The new chief executive of CILEx reveals her fascinating route into the profession
Nurse and barrister Mandie Lavin took up her post as chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) this month.
What was your route into the profession?
After qualifying as a nurse at Guys Hospital I fairly rapidly found myself running Brook Hospital, a large district general hospital. As the night manager I directly experienced the importance of well-resourced 24 hour healthcare. I also had the privilege to deal with some of the most life-changing situations that people ever experience.
I started my law degree at London South Bank University and found myself in a remarkably supportive environment where I was nurtured and encouraged. My confidence started to build and the onward journey was to the Bar, with Bar Finals and pupillage. It was then that I combined the two themes, undertaking medico-legal work and dealing with front-line complaints for the health service at hospital and regional level.
From there regulation became my chosen path, with positions in nursing, pharmacy and accountancy regulation, culminating in my directorship at the Bar Standards Board. I then returned to healthcare and worked at the General Optical Council prior to my current role as chief executive at CILEx.
What has been your biggest career challenge so far?
Undoubtedly working on the Shipman Inquiry and assisting the work of the Inquiry in devising creative and innovative solutions to complex problems; working in partnership with others; and always remembering that the interests of patients and the public were paramount. In my current role I can’t wait to see the first CILEx regulated entity. We want even more chartered legal executive lawyers at the forefront of the legal sector and my challenge is to do everything possible to make that happen.
Which person within the legal profession inspires you most?
As a result of my work on the Shipman Inquiry, Lady Justice Smith heads my league table, closely followed by Lord Woolf who kept my spirits up when I didn’t think I would find pupillage. And Professor Mike Molan, executive dean at South Bank and his team, because without him none of this would have happened.
If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you choose as an alternate career?
I have been and will always be a nurse as well as a lawyer.
Who is your favourite fictional lawyer?
It has to be Kavanagh QC. Watching him defend the defenseless and confront racism and prejudice always fills me with excitement. No doubt he learnt a lot in his early career as Jack Regan in The Sweeney and as Inspector Morse. All of these make John Thaw one of my favourite actors—I was so sad when he died.
What change would you make to the profession?
I am troubled by the impact of cuts to legal aid and the difficulties this is creating for the justice system, for those trying to access it, and for those working within it. CILEx has set out its list of proposals for the next government, including immediately reviewing the changes to civil and family legal aid, which I fully support and am committed to.
I want the legal profession to work together to overcome these problems and to find creative solutions that will enable the public to access justice in a timely, affordable and meaningful way. There are new personalities in key positions across the sector: I believe that between us we have the solutions.
How do you relax?
Gardening, having afternoon tea and the occasional spa day with close friends. There is always a project underway—at the moment I am restoring a beautiful old dolls house.
