CILEx

What CILEx can do for you

Louise Tyrrell outlines the current and developing benefits on offer to CILEx members, including a listening ear and professional tools to move you forward with confidence.

About the author: Louise Tyrrell is the membership manager at CILEx.It is true that the last seven months have certainly been a challenging time for all of us, but one of the most positive things that I can take from this, in my role as membership manager here at CILEx, is that I have been able to speak to many more members. I have spoken to members who have been navigating some extremely difficult situations, but one thing is clear, they have all remained positive (even despite some awful situations) and have been looking at ways in which they can move forward.

Offering our support

My colleagues and I have been able to offer members our support: moral support to some and more practical support to others. However, the majority have been able to take their ideas and plans forward, just by talking through their options. There is nothing quite like a global pandemic to make you reassess things!

I have spoken with members who have been furloughed, those who have, unfortunately, been made redundant, but also to those who have remained working (and, often, found their workload to have significantly increased). I have also spoken with those who have managed to hold down a full-time job, whilst home-schooling or with other caring responsibilities.

But even when things are extremely busy, many members have taken stock and considered where they are in their career. They have - somehow - found some breathing space to assess where they are: Do they want to change career? Do they want to move into a different specialism? Are they happy right now, but giving more consideration to what they might like to do as part of a longer-term plan?

I have been amazed by the enthusiasm and curiosity for options that our members have demonstrated, particularly in some very difficult circumstances. So, I thought this would be a good opportunity to remind members of the assistance and tools that are available to support them on whatever steps they might want to take on their career journey.

I thought it would also be timely to let you know that we are working to develop the benefits and value that you can acquire through your membership.

Personal and career development

Over 60% of our members currently use myCareer. This career development platform is packed with interactive career tools, assessments, and e-learning and career exploration resources specifically designed to build your employability skills and empower you to take care of your own career development.

CV360

One of the useful tools in myCareer is CV360, which means you can upload your CV and, within five seconds, receive instant, detailed feedback to help optimise your CV. The checks and feedback include file, structure, content, language, presentation and skills.

CV360 also checks time-to-read, employability skills and skills dominance. You will also get a score and, once you have amended your CV in line with the feedback, simply upload your CV again and see how much your score increases. Have a go!

Career pulse

Another addition is ‘career pulse’. This is a self-assessment tool, which has been designed to identify the things you need to develop to help you be as fulfilled, productive, healthy and successful at work as you can be. The statements will provide you with a logical framework to assess your own level of confidence across key areas of career development, and then give you a bespoke programme to work through, which will help you take more control of your career direction. Try it out!

Webinars and COVID-19 support hub

myCareer is where we also house the webinars that we have produced to support you, our members. The subjects of these range from assertiveness, consideration of changing specialism, obtaining practice rights, LawCare and what help is available to you (see below) to furlough and coronial and judicial appointments. It also has our COVID-19 support hub, which gives you access to online resources around working remotely and dealing with challenges and change.

Other webinars we have produced include the following: how to deal with being on furlough; how to obtain additional practice rights; how to develop your LinkedIn profile if you are looking to change specialism; and how to prepare yourself for judicial or coronial appointment. We are also taking feedback from you to develop our CPD offering.

Judicial Development Programme

We have developed the Judicial Development Programme (JDP) to support our members that wish to know more about applying for judicial appointment or coronial office. Those successful in joining the JDP receive information, support, training, mentoring and encouragement, which will assist them in preparing for the appointment process. If judicial appointment is something that you are considering, then you can read more about it here.

You can also read about Elizabeth Johnson, the first female CILEx Lawyer to obtain a judicial appointment, having participated in the pilot of the JDP. Elizabeth provides her views and tips on what you need to do to develop yourself before you are ready for judicial appointment. If judicial appointment is something you are interested in, then start thinking now about a five-year plan and what you need to put into place to feel confident and ready to start.

Many members have also taken this opportunity to consider their options for professional and career development, and look at obtaining additional Practice Rights.

Access to information

CILEx Journal and Compendium

Throughout this period, we have continued to provide members with information via our quarterly Journal, and monthly Compendium (the latter offers a comprehensive synopsis of essential legal resources and reference material). Our policy team has not only sought your views about the impact the pandemic has had on you, but has also represented your views to key stakeholders. You can read more about the work of the policy team in this issue (see pages 24 to 27 of this issue).

Stay Connected

We launched the Stay Connected hub, which provided our members with a ‘one-stop-shop’ for all the ways to remain connected with us and their wider network: to keep in touch through social media and to stay well, with access to well-being materials, blogs and tips. The hub also enabled members to stay up to date with news articles and media releases around the ways that COVID was impacting on and changing legal practice.

Professional networks and representation

Whilst our Branches are taking a break from their usual activities, we are looking to offer different ways for our Branches to meet members’ needs which will encourage better engagement. Our Specialist Reference Groups continue to grow, and longer-term plans include online forums, again, to allow for that member community and network to develop.

Wellbeing and lifestyle

LawCare

LawCare remains a great benefit available to you by virtue of your CILEx membership. You can use this service to access support and information if you are feeling the pressure of work, study, or even if you are experiencing financial or relationship problems, coping with illness, bereavement, dependency, anxiety or depression. LawCare operates a free, independent, and strictly confidential telephone helpline, and webchat service which you can access. See also other articles (LawCare and myCILEx) of this issue.

Member benefits

Our partnership with WiderWallet has now ended as it was not highly utilised by our members. We are moving to a far more generous member benefits package, which will be launched soon, so keep an eye out for this information.

We continue to work with others to develop partnerships that will benefit you - our members - and allow you to grow and develop your professional skills and support you in your career.

If you have been a member for over a year, you have access to the CILEx Benevolent Fund, and you can read more about the ways in which the fund can help you and where can CILEx members find support if their financial security is at risk (see next article of this issue).

Customer service team

We are here to help you with practice advice and career advice. We will understand what your ambitions and aspirations are and help you to achieve and attain them the best way you can, so keep in touch with us.

Make sure all of your contact details and information are up to date in myCILEx, then we will be able to get in touch to tell you about all the things you want - and need - to know.