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myCILEx provides you with information on the work CILEx is doing on behalf of its members For the latest branch events in your area, visit: www.cilexbranches.org.uk

President’s message

CILEx President Philip Sherwood writes:

My inauguration was 19 July 2018, which already seems a distant memory. It was a fantastic event and I thank all those at CILEx head office involved in the organisation. I thank all the guests for attending, especially His Honour Judge Dight, who gave a very entertaining speech. It was lovely to catch up with some previous work colleagues and friends from the past 25 years in legal practice. Earlier in the day we held the CILEx AGM and, as part of the new governance structure, CILEx Council formally handed over the reins to the new CILEx Group Board.

Susan Silver

My first official engagement as President was a sad one. I attended the funeral of Susan Silver, a past president and long-serving CILEx Council member (see page 6 of this issue). Those who met Susan would have known of her passion for CILEx and all her hard work over the years. Susan played a part in many of our achievements over the last 12 years, and will be sorely missed as a colleague and friend.

Events and meetings

I attended a meeting with the Legal Services Board (LSB) with Linda Ford, our chief executive, on 3 September, the first of quarterly meetings with the LSB to discuss developments and possible revisions to the Internal Governance Rules to be published.

The National CILEx Awards ceremony on 6 September at the UnderGlobe Theatre in London was a huge success for our first-ever awards dinner (see pages 12–17 of this issue). Again, great thanks to our head office staff for organising and hosting such a prestigious event celebrating the achievements of students, members and employers. It was my great honour to present an award to our new Honorary Vice-President, Keith Barrett, to recognise all that he has done for CILEx during his 12 years with CILEx Council, and the work he continues to do as an ambassador for CILEx.

Preston Branch kindly invited me to their branch event, which involved a dinner and a comedy club. It was lovely to meet such enthusiastic members and to hear their views on issues affecting us all.

I represented CILEx at the Association of Taxation Technicians President’s Luncheon in London. It was interesting to meet representatives of another professional body, and hear their views on some of the common issues.

I attended the Opening of The Legal Year at Westminster Abbey with the CILEx delegation, and that was an honour and very interesting (see page 4 of this issue).

The Personal Support Unit (PSU) held an event on 9 October in the Costume Gallery at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. It was nice to chat to PSU staff and learn about the good work they do for litigants in person who are unable to obtain representation when attending court.

The CILEx Graduation and Fellowship Admission ceremonies were held on 13 October in Milton Keynes (see pages 8–11 of this issue). It was lovely to meet so many members, and their families and friends, who were there to celebrate their achievements. A truly fantastic day, and the one event that myself and other office holders and Board members look forward to most.

CILEx Regulation hosted a round table meeting, on 17 October, to discuss developments in legal technologies, and we heard from some very innovative and interesting guest speakers on their views of the future role of technology in the legal market.

At the time of writing, I am looking forward to attending the Devon Branch Autumn Ball on 27 October, and my diary is busy, particularly in December and into next year already.

Summing up

It has been a steep learning curve over the past three months, but also very enjoyable.

I am always pleased to hear the fond comments about our immediate past president, Millicent Grant, and thank her for all that she has done and continues to do for CILEx. I hope to continue her great work in promoting our members and fostering good working relationships with all other bodies.

Don’t think a judicial role is for you? Think again…

Over the coming months, the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) will run several selection exercises that are open to Chartered Legal Executives to apply. As well as the more obvious District judge and Deputy District judge roles, CILEx Fellows with five years’ postqualification experience can apply for Road User Charging Adjudicator roles and First-tier Tribunal judge roles.

‘Chartered Legal Executives often have unrivalled first-hand experience of working with citizens at the sharp end of the law. It’s clear that many have the requisite skills and qualities required for judicial roles,’ says Judge Mathu Asokan, the JAC’s lead CILEx Commissioner.

