Other careers in law
Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)
All prosecution work undertaken by the CPS is performed by solicitors or barristers known as crown prosecutors. Teams of lawyers, with the help of administrative staff, ensure that all relevant facts and evidence to support cases are available for presentation by CPS lawyers to magistrates courts. More serious cases are prosecuted in the crown court by barristers instructed by CPS staff. Further information: http://www.cps.gov.uk
Coroners
Coroners are employed by local government and are either a solicitor, a barrister or a doctor, and have five years experience in that field. Coroners inquire into deaths within their own geographic areas when the death is thought to be unnatural, unexpected or where the cause of death is unknown or violent. Further information: http://www.coroner.org.uk
Government Legal Service
The name for the legal teams of about 40 central Government Departments, agencies and public bodies, which between them employ approximately 1,700 lawyers. The teams provide a comprehensive range of legal services to the government of the day. All posts are open to both solicitors and barristers. Further information: http://www.gls.gov.uk
Industry/Commerce
This group is made up of solicitors and barristers. In-house lawyers know their sector well and cover a wide variety of legal issues on a daily basis. Their roles are varied and they generally undertake a wider scope of legal work than their counterparts in private practice. For information: http://www.cigroup.org.uk
Justices’ Clerks
Justices’ Clerks are Barristers or Solicitors who manage the Magistrates’ Courts Service. They provide legal advice to lay Magistrates, offer training, act as secretary to management and selection committees and liaise with other professionals within the criminal justice system. Further information: http://www.jc-society.co.uk
Law Costs Draftsmen
Law Costs Draftsmen ensure that clients are properly charged for work that has been done on their behalf. They must demonstrate an overall knowledge of all areas of law and legal procedure in order to enable them to assess the files properly. Further information: http://www.alcd.org.uk
Legal Cashiers
Legal Cashiers usually work in Solicitors’ practices to maintain financial records and, in some cases; deal with payment of salaries, pensions, and tax deductions. Further information: http://www.ilca.org.uk
Legal Secretaries
Legal Secretaries provide the secretarial and clerical support for Solicitors, Barristers, Legal Executives, Law Courts, Civil Service, Banks and commerce. They deal with large amounts of correspondence and prepare legal documentation.
Licensed Conveyancers
Licensed conveyancers came into existence in the late 1980s. They are legally qualified individuals who advise on the transfer of rights to land and property. Further information: http://www.conveyancer.org.uk/
Local Government
There are 410 local authorities in England and Wales, many of which retain the services of a legal department in-house. The size of the authority determines whether there is a legal department, and if so how many lawyers are employed. The legal services section is expected to provide a broad range of legal advice including housing, planning, environment and welfare. In addition, the drafting of agreements with outside contractors will be the responsibility of the in-house legal team - and this work has been on the increase since the introduction of compulsory competitive tendering, which forces local councils to put many services out to tender.
Paralegals
Paralegals are those who undertake legal work but are not qualified as a solicitor, barrister or legal executive. They may have no formal legal qualifications or often have passed their Legal Pratice Course and are working in a law firm while they try to obtain a training contract. The Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) provides training for Paralegals. Further information: The Institute of Legal Executives - http://www.ilex.org.uk
The Law Commission
The Law Commission recruits law graduates each year act as research assistants to work on projects linked with legal reviews and reforms. Further information: http://www.lawcom.gov.uk
