationship Manager’s duties involve a range of important services which include providing complete services to their clients with respect to that specific industry. Understanding their needs, consultation and appropriate direction of action of resources advisory services on legal procedures, determining the objectives of their investments and developing their portfolio are some of the important responsibilities of a Relationship Manager.


A Private Client must be hold a bachelor’s degree in either BA or BS coupled with additional knowledge in the specialised area of specific clients. A strong and analytic personality with an astute sense of business and excellent relationship skills form the essentials of this profile. Compensation packages are relevant to experience and skills of the individual.