Welcome to myCILEx

Introducing your new council members

Matthew Foster is currently a senior legal offcer at Wrexham County Borough Council, advising on social services (adult social care), housing and homelessness, and leisure and education. ‘It’s a diverse role, and you have to turn your hand to anything in local government.’

Matthew qualified as a CILEx Fellow in 2012 following a ‘stop/start’ study period due to personal circumstances and a career change. ‘That’s the real benefit of CILEx … you can fit in the studies and commitment to suit you whilst also learning on the job! I’m an active member of the Chester & North Wales Branch.’

Matthew was previously employed by the old Cheshire County Council, where he undertook his training covering both contentious and non-contentious work. ‘I’m a firm believer in public services (you do not come into it for the money), but times are becoming harder with the swathe of cuts facing local authorities.’ A keen crown green bowler, Matthew is currently chief executive of the Welsh Crown Green Bowling Association.

Wendy Rixon is a Fellow of CILEx and works in the contentious trust and probate team at Thomas Eggar LLP in Chichester. Thomas Eggar LLP is a long-established , UK-based firm employing around 450 people across its six offices . It is listed as top-tier firm in the Legal 500 directory for 2015 for contentious trust and probate work in the South East.

Before her legal career, Wendy undertook a humanities degree when her children were young, balancing working part time and raising her children at the same time as undertaking her university studies. In 2006, Wendy started her CILEx journey as a legal assistant and qualified as a Fellow in June 2011. She chose the CILEx route as a way to further her career, while combining studying with working.

She is an associate member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists, and a committee member of the CILEx Chichester and District branch.

Patricia White was admitted as a Fellow of CILEx in 2008, while working at Ware & Kay Solicitors in York, having joined the firm as legal secretary to the coroner and managing partner. Patricia has worked at firms across north, south and west Yorkshire.

Patricia has 11 years’ experience of solicitors’ practice, and set up her own independent practice four years ago. She is a general civil litigation and employment law practitioner and, at the time of writing, is in the final stages of becoming a CILEx Litigator Advocate, which she anticipates completing soon. Patricia formed the first York and North Yorkshire branch in 2009, and stepped down in February 2015. She is a member of the Bar Pro Bono joint CILEx scheme, and has won an award for her outstanding commitment to helping vulnerable clients.

Applying for Fellowship?

Since June 2015, all applications for Fellowship have been made via Work Based Learning. In addition to meeting the ‘qualifying employment’ requirements, applicants for Fellowship must demonstrate that they meet 27 outcomes by using evidence from their day-to-day work and completing Log Sheets to fully explain how the outcome has been met. Some outcomes must be met a total of three times, and some only once. Full details can be found within the Work Based Learning: Handbook, which is available on the CILEx Regulation website.1 1

If you are in the process of compiling your Portfolio or thinking about starting one, there are now a series of new examples available on the CILEx Regulation website to assist you.2 2 The examples include copies of both Log Sheets and the corresponding evidence provided by members in support of their applications.

Whilst the examples have been redacted to disguise the identity of the candidate, you should avoid redacting your own personal details when submitting your Portfolio. The assessor will need to be able to see that you have personally completed the work, and therefore your name should not be removed from e-mails or letters.

You must redact all confidential data to exclude the names of parties or organisations involved in the matter. Please also remember to seek the consent of your employer to use redacted copies of your work for the Portfolio.

The examples on the website cover a whole range of roles in both private practice and in-house positions. There is also a new FAQ section addressing a number of issues related to the process. The examples and FAQs can be found under Work Based Learning Resources on the CILEx Regulation website.3 3 

• Staff at CILEx Regulation are happy to answer further questions tailored to your application, and can be contacted on 01234 845 770.

CPD FAQ

Question: I understand the CPD requirements for Graduate members has changed recently, what are they now?

Answer: As of the 1 October 2015, Graduates/Legal Accounts Members of CILEx moved onto the new CPD scheme which consists of nine outcomes (with at least one outcome in Professionalism).

