Elizabeth Johnson

Elizabeth Johnson, of Ashfords Solicitors in Exeter, has become the first female Chartered Legal Executive to be appointed to the judiciary.

A personal injury specialist with more than 20 years of experience in injury, insurance and liability claims, Elizabeth has been appointed as a fee-paid judge of the First-tier Tribunal in the Social Entitlement Chamber. She qualified with the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) in 1998, and will continue her work at Ashfords in addition to presiding over her first hearings from March of this year.

Although there are two other Chartered Legal Executives sitting as judges, those who have qualified through CILEx are currently unable to apply for roles higher than district judge, which the institute is pushing to change.

Elizabeth said: ‘I am very excited to be appointed as a judge, and to be the first female CILEx judge is a real honour. Whilst the application process is tough, I have demonstrated that, with the right skills and expertise, it is achievable. I hope that my appointment will encourage more Chartered Legal Executives, and women, to apply for judicial office.’

CILEx president Philip Sherwood added: ‘There is currently considerable under-representation of women and ethnic minorities in our judiciary. This urgently needs to change to ensure the judiciary better reflects the society it serves. Elizabeth’s appointment sends a message to our members, 75% of whom are women, that the judiciary is a potential career path for them.’