Meet the team

Lydia Jones explains why she enjoys spreading the word about the CILEX route into law, the popularity of CILEX’s CPQ webinars and why more women should try weightlifting 

What are your role and responsibilities?

I am a business development representative for CILEX, responsible for managing key employer relationships, educating people on the CPQ and generating new leads. I’m there to answer people’s questions on the CPQ, helping potential students and their employers work out if CILEX is the best fit for them or their employees.

Tell us a bit more about your background? How did you come to work at CILEX?

I joined CILEX a year ago, straight after I graduated. This was initially to work on an equality and diversity project, an area I focused on as part of my business studies degree. After that I began working in a business development support role, spending time in the customer services team answering questions on the legacy CILEX qualification, practice rights, CPQ and learning everything there is to know about CILEX’s qualifications.

I went to university because I felt that was what was expected of me but was it the best choice I could have made? For many people learning on the job will be a better option and I like being in a position to show aspiring lawyers there is another way.

What is a typical day like for you?

A lot of my time is spent speaking to learning and development professionals and human resources heads in law firms and other organisations about what CILEX can offer. I’ll email them with further information with a view to setting up initial face to face meetings.

I talk to the customer services consideration team about potential CILEX students and answer any queries that their employers might have.

I also spend a lot of my time learning. Every Wednesday, I attend training on the latest new developments relating to the CPQ, on the detail of transitioning between qualifications and on apprenticeships and practice rights.

What are you working on at the moment?

As well as my work with employers, on the first Thursday of every month I run a drop-in webinar for anyone interested in finding out more about who CILEX are, the CPQ and the different pathways to becoming a CILEX Lawyer. Anyone can attend whatever their level and experience – they are proving a real success, with around 60 people attending each time.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I love to talk, so I’m happiest when I’m out there and speaking to people about CILEX – it’s great to be able to open their eyes to an alternative route to becoming a lawyer, one that they may have had no idea about. I can help them decide whether CPQ is the right fit for them and I also learn from their experiences and get a good understanding of what they are looking for.

What do you like to do away from your job to relax/have fun? 

I’m into weightlifting at the moment. I’m part of a ‘strong woman’ group with whom I train at the gym. It’s really hard work but you feel incredible afterwards. I’m also a real gamer, I got more into it during the covid lockdowns and play everything from Call of Duty to Mario Kart.