Your career questions answered

Q: I am a Chartered Legal Executive with eight years’ post qualification experience. In the last couple of years, my team has been managed by three solicitors who have come and gone, none of whom had the same level of expertise as me. I don’t seem to be on the radar when it comes to roles like this but would like to put myself forward. How do I show I can do it?

Louise: Unfortunately, not all employers fully understand CILEX – something we are working hard to address – so it is always worth reminding them of the significant knowledge and experience you bring to the firm through your qualification and experience. Although it can feel awkward, having conversations about progression is a vital part of your career development, so if you have decided you want to manage the team, then you need to let them know.

You could start by asking what the recruitment strategy is for filling the role and confirming you would like to be in consideration. Explain why you are interested and why you are well suited. Offer an overview of your time in your current role, including any support you have given previous team managers. Give details of key achievements both when working under previous managers and when there was no leadership in place.

Understand the key skills they are looking for and show they are skills you have, reminding them of your strengths and talents, expressing that you would like a chance demonstrate this at interview.

Briony: If the solicitors being recruited have had less experience than you, then your level of experience certainly won’t be a problem. Ask yourself whether they had other strengths in areas such as management or business development, that you may be lacking. If that is the case, then perhaps speak to your manager about taking on more responsibility in those areas, such as by supervising some more junior members of the team.

If you feel you already have a similar skillset and are well matched to compete, then you need to speak to your manager to voice your commitment and passion for further career progression. If they are aware of your ambitions, they should at least allow you to interview alongside external candidates.

If your firm still appears reluctant and does not provide any sound reason, it may be worth exploring your options and seeing if there are management opportunities available with other firms. It is possible that if you started out at your firm as a junior legal secretary or paralegal, they are failing to appreciate your current status and level of experience as a qualified Chartered Legal Executive.

Q: I have been working as a PA at my firm for a number of years and recently began studying for the CPQ. My firm has backed me in my studies and the plan was for me to begin gaining more exposure to client files. Six months in and I’m keen to get started but find I am still being asked to spend the majority of my time on admin tasks. How do I get the experience of legal work that I need for my development?

Briony: Congratulations – it’s great that your firm has backed you for this. As the plan was always for you to gain more exposure to client files, I think you need to be open and honest with your manager. There is nothing wrong with telling them you want to get stuck in and they will no doubt want you to progress given they have committed to supporting you.

Make it clear to them that, when you study the CPQ, you are required to evidence the application of various areas of law in your professional experience and so will need the exposure. Afterwards, it would be sensible to diarise a follow-up meeting with your manager for a couple months’ time so you can assess whether the situation has improved. Most firms would welcome you showing a willingness to learn and wanting career progression, so don’t be afraid of having these conversations.

You could also check in regularly with fee-earners in your team to see if they have anything you can assist with. If possible, you might want to consider switching to a paralegal or legal assistant role at the firm if any come up, as paralegals will typically get more exposure to this type of work.

Louise: It's great that your employer has agreed to support your CILEX studies as that can sometimes be the biggest hurdle. You now need to have a conversation with your manager and highlight the benefits of them practically supporting you in your studies by giving you exposure to more client files.

Perhaps in advance of your next one-to-one with your manager, ask to build in some additional time to discuss the practicalities around getting more legal experience, and how you can work with them to progress and deal with more detailed and complex work.

Remember to sell yourself. By getting this experience, you will be in a position to develop earlier and ultimately help bring in fees, whilst working towards qualification as a CILEX Lawyer. You can work with your manager and team to develop your role, so that it is more hybrid, developing the legal work over time. This will enable the manager and wider leadership team to consider resources to backfill the PA role.

You might also want to use this discussion to remind your manager of the areas in which you are keen to work, and where you could initially look to gain your experience.