The inaugural CILEx National Awards: celebrating exceptional talent, innovation and achievement

The 2018 CILEx National Awards championed the work of CILEx lawyers, and stakeholders and partners. Many congratulations to this year’s winners!

The Awards ceremony

‘The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers,’ says Dick the butcher in Henry VI Part II. It is a line often trotted out to show how a dislike of lawyers stretches back to Elizabethan times. But, in fact, there are many who argue that it is a comment on how you need to get lawyers out of the way if you want to create social unrest the line is a sign of respect.

So, the UnderGlobe, which is located underneath Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre on London’s South Bank was an eminently appropriate location for the first CILEx National Awards in early September. Indeed, welcoming guests CILEx chief executive Linda Ford noted how, in his plays, Shakespeare mentions lawyers more than any other profession. Aside from Dick the butcher’s famous quote – whether you read it positively or negatively – in Hamlet’s graveyard speech (before the line ‘Alas, poor Yorick’), he muses on a skull: ‘Why may not that be the skull of a lawyer?’

Linda Ford said: ‘Don’t be fooled into thinking the great playwright didn’t appreciate the legal profession. The playwright’s father, John Shakespeare, was apparently a ferocious litigant – 50 law suits as plaintiff or defendant in Stratfordupon-Avon – and he was a high bailiff, too.

‘Shakespeare was himself a litigant, often for small debts. So, I’d like to think that William Shakespeare would appreciate the role of the legal profession and what we’re here to celebrate this evening.’

Some 250 guests came from far and wide to fill the Underglobe – an atmospheric space in the bowels of the building – and celebrate the achievements of CILEx members. The awards also recognised those employers that have reaped the benefits of creating pathways and careers for CILEx members.

The guest host was the well-known comedian Sally Phillips, who orchestrated the evening with charm and wit: it was probably just as well that the many Lord Chancellors of recent years were not present to be on the receiving end of her barbs.

You will read in the pages to follow the winners and their thoughts on what CILEx, and their awards, mean to them. But the value of both the awards and the evening were best summed up on the night by Keith Barrett, who was more than a little surprised to learn that he was to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Linda Ford explained to the audience that the award recognised an individual ‘who’s given outstanding service to CILEx and to the wider legal community, who embodies the values of CILEx and everything we stand for’.

I am especially proud of what our branch has achieved during 2017/2018, and am delighted that we were the winners of Regional Branch of the Year Award. This award really helps to demonstrate the hard work put in by all our committee members over the last year.

We have a large committee consisting of 14 members. Longstanding members include Emma Davies, Susan Turner, Caroline Lavis and Lucy Neal.

Over the last year, we have introduced social media and LGBT officers, maintained our member engagement, continued to establish new contacts in Plymouth and in North Devon to widen our geographical area, devised a questionnaire for member feedback, used Eventbrite to streamline the booking of events, provided a variety of socials and events and extended our relationship with our local law society.

The award has given us a real boost, and we will endeavour to capitalise on our current success and further expand the branch.

Supporting Lifelong Learning Award: Sally Swift
Sponsored by DAC Beachcroft

Sally writes: My career started at a small high street practice in Chesterfield as an apprentice.

I didn’t take the traditional university route. I started in admin, moved to secretarial, then a paralegal and a fee-earner. I was soon managing my own files, had my own clients and regularly met them when negotiating and progressing their claims.

After several years, the partners offered me an opportunity to set up and run a medico-legal agency. To say it was a steep learning curve is an understatement. I still continued with my studies, achieving management qualifications, winning several small business awards and expanding what was now multi-million-pound business.

I missed being part of a law firm though, so after nine years I went back to a firm as a senior manager, heading my own teams, setting up a legal advice centre and working with a strong portfolio of clients.

I am now the head of legal support at Browne Jacobson, responsible for setting up our apprenticeship scheme in 2012. It is something I am extremely passionate about: I love seeing people develop.

CILEx is a big part of our development opportunities. Its industry expertise and reputation are of the highest calibre, and to work alongside CILEx in offering professional qualifications is fantastic.

Winning the award is something I am immensely proud of. I feel genuinely honoured to be recognised by CILEx. Growing our apprenticeship offering, creating opportunities for people, and helping to build a diverse profession that reflects our clients and communities is what motivates me.

CILEx Employee of the Year: Louise Tyrrell
Sponsored by Silverbear

Louise writes: I started my role as membership manager in October 2017, having worked at CILEx since 2010 in various roles.

Prior to this, I was a practising solicitor so have a good understanding of what it is like working as a legal professional and the many demands involved in an everchanging legal environment.

I have always enjoyed working directly with our members, providing support and guidance in relation to a wide range of technical, practical and operational issues. For example, I was heavily involved with our success in securing a change to the guideline hourly rates, allowing Chartered Legal Executives to recover Grade A rates once they reach eight years’ PQE.

Whilst at CILEx, I have developed excellent working relationships with a number of our members and been pleased to witness their career development. Having followed members’ progress through our membership grades, it gives me a real buzz to meet them and their friends and families, for example, at our Graduation and Fellowship Admission ceremonies.

I have also worked with a number of members seeking additional practice rights and launching their own legal practices, as well as those who want to develop the scope of their legal and professional skills, for example, by seeking judicial appointment.

I was extremely honoured to be a part of the team that organised the inaugural CILEx National Awards, as it was an excellent way for us to showcase and celebrate our truly remarkable members and stakeholders. Being able to celebrate the significant role they play in the professional legal services sector, with colleagues who understand the importance of our members within that sector, was truly special.

