Hi there,
I graduated with a law degree last year, with a particular interest in employment law - taking advanced modules and writing my dissertation on topics in employment law.
I did not want to pursue the LPC as I only want to pursue employment law. Is there a way to do this?
I currently have a job as an HR assistant and know you can go down the CIPD route, but was wondering if there are any other options?
I have discovered the Cilex programme..?
Thanks!
Hi Abigail
As far as I know, CILEX is the legal executives’ or paralegal professional body, and entirely reputable in that context. But it’s at paralegal as opposed to full professional level, similar I suppose to the role of paramedics or nurse practitioners in health care or accounting technicians in commerce.
Your main available career options might be either to become employed by employment law-specialist solicitors or similar independent advisers or to become employed within a corporate HR function, specialising in employment law advice and guidance specifically.
As Peter says, an LLM or at least postgraduate certificate or diploma in employment law would be the usual ‘ underpinning knowledge’ / essential qualification for this, ( at least at full professional level) and / or and especially for corporate HR the CIPD professional qualification specialising in employment law, which probably incorporates a lot of general HR-practice content that you wouldn’t necessarily absolutely need if attached to a firm of solicitors etc but wouldn’t hurt at all, practical HR experience and expertise being something that’s sadly lacking amongst many employment lawyers. Thinking about it, a LLM etc might be almost essential anyway, although you might be able to get by with CIPD-only - afraid I’m not too familiar with the various components of it currently.