‘While judicial appointment may not be for everyone, there are some really fascinating and worthwhile opportunities for those willing to put themselves forward and go through the process.

‘The key to success with your application is preparation and not to be discouraged if you are unsuccessful the first time you apply,’ says Judge Asokan. ‘The JAC is looking for evidence of qualities and abilities that make up the essence of ‘judgecraft’: communication skills; decision-making skills; how to deal with diÿcult situations; and equal treatment of parties. Chartered Legal Executives have these qualities in spades. They need to be prepared to demonstrate that as part of the appointment process.’

There is help at hand. As well as CILEx’s Judicial Development Programme, intended to assist members to prepare for judicial appointment, there are a range of other ways to be ready for application, including work shadowing a judge and judicial mentoring.

Stephen Nichols began his career as a CILEx Fellow before becoming a solicitor. He is now a District judge appointed to the South Western Circuit. He was previously a Deputy District judge while working in private practice.

‘I wasn’t successful on my first application for a full-time appointment. But I learned from previous experience and applied this cumulative knowledge together with the helpful interview feedback. What is needed, in both the application form and at the interview, are specific examples of the particular qualities and abilities required for the post, so my approach was to concentrate on getting that right.

‘Candidates are likely to be well versed in law and procedure. My advice would be to concentrate more on what might be asked by the lay panel member. They look at a really diverse selection of areas, and here I drew upon my experience as an adviser at the Citizen’s Advice Bureau where I’ve met and mixed with a diverse range of cultures.

‘The interview also involved some situational questioning, which really added an element of realism. It focuses the mind upon what you would be doing day to day as a judge. The answers that you provide also give the panel food for thought for further questioning.

‘I would certainly recommend this career path to any CILEx Fellow. I found that starting as a fee-paid judge gave me a very good practical grounding.

My firm welcomed the judicial point of view I was able to bring in. There is a real advantage to doing it this way and, of course, today CILEx Fellows can apply for a number of judicial roles in courts and tribunals.’

Applications for the Road User Charging Adjudicator will open in December, and for Fee-paid judge of the First-tier Tribunal, Deputy District judge and District judge (Magistrates’ Courts) in early 2019.

• More information is available at: www.judicialappointments.gov.uk You can also sign-up for alerts on speciÿc exercises.

CILEx Associate awarded national St John Ambulance Award

Merseyside and Wirral Solicitors, Maxwell Hodge, nominated Adam French, a CILEx Associate at its Maghull branch, for the Workplace Hero category of the St John Ambulance Everyday Heroes Awards after he had successfully performed CPR on a gentleman who had suffered a cardiac arrest while visiting the office.

Adam reached the final stages of the award process and, on 24 September 2018, had the pleasure of attending the prestigious St John Ambulance Everyday Heroes Awards Evening, held at London Bankside Hilton Hotel, where he was presented with his Workplace Hero Award. This event celebrates both organisations and individuals for their contributions to First Aid.

Adam reported: ‘I don’t think I could have ever foreseen that my actions would lead to me to attend such a prestigious event surrounded by some remarkable individuals, celebrities and people who were wearing so many medals that I’m surprised they were able to maintain their balance!’ He went on: ‘It just goes to show how, even a few short moments, can have a dramatic life-changing effect.’

FCILEx residential property expert celebrates 30 years’ service

Julie Goodman first joined Thursfields, in 1985, as a personal assistant to Mark Thursfield, the son of one of the company’s founders, in Kidderminster. She undertook her legal training while working full time and was admitted as a FCILEx in 1997.

Ms Goodman worked at Eversheds, from 2000 to 2003, before rejoining Thursfields where she deals with all legal aspects of residential property work, moving to the Stourport office in 2013 and becoming a senior associate. In 2013, Ms Goodman was a finalist in the Legal Executive of the Year category in the Birmingham Law Society’s annual awards.

Ms Goodman, a married mother of one, who has lived all her life in Worcestershire, said: ‘I’ve enjoyed my career at Thursfields, although things have changed so much since the 1980s.

