A trainee lawyer’s experience.
Different routes into family law and why you chose Cilex
There are various different routes into the legal industry. Outlined below are the different ways in which you can enter a career as a Solicitor, including their steps to qualification:
- The law graduate route – including the completion of a law degree (LLB), legal practice course (LPC) and a training contract at a law firm
- The non-law graduate route – including the completion of a degree (non-law), graduate diploma in law (GDL), legal practice course (LPC) and a training contract at a law firm.
- The new route for graduates – including the completion of a degree (law or non-law), SQE1 exam, qualifying work experience (QWE) and SQE2 exam.
- Solicitor apprenticeship for school leavers – a 6 year apprenticeship combining on the job training with studying, including the SQE1 and SQE2 exams.
The CILEx route
The usual belief is that you have to go to University in order to qualify as a Lawyer. However, CILEX offers an alternative to this.
CILEx is the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives. CILEx offers aspiring lawyers to qualify without the need to obtain a degree and embark on the above traditional routes. CILEx enables students to qualify as Chartered Legal Executive Lawyers and Advocates, as well as Paralegals and other legal professionals.
On completing A-Level Law at Sixth Form, I knew that I was extremely interested in joining the legal industry and aspired to be a lawyer. However, I was not keen to attend university and wished to get into the world of working as soon as possible, to begin earning and gaining invaluable on-the-job experience. The CILEx route therefore seemed just right for me.
I had always wanted to become involved in an area of law where I could work closely with clients and feel like I was making a real difference to their lives, which is especially true of family law.
The CILEx route for me has been fantastic, enabling me to start my law career at an early stage, without attending university. The experience I have gained during my time working in the legal industry prior to commencing my lawyer studies have been completely invaluable in setting me up to commence my training.
Further, there are many benefits of embarking on an apprenticeship – you are able to earn whilst you learn, with your training paid for by employer, and the apprenticeship provider is able to support and guide you throughout your learning. Further, with CILEx requiring employers to give full time apprentices 20% of their working time towards their training, this allows for a great work/life/learning balance.
The importance of support through early talent programmes
Stowe Family Law has recently launched an early talent programme. Through this programme, trainees are able to take on their qualification journey through their chosen programme with the continuing support of the firm and the professional support lawyer.
Studying can come with its stresses and uncertainties, but having a group of others around you in a similar position can be reassuring and we provide a great support to one another
Case work
As a Trainee Lawyer in family law, every day is different. I work on a variety of different cases, including divorce, financial matters, private law children matters, cohabitation and pre/ post nuptial agreements. On a day-to-day basis, I have correspondence and meetings with client, as well as other solicitors, barristers, courts, third parties and experts. I am also responsible for preparing court applications and drafting of documents, as well as assisting lawyers in preparing for conferences and court hearings, often also attending court.
Having previously worked in Child Abduction and Domestic Abuse matters as a Paralegal, I find myself having a particular interest in private law children matters and supporting those who have been victims of domestic abuse. Although these cases can often be difficult due to the emotions that surround them, it is an extremely rewarding role and responsibility to assist clients at these difficult times in their lives.
Becka Headley is a Trainee CILEx Lawyer based in Stowe’s Exeter office. She previously qualified as a Paralegal after completing the CILEx Level 3 Diploma in Law and Practice by way of an apprenticeship. She has recently embarked on the CILEx Level 7 Litigator and Advocate apprenticeship, to qualify as a CILEx Lawyer.
