News round up

CILEx names new CEO

CILEx has appointed Linda Ford as its new chief executive officer as the Chartered Institute presses ahead with governance reforms and puts a renewed focus on speaking to and supporting members (see (2017) April CILExJ p42 and pages 40 and 42 of this issue).

Linda Ford has been chief operating officer since she joined the Chartered Institute, in 2015, from the General Optical Council; she has been interim CEO for the past year. In addition to the governance reforms CILEx announced earlier this year, she oversaw the launch, in March, of the ‘I am ACILEx’ campaign (see (2017) April CILExJ pp42 and 43). In April, she launched myCareer, the new careers portal, and a further initiative has just been unveiled, ‘The Lawyer Portal’ for students considering a future in law (see (2016) May CILExJ pp38–40 and see below). She has also led the financial turnaround of CILEx, with the organisation realising a net profit in 2016, and the projections for 2017 looking more positive still.

Linda Ford said: ‘CILEx and its members can look to the future with positivity and optimism and safe in the knowledge that they have a great deal to offer the public, the profession and those looking for a career in the law. We want to do all we can to help our members progress their careers and make their mark.

‘It is a privilege to be asked to set and lead the future direction of CILEx, and member engagement will be at the heart of what we do. This will be aided by the new governance structure, which will make clearer the role and responsibilities of the various parts of the group.’

CILEx President Martin Callan said: ‘Linda has shown us all over the past year that she will be a huge asset as CILEx’s new CEO. She has the vision, drive and ability to deliver these major reforms and then take forward CILEx Professional as the representative body of choice for those looking to make their way in the legal profession.’

 

myCareer has launched!

myCareer has launched officially, and is here to support and help CILEx members to develop their CILEx career (see (2017) May CILExJ p38). myCareer can be accessed through the online private member portal, myCILEx.

At a click of a button, members will be launched into myCareer, which is packed full of interactive tools, e-learning content and the latest job opportunities: all designed to help navigate today’s job market and move individuals’ careers forward with confidence. Members are invited to take a look at this new membership benefit, and discover what myCareer can offer.

Louise Turner, membership manager at CILEx, said: ‘Already we can see members using myCareer exploring its useful tools, like the CV builder, interview simulator and career assessments. We think members will find content like the time- management tools and e-learning content particularly useful when looking to achieve learning outcomes for the professionalism element of their CPD, and we encourage members to log on through their myCILEx accounts to see what is available on myCareer that will help them to develop in their career.’

 

News in Brief

New Inheritance Tax forms

New versions of the IHT400 form, IHT400 Notes and IHT400 calculation have been amended to include the additional Inheritance Tax threshold (sometimes known as the Residence nil rate band or RNRB).

APIL responds to discount rate consultation

The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers has published its response to the government’s consultation on changing the way compensation is calculated for people who have been catastrophically injured (the ‘discount rate’ ),

• The personal injury discount rate: how it should be set in future. A response by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, available at: www.apil.org.uk/files/pdf/ConsultationDocuments/3412.pdf

View from the President of the Family Division

The latest ‘View from the President’s Chambers’ has just been published: View from the President’s Chambers (17) Divorce and money – where are we and where are we going? Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division is available at: http://tinyurl.com/n3q8ubq

 

 

MPs publish CILEx evidence on whiplash

In one of its last actions before the dissolution of parliament, in May, the Justice Select Committee published evidence submitted by CILEx on the government’s reforms to personal injury, whiplash, and the small claims limit, saying that the plans will penalise genuinely injured persons.

The evidence was compiled using responses from members of the CILEx Personal Injury Specialist Reference Group, who contributed their views when the Chartered Institute responded to the Ministry of Justice’s initial consultation.

The submission observes: ‘The overall impact of these proposals will be to remove innocent injured persons of their right to fair compensation, and to deprive them of the independent legal advice they need to be able to enforce their legal rights. It will exacerbate the inequality of arms we already see between claimants and defendants, and it sets a dangerous precedent for future reforms.’

The reforms were outlined in the Prisons and Courts Bill, which some expect will be reintroduced after the general election.

 

2017 LALYs: shortlist announced

The finalists have just been announced for the 2017 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards (known as the LALYs). This year, CILEx is sponsoring the children’s rights category. The finalists are as follows:

Children’s rights

Criminal defence

Family (private), including mediation

Family (public)

Immigration and asylum

Legal aid barrister

Chambers

Legal aid firm /Not for profit agency

Legal aid newcomer

Public law

Social and welfare

Access to justice through IT

The award winners will be announced at a ceremony in central London on 5 July 2017.

CILEx partners with TLP

CILEx is backing The Lawyer Portal (TLP) to introduce a unique resource for anyone considering a career in law (see (2017) May CILExJ pp39 and 40 and page 4 of this issue).

Launched formally on 25 April 2017, TLP houses hundreds of pages of free guides, which among other things, track the various routes to legal practice and include helpful instruction about the study and practise of law, and work experience and training opportunities.