With the implementation of the new outcomes based scheme, the hours’ requirement was removed; therefore, there is now no online provision for logging CPD hours. Instead, the scheme emphasises reflection of learning outcomes and the benefit gained from completing CPD. Please note that the activities you have previously undertaken for CPD hours can still count towards your requirements under the new scheme.

• For more information on this, please see the CPD Resources page at: www.cilexregulation.org.uk 

CILEx Teddy in charity auction

CILEx donated a teddy bear, nicknamed ‘Billy Ray CILEx’ , (pictured) as a prize for the London leg of the National Great Legal Quiz, held as part of National Pro Bono Week (see (2015) December CILExJ p16). The quiz team that won Billy Ray donated him for auction, and he raised £250 for pro bono charities.

Land Registry needs you to be alert!

Mike Bowen FCILEx, a conveyancing lawyer and a co-opted council member, writes: I recently attended a Land Registry Stakeholder meeting at which various matters were discussed. One of the matters was Land Registry Property Alert. I was surprised that only 27,000 people had signed up for the service.

This is an excellent fraud prevention tool, which is free quick and easy to use and will make a difference; in essence, all you do is go to the website (address below), add your details and the details of the property, and if anything is done on that title you will get an alert: if the activity is not expected, you can react immediately.

All buyers should be told about the property alert service when they are sent the new registered title, as they may then take action rather than being told before they move. All buy-to-let landlords should be advised to sign up also.

There are other situations where property alerts could be very helpful to lawyers who need to protect their client’s properties. Would you be negligent if you did not advise its use? Empty properties, in particular, those in probate or where a client has moved to a home, are vulnerable.

Where there is an application for a Court of Protection order, an alert may be sensible; in addition, matrimonial lawyers may want to be alerted if a property is in one name only. Also, litigators may want to keep an eye on a property to see if it is being sold.

The main use of Land Registry’s Property Alert service is to protect vulnerable clients and their properties. Please advertise the service and use it to help the fight against fraud.

• See here 

LLG crowns Chartered Legal Executive 2015

David Cockfield FCILEx, from Wolverhampton City Council, was named Chartered Legal Executive of the year at the annual Lawyers in Local Government awards in November 2015. CILEx, along with Hoopers International Probate Genealogists, co-sponsored the dedicated prize to recognise outstanding achievement by a Chartered Legal Executive working in local government in any field of law. David received the award from barristerturned comedian and broadcaster, Clive Anderson. This other finalist in this category was Duncan Creevy FCILEx from the London Borough of Enfield.

David said: ‘I feel passionately about CILEx providing a route to a career in law which might not otherwise exist for many.’

Put those New Year resolutions into action

Many of us start the New Year with great intentions of getting fitter, eating better, addressing our work/life balance or taking up new hobbies. We often start the year full of optimism, and confident that we will get to grips with those aspects of our lives that are not quite right. We prepare ambitious lists of resolutions; however, putting those good intentions into practice is often easier said than done.

At LawCare, our helpline is much busier at the beginning of the year. Perhaps lawyers have found that the extended time at home over the festive period has highlighted relationship problems in the home or at work. Some may have found that after a Christmas break away from the pressured office environment, the thought of going back has filled them with dread. We get calls from lawyers who are concerned about their drinking habits, as they have overindulged over Christmas and are starting to wonder if they may have a problem. And some just feel low as the cold weather and dark nights set in.