‘It wasn’t easy for a woman with a young child to develop a legal career in the 1980s, but Thursfields saw my potential and have always been supportive.

‘As the years have progressed, I’ve seen and experienced how the company has developed the way it encourages people to think for themselves and to further their careers.’

Ms Goodman added: ‘When Thursfields asked me to come back in 2003 I had little hesitation, and that says it all, really: the company was entering a new dawn and I wanted to be part of that.’

RETIREMENT

Brian McGeown

Brian McGeown retired on 31 August 2018. He writes: ‘I was fortunate to be employed throughout my 54 years in the legal profession.’

From April 1964 to June 1972, Brian was employed by Blackham Maycock and Hayward Solicitors, having qualified as an Associate Legal Executive on 21 November 1968.

From July 1972 to December 1986, he worked with Eagle and Boyars Solicitors, and from January 1987 to September 2005 with Brendan Fleming and Co (incorporating H E Wynschenk Solicitors).

From October 2005 to November 2008, Brian was employed by Carvers Solicitors (part of The Wilkes Partnership), and then from December 2008 to his retirement, Brian worked with Brendan Fleming Ltd Solicitors.

Andrew Newsome

Legal Recoveries & Collections (LRC) Ltd, based in Nottingham, said goodbye in November to co-founder and managing director Andrew Newsome FCILEx, who retired after being with LRC for 16 years since the company’s formation in 2002.

Commenting on his retirement, Andrew said: 'Whilst I am looking excitedly forward to the future, I will be sad to leave LRC. My 16 years with LRC has, without doubt, been both the most challenging and most fulfilling part of my 34-year career in legal debt recovery, and I know that I leave LRC in safe and capable hands. I would like to wish LRC, its staff and clients all the very best for the future’.

Firms need to do more to support young staff

Elizabeth Rimmer, director of LawCare, writes:

The annual World Mental Health Day took place on 10 October. This year’s event focused on ‘young people and mental health in a changing world’.

Many young people entering the legal profession are ill-prepared for the competitive, hierarchical, long-hours culture, and this can significantly affect their mental health and wellbeing. Younger callers to the LawCare helpline are often struggling with anxiety, panic attacks and homesickness.

A study of over 12,000 lawyers in the USA found that making the transition into practice is the most vulnerable time in a lawyer’s career. Senior leaders need to do more to train, support and mentor junior staff, and encourage a working culture that makes wellbeing a priority so as to help young lawyers have the best start they can to their legal careers.

Firms should encourage staff to work healthy hours and keep track of their workloads. Long hours can lead to stress and reduce staff performance and moral. Sometimes, long hours are unavoidable, but staff should have time off to recover from a busy spell and be encouraged to take all their holiday and not work at weekends.

Being with friends and family and having the time to pursue the things we enjoy is vital to wellbeing.

Having an open, transparent culture, where senior leaders are approachable and talk freely about the stresses and strains of working in the law and overcoming diÿcult situations, can also help. Some firms nominate wellbeing champions, who are available to talk to staff about anything that is concerning them. It is crucial that these people are senior, visible people in the organisation, who can correctly signpost staff in the direction of further support if needed.

We also need to encourage legal professionals proactively to recognise and identify factors that put a strain on their wellbeing at an early stage. Equipping law students with the right skills to manage anxiety, stress, diÿcult clients, and traumatic materials could mean a lower dropout rate in the early years of practice and also support better wellbeing.

Life in the law can be tough. If you need to talk in confidence about any personal or professional issue call the LawCare helpline. 

• Helpline Support on 0800 279 6888 is available Monday to Friday from 9 am to 7.30 pm, and at weekends and bank holidays from 10 am to 4 pm. 
• Further information, resources and factsheets are available at: www.lawcare.org.uk

200 new CLS apprentices

CILEx Law School (CLS) has welcomed more than 220 new apprentices from client organisations at inductions taking place from Bristol to York. The September 2018 intake has brought the number of apprentices CLS is currently teaching to almost 550.

