BENEFITS:
Professional Development
CPD
Networking
Social events
Peer support
Student support
Recruitment
Charity fundraising
Links to local employers
Links to local education providers

The history

As you are aware, the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives is your professional association which has represented you for over 50 years. Central to our success has been the ongoing support and dedication of our most valuable resource - you - our members.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with CILEx branches, we hope that the following will be of interest. We are confident that once you hear about the work they do, the opportunities they provide, the benefit membership offers you and the plans that we have to support further development of our branch network, you will seek to sign up to your local branch.

CILEx branches are groups of geographically local members who, with the support of the membership team in Kempston, aim to provide support to members and to represent and raise the profile of CILEx in the local area. They are managed by a committee of volunteers comprising both practising Chartered Legal Executive lawyers and other members of CILEx.

In addition to working with and supporting local members, branch members have been one of the most valuable information resources available to CILEx. Sharing information ‘from the coal face’ ; encouraging consultation responses; engaging with the local legal sector; identifying opportunities for CILEx development; and providing us with evidence to seek better and higher rights for our membership body.

The nitty gritty

Part of CILEx’s new focus is to ensure that we are supporting, understanding and representing members views in our policy engagement with the government and with the wider legal sector. Moving forward, we will be placing even greater emphasis on supporting you and meeting your needs.

We identified that branches should be at the forefront of helping us to deliver the changes, and so we recently hosted an awayday for members of the regional branch management committees. This was not just a ‘social jolly’ celebrating the work our members were doing, although we did take a little time out to do that too. It was an investigation, a full-and-frank discussion where we sought the views of those ‘in the know’ and they, in effect, had the opportunity to present us with their ‘wish list’ and their ‘issues list’ . We came away with a much clearer view regarding: what is the point of a branch; what do they do; what branch activity is successful and what is less successful; branch plans and objectives for the future; and what help CILEx could provide to make that happen.

Regional branches are run by volunteers, and as such the level of activity varied. It did become clear that there were a number of core objectives and regular activities, and these are set out below:

• Increase engagement of CILEx and CILEx members: inside and outside of the legal sector
  - Developing links with regional employers
  - Encouraging diversity: improved access to the profession
  - Delivering regional careers presentation and guidance
  - Demonstrating members’ competence and the quality assurance of CILEx training
• Offering support and guidance to CILEx members and prospective members
  - Learner support (revision/study) sessions
  - Professional Development (CV clinics, links to recruiters, job hunting and vacancy sharing)
• Sharing information between CILEx and regional membership
  - Professional training/practice updates
• Supporting current and identifying new centres
  - Attending induction sessions and talking about the work member does
  - Coaching buddy schemes
  - Tutoring, both stand-alone sessions and full course delivery
• Acting as Regional CILEx Ambassadors/Regional Representatives
  - Joining CILEx Council: directly influencing the future direction of the Chartered Institute
  - Members of Regional Committees (eg, Legal Support Trusts)
  - Linking with local business networks, eg, Junior Lawyers Division/Women Lawyers Division, regional Law Society
• Organising regular events to widen local CILEx network
  - Social events: raising money for local charity
  - CPD events delivered according to local member demand
  ?- Networking events: bringing local CILEx members together 

36 branches
Ranging in age from 6 months to 50+ years
From Cornwall to Newcastle, Kent to Pembrokeshire
Led by members 4 Open to join all year round 
Over 70% of current council members came through the branches
All of the presidents in the last 10 years came through the branches

Overwhelmingly, I believe it gives the chance for students to obtain support, to seek advice when times get tough in their place of work and to advise on job opportunities. It also allows us to give encouragement when it comes to where you can end up with a CILEx qualification , ie, directorship as in my case.

Alison Stace FCILEx Chair, Chester & North Wales branch Director, Allington Hughes 

The barriers to success

Our branch members work tirelessly to deliver all of the above, and much more. Branch representatives agreed that if branch work was a full-time job much more could be done.

We are grateful for the time and effort that is given for free, and the support which is given by employers to staff who are involved in the regional branches.

In the past, some branches received additional support through our regional officers . However, we know that while this support was considered valuable, there were areas of the country receiving much less from us, and as a result we were not providing as comprehensive a support package as we might. The most common issues that were seen as holding branches back were:

• Limited resources: time, money 
• Membership recruitment: a lack of awareness of branch benefits and activities
• Administrative burden: record-keeping , marketing, finance.
• Unaware/under utilisation of the support and resources available from CILEx

The future

We want our branches to thrive. We have therefore drawn together all of the feedback, listened to what has been said, and made some changes.

In 2016 we will draw the provision of all branch support back to the centre. We are developing a support package which includes:

• Centralised comprehensive support
• Improved communication channels between branch and regional CILEx membership
• A dedicated CILEx contact/team to work with members and branches
• Resources packs to assist with events, administration and membership
• Event-planning guidance and support
• Promoting branches with CILEx centres and regional employers
• Leadership training and development for branch personnel

So what?

What does this mean for me as a CILEx member?

In 2016 you are going to hear more from your regional branch. We hope that the activities and support available will be of interest to you and add value to your membership.

For those of you wishing to develop leadership and management experience, your local branch committee is an ideal first step. We hope that you will see your regional branch as a chance to develop yourself, to get involved, to work with us to help ensure that the Chartered Institute of tomorrow meets your needs, and provides the support and service you need as you progress in your legal career.

By working together, we can encourage the next generation of CILEx lawyers to follow in your footsteps, and raise awareness of the opportunities available to them. We hope you will join us in providing support to those who have already started their CILEx journey. We hope you will contact your local branch and seek the support available to you. 

The opportunities for Chartered Legal Executives are increasing, with your help and support we will continue to move forward, together. 

• For information about local branches, please visit our website  or contact Pauline Scrivener
• If there is not a regional branch in your area, but you wish there was or think there should be, get in touch. We will work with you and others in the area to make it happen.