header-logo header-logo

CILEx plea for parity

17 January 2019
Issue: 7824 / Categories: Legal News , Profession
printer mail-detail

The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) is to prioritise campaigning for formal recognition that chartered legal executives operate on a par with solicitors, including removing blocks on judicial roles and post-Brexit professional recognition abroad.

It wants senior judicial roles opened up to chartered legal executives, who are currently unable to apply for judicial roles higher than District Judge. CILEx points out that this would help make the judiciary more representative of society as its members come from more diverse backgrounds than solicitors and barristers.

Phil Sherwood, president of CILEx, said: ‘Chartered legal executives and solicitors have been performing the same roles for decades, but their public standing, and many areas of our legal system, are yet to catch up with that reality.

‘Three quarters of our membership are women and we have far greater representation from ethnic minorities and state-school backgrounds than other parts of the profession.’

CILEx is calling for chartered legal executives to be recognised in the EU Lawyer Recognition Directive so they can offer services to other EU countries. Post-Brexit, it wants its legal executive members recognised alongside solicitors and barristers in any future trade agreement with the EU.

It will also campaign for an end to laws preventing chartered legal executives from providing certain services open to solicitors, for example, proving Power of Attorney by means of a certified copy.

Meanwhile, look out for Bevan Brittan paralegal apprentice Michelle Blackwell, who features in the government’s ‘Fire it up’ TV and social media campaign to highlight the breadth of apprenticeship opportunities. Blackwell currently works in the clinical negligence department and aims to eventually qualify as a solicitor.

Issue: 7824 / Categories: Legal News , Profession
printer mail-details

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
back-to-top-scroll