I started as an Office Junior at a law firm when I left college at the age of 17 and then progressed to being a legal secretary in the Family Department in the same firm. Following maternity leave a few years later, I came to work at Coodes Solicitors as a PA for the Head of the Dispute Resolution Department before then deciding to undertake my studies with CILEx.
Lucy McDonald is a Conveyancing Paralegal at Mark Swatts Morse LLP. She is currently working towards her CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice and eventually aspires to become a Fellow of CILEx.
Nicole Causey works as a Trainee Legal Executive with Irwin Mitchell’s Medical Negligence Team. Having completed her CILEx Level 6 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice she is a Graduate Member of CILEx. She now needs to do one more year of qualifying employment before applying to become a Fellow of CILEx which is the membership grade for a qualified Chartered Legal Executive lawyer.
Jordan Barrow chose to join a law firm and study for CILEx qualifications through CILEx Law School instead of going to university.
CILEx Level 3 student Harriet Dale speaks about her career progression into law and how CILEx Law School helped her achieve her aspirations.
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.
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.
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 started working at my local law firm as a part-time receptionist twelve years ago, and later moved into a secretarial role. Seven years ago I started working for the partner in charge of the wills and probate department.
