Linda Quinn has completed the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice and is now an Associate Member of CILEx. She is working towards her Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice
Erica Pearce-Howard, a Graduate member of CILEx, describes her experience as a mature student and how she balanced studying with a full-time job in a key fee-earning role.
Charlie Bretherick is currently working towards becoming a Chartered Legal Executive. She is close to completing her CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice and intends to study for the CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice and complete her qualifying employment through her role within the Medical Protection Society’s claims team.
Alex Lawrence is a Graduate Member of CILEx currently working at Fraser Dawbarns LLP. She will become a qualified Chartered Legal Executive on completion of her qualifying employment. She describes how her colleagues encouraged her to study with CILEx Law School – and how her studies have benefited her in her job.
I embarked upon my career path in law firstly by going to college and completing my A Levels. I left college with an A in Law, B in Psychology and C in Business Studies. At this point I knew that Law was where my passion was and the career path I wished to take.
My enthusiasm for law began when I was about 11 years old and attended an open day at my local magistrates’ court where we learnt about the different jobs available. From that day on I wanted to have a career in law, so when the time came I chose law as one of my A Levels.
I first became interested in law when I was employed in the credit control department of a large construction and refrigeration company and was working closing with the company lawyer in respect of resolving commercial disputes.
I had a place at university to begin in 2010, however, due to a change in personal circumstances I decided it was not appropriate for me to go, so I started work in customer service. I then applied for a job as a Customer Claims Assistant in the legal department of the travel company I was working in, dealing with personal injury complaints from customers. I heard about the CILEx route to qualifying as a lawyer through my employer who had funded the studies of other members of the department via the CILEx route, and I enrolled on my first courses at the age of 20.
I first properly got into law as a legal secretary in 2005 at Thomas Eggar LLP. The first manager I worked for was a trainee Chartered Legal Executive and there was also a Senior Chartered Legal Executive in our team. Talking to them and observing their work gave me an insight into the work that Chartered Legal Executives do and made me realise that it is not just a choice between being either a solicitor or support staff if you want to work in law.
After I did my GCSEs I left school and went to college to study Beauty Therapy. I enjoyed my year at college but decided this wasn’t what I wanted to do. I intended to enrol on a Forensic Science course in the following academic year.