The new apprentices range from school leavers starting their first job to a former teacher retraining as a paralegal after more than 20 years in the classroom.

They are all following one of CLS’s programmes: business administrator; paralegal; Chartered Legal Executive; or solicitor apprenticeship. All are employed within the legal sector and the selection of apprenticeship is tailored to each job role.

Jenny Pelling, director of business and apprenticeships at CLS, said: ‘In many instances we have worked with the employers from providing initial advice on programme options through to assisting with the recruitment process, so it is wonderful to see young people taking their first steps in their legal careers as well as existing members of staff embarking on development opportunities.’

Pro Bono Week: a celebration global of professional services for the public good

Pro Bono Week, which this year took place from 22 to 27 October, provides an opportunity to encourage and recognise pro bono work by lawyers, and aims to put a spotlight on voluntary legal help.

Pro Bono Week 2018 was organised under the coordination of the National Pro Bono Centre to coincide with Global Pro Bono Week, which takes place every October across a dozen countries around the world. Events that took place during Pro Bono Week included the following:

Developing an SDG-centric pro bono programme: opportunities and challenges This roundtable event, hosted in partnership with Clifford Chance, provided an opportunity for people from the legal sector, business and non-governmental organisations to discuss the benefits and challenges of framing the social impacts they hope to achieve in terms of their alignment with the sustainable development goals.

A celebration of international pro bono legal technical assistance This fun and lively event showcased some of the work and organisations that ROLE UK has supported over 2018.

Pro bono cost orders explained webinar Hosted by Kerry Nicholson (Pro Bono Policy Adviser) and presented by Toby Brown (South Square), this webinar explained what a pro bono costs order is, when and how you can apply for one and why it is important that you do.

The business case for pro bono discussed The core business reasons for engaging in legal pro bono; how to align a firm’s business strategy and its pro bono practice; and how to develop a strategic pro bono practice.

Bar Pro Bono Unit Awards 2018 Since 1997, the Bar Pro Bono Award has been given every year in recognition of outstanding commitment to pro bono work by a barrister or chambers. This year saw the introduction of nine new categories in which barristers, staff members, chambers and projects were recognised for their pro bono work.

Upholding the rule of law overseas through international pro bono This Law Society discussed how the expertise and resources within the UK legal and judicial sector can be maximised to support effective and accountable rule of law policies and practices globally, taking account of the considerable challenges and complexities involved.

Walk the Thames 2018 Organised by the London Legal Support Trust, the walk was a half marathon or full marathon where funds were raised to help vulnerable people access justice.

OBITUARY

Dorothy Syree Leslie Syree writes: It is with regret that I inform you of the sudden death of my wife, Dorothy, after 56 years of marriage, and I submit the following as an obituary for CILEx Journal:

Dorothy was accepted as an Associate member of the then Institute of Legal Executives, on 18 September 1981, and remained an Associate for almost 32 years until retiring in 2013.

Dorothy commenced working in the legal profession, in 1962, at HQ Provost and Security Services, RAF Germany, where I was then serving with the RAF. Upon returning to England, in 1964, Dorothy joined the firm of Last, Suddards and Co, Solicitors in Bradford. She finally retired at the age of 73, in 2013, after several years with Downey & Co Solicitors, also of Bradford, and after 51 years in the profession. Otherwise fit, Dorothy died of a sudden stroke on 17 May 2018.

New CRL director of policy and governance

Stuart Dalton joined CILEx Regulation in August as the new director of policy and governance.

Stuart said: ‘I am delighted to be joining CILEx Regulation. I was attracted by the pivotal role CILEx Regulation has in ensuring high-quality standards which support the market in delivering innovative legal services. I was impressed by both the passion and forward thinking of the Executive Team and Board.’