It is important to remember that the New Year is not meant to serve as a catalyst for sweeping life changes; it is a time to reflect on the past year’s behaviours and commit to making positive changes. By making your resolutions realistic, there is a greater chance that you will keep them throughout the year. Setting small, achievable goals throughout the year - instead of one big change - will help you stay on course. Tips for achieving your New Year’s resolutions:

• Start small: Make resolutions you think that you can keep. If you want to exercise more, aim to exercise several times a week rather than every day. If you want to address your work/life balance, aim to have a few nights a week when you get home at a reasonable time.
• Change one thing at a time: Don’t get overwhelmed and think you need to reassess everything in your life, start with one thing at a time.
• Talk about it: Share your experiences with families and friends: talking about your successes and struggles will make you feel better and keep your motivation up.
• Don’t beat yourself up: No one is perfect, and perfection is not attainable! Just because you ate that brownie does not mean your diet is ruined, or your exercise plan is out the window as you missed the gym for a week because you were busy. Everyone has ups and downs, so try to stay focused and get back on track: don’t throw away the hard work you have put in so far.
• Ask for support: If you are feeling overwhelmed and finding it tough going or feeling anxious and stressed that you are not making progress with your resolutions, give LawCare a call; a listening ear can strengthen your resilience to carry on.
• Our free and confidential helpline 0800 279 6888 is available 365 days of the year, from 9am to 7.30pm on weekdays, and from 10am to 4pm at weekends and public holidays and visit: www.lawcare.org.uk

Chester & North Wales branch Christmas event

Melissa Bramwell, secretary of Chester & North Wales branch, writes: On 18 November 2015, the Chester & North Wales branch held its Christmas event at The Church Chester, where its members, including chairperson, Alison Stace, and the newly appointed council member for the Wales constituency, Matthew Foster, tucked into a fabulous three-course meal. While we were surrounded by lovely Christmas decorations, we refused to succumb to the turkey just yet and plumped for the burgers, steak and the mixed seafood hanging skewers instead. The branch would like to thank all its members for their support throughout the year, and wish them a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Remembering Leonard Evans

Joyce Arram, FCILEx, FRSA, CILEx honorary vice-president , writes: While in St Albans for a couple of CILExrelated events, I, along with other council members and our guests, spent some time visiting St Albans Cathedral and Abbey. I had a special reason though, as I was on a mission of discovery for CILEx. Our then secretary general (now chief executive), from 1984 until his retirement in 1995, was Leonard Evans FInstLEx, MBIM, FRSA, who lived in St Albans.

When Len retired from ILEX, as it was then, he immersed himself in the life of the Cathedral and became a lay guide there, progressing onto the guides’ committee, and then became a ‘welcomer’ , liaising with the BBC TV trainee producers programme, doing duty as a sidesman, marshal and steward; in fact, he spent many hours as a volunteer at the Cathedral and Abbey.

When Len died in August 2002, Ian Watson (who retired in 2015 after 40 years’ service at CILEx), Irene Dodgson (who was then head of our PR department) and I attended Len’s funeral (See (2002) November L.Ex p14). Because of his involvement with the Cathedral and the high regard in which he was held there, the thanksgiving service for his life, which was held at the Cathedral in March 2003 (and that in itself was a great honour), was also a service when a small memorial to Len was dedicated. It was that memorial that I wanted to find.

You can find it in the St Albans Cathedral and Abbey garden of remembrance by the steps on the north side. The plaque has, over the intervening years, suffered from the weather. When you next visit the Cathedral, go and see the little bit which is forever CILEx: a memorial to a very private man, but whose input to CILEx was a foundation stone on which his successors - then Diane Burleigh and now Mandie Lavin - have continued to build.

His wife Beryl, who was a great support to him and to the Institute, is still active in the affairs of the Cathedral, I was told.

Chichester and District branch at local Law Society dinner

The CILEx Chichester and District branch was, for the very first time, invited to the local Law Society’s annual dinner. The Chichester and District Law Society’s foundation dinner was held, on 20 November 2015, at Chichester Yacht Club following the society’s AGM. The guest speaker was John Coffey QC, who is head of 3 Temple Gardens Chambers, London. There was a raffle in aid of the Sussex Snowdrop Trust and its special care at home team that helps families cope with having a very sick child at home.

Retirements

Frances Room

Ms Room, a Fellow from Whitchucrh, Hampshire, retired on 30 September 2015. She was a probate senior at Wilsons Solicitors LLP of Salisbury for 15 years.