To win an award myself and stand alongside all of the winners was an absolute privilege.

CILEx Apprentice of the Year:
Abigail Exelby Sponsored by CILEx Law School

Abi writes: My CILEx journey began with a paralegal apprenticeship at North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) 18 months ago.

Having worked in private practice, I was aware of the CILEx route and had been making arrangements to undertake the Level 3 Diploma at a local college when I became aware of the opportunity at NYCC, which was perfect for me.

The apprenticeship was ideal as it combined work with study, allowed me to gain experience in different areas of law, and fully funded all the course fees. My employer and CILEx Law School have worked together closely to provide a high level of support, assisting me to obtain excellent results and finish the course early.

The route I have taken, which has allowed me to earn a wage whilst studying, has been hugely beneficial in allowing me to purchase and run my own home and car. I have also gained invaluable knowledge and experience in several different areas of law, which contributed to my promotion to a new role in NYCC’s education, employment and litigation team in August 2018. I’m thoroughly enjoying the challenges of my new role, which primarily involves providing a debt recovery service and litigation support.

Winning this award has given me more confidence in my abilities, and I am delighted to be continuing my studies having now enrolled on the Chartered Legal Executive apprenticeship. I look forward to the next stage of my career and to qualifying as a Fellow in the near future.

Award for Advancing the Legal Profession: Christine Bunting
Sponsored by Black Letter Communications

Christine writes: ‘It is an absolute honour and privilege to be offcially recognised for helping to advance the legal profession. I am passionate about reaching out to young people who may be interested in developing a legal career, but are unclear about the best route.

I started at a Bristol law firm with no legal qualifications and worked my way up the ladder using the CILEx route, learning on the job, and qualifying as a lawyer without accruing any debt.

I am grateful to CILEx for the opportunities it has given me to have a career in a field that I love, because it gives me the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. My aim is to continue to set an example for young people and to encourage them to have the self-belief, confidence and motivation to make that next step towards embarking on a rewarding and fulfilling career in law.’

Christine has a long history of mentoring law students, trainee solicitors and paralegals keen to develop careers in Court of Protection law. She is passionate about sharing her specialist knowledge and is a proud ‘Inspiring the Future’ volunteer: visiting schools to provide inspiration to young people about careers in law and, in particular, the CILEx route to qualiÿcation.

Legal Expert Award: Philippa Morgan
Sponsored by CILEx Regulation

Philippa writes: I started working as an offce junior in a practice in Cornwall straight from sixth form.

Shortly thereafter, my employer offered to fund CILEx training, and I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to qualify into the legal profession. I attended night school for two years, and then carried on studying by distance learning for a further two years, qualifying as a Fellow in 1995 and specialising in family law.

Shortly after qualifying, I moved to a firm in London, where I began assisting with international child abduction work. I moved to Bristol, in 1998, where I have been ever since, and was admitted to the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit’s list of specialised lawyers.

CILEx has had a huge impact on my working life and has enabled me to specialise in an area of law I love and become the head of the family department at Lyons Davidson. I deal with international children matters, including applications under the Hague Convention. I am also named in the Legal 500.

Lyons Davidson is an incredibly supportive firm and was, in fact, shortlisted for the CILEx Innovation and People Development Award.

I am hugely honoured to have won the Legal Expert Award, and I am looking forward to continuing to further my knowledge and to continuing to represent vulnerable people in the area of family law.

Legal Expert Award – Property: Sally Trevaskis
Sponsored by Landmark Information

Sally writes: I qualified as a Fellow in June 1995, following four years of part-time study whilst working full-time as a legal secretary in London.

My passion for law and, in particular, property law started when I worked in the legal department of the National Trust back in 1986. I have not looked back since, and my career has been immensely rewarding. I joined private practice after leaving the National Trust, and have since specialised in residential conveyancing. I have worked at some fantastic law firms: in London, including Mishcon de Reya; in Kent, at Cripps; and now in Devon following my recent relocation to the area.

I joined my current firm, Wolferstans, in September 2017 as an associate, initially working at the main offce in Plymouth, but now leading the residential conveyancing team at the Plympton offce. As well as running a busy caseload of transactions, I regularly attend networking events promoting Wolferstans, which is something I really enjoy.

I thoroughly enjoy mentoring our CILEx students, and I currently sit on the committee of the CILEx Devon Branch.

Winning the Legal Expert – Property Award has made me even more proud to be a Chartered Legal Executive, and it is just fantastic to gain this recognition after working in property law for over 20 years.

I am now working towards my aspiration to be appointed a partner at Wolferstans and looking forward to the coming years, which I have no doubt will become more digitised in the conveyancing world.

Legal Expert Award - Private Client: Ian Hunt
Sponsored by Hoopers

Ian writes: I began my CILEx journey, in 1982, on leaving school aged 16 to start as a trainee with what is now Coles Miller Solicitors in Poole. I was following in the footsteps of my father and grandfather, who were both Fellows of the Institute, and now my daughter is about to start her training to become a fourth-generation CILEx member.

I started on day release at Bournemouth College, and then onto Southampton University for the start of my Fellowship exams. Following a two-year break from law working in local government, I joined Dickinson Manser in Poole and completed my exams by correspondence course through the then ITS [now CILEx Law School], passing the exams in October 1990 and being admitted as a Fellow two years later.