myCILEx

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CILEx’s exclusive members area

myCILEx provides you with information on the work CILEx is doing on behalf of its members.
For the latest branch events in your area, visit: www.cilexbranches.org.uk

 

CILEx is changing: an update on our governance reforms

CILEx CEO, Linda Ford, writes:

Journal readers will be aware that CILEx has made significant progress in reforming its governance structure during 2017. This is to ensure that the organisation is in the best possible shape to meet the challenges of the legal services market and can continue to inform, educate and represent its members effectively; it also puts us ahead of many others in the sector!

Enlisting more expertise

Council has recognised that critical to achieving this is to have people with the right range of skills and experience involved in the work of CILEx. We have been fortunate in having a wealth of practitioner talent and experience to draw on over the years but, increasingly, in a world in which specialism is becoming more prevalent, where CILEx’s own business becomes more complex, as well as the changes in practice being faced by its members, Council has also acknowledged that other expertise will have to be harnessed to complement it.

From 2018, CILEx will have a new corporate structure to enable greater focus on the specific elements of the business undertaken by the Group: be it in the members’ interest, through its Professional Association Board; in the public interest as a Chartered body, through its new Group Board; or in the regulatory interest, through CILEx Regulation Board. The changes being made now are also mindful of the fact that there are other fundamental aspects of our work that need updating if CILEx is to remain relevant, competitive and unique in what it offers its members, students and aspiring members, and the greater legal services market. In particular, this will manifest itself in a review of our qualifications and membership grades.

CILEx recognises that the business of education, good governance and commercial activities require increasingly expert input, and this is why the number of independent non-executives being brought into the structure will be increasing as we seek to bring in the best minds who can advise and support our future development. These individuals are not being sought randomly, but against a set of essential and specialist core competences, based on best practice, which have been developed during 2017 to ensure that the right skills are at our disposal from next year.

Over the summer, our current Council members are themselves undertaking a process of ‘self-assessment ’ against these new competences to identify where their own skills and experience might best be deployed in the new governance structure. Where there are gaps in the expertise we need, CILEx will go out and recruit it under the auspices of its new appointments and scrutiny committee.

Have your say

So, much progress has been made, but not all the decisions about our future needs are settled yet. For that to happen, we will need input from you, our members. You will have seen, and will continue to see from now, notifications of consultation and engagement opportunities, through the Journal and the weekly CILEx member newsletter, on our website, and via e-mail and a variety of other means.

This is an opportunity for a fundamental discussion about what CILEx should look like in the future. It will ask questions such as:

Should all our membership groups have a say in our governance structure, or should it continue to just be limited to Fellows?

How can we enable better regional engagement, and is geographical representation on our governing boards important to you?

What will the Chartered Legal Executive lawyer of the future look like, and what core skills will they need in the future legal services market?

How should CILEx qualifications change to arm Chartered Legal Executives with those skills?

These are big questions needing much input, including yours. We hope that you will take part in the debate.

Policy round-up

Simon Garrod, CILEx director of policy and governance, writes:

HMCTS modernisation

HM Courts and Tribunals Service's (HMCTS's) wide-reaching reforms to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the courts and tribunals of England and Wales continues. Plans to conduct Flexible Operating Hours pilots in the courts of England and Wales have drawn considerable attention. The pilots propose to test how court and tribunal buildings can be used in a more flexible way, allowing people to have their cases heard outside the current 10 am to 4.30 pm court day.

Lord Justice Fulford, the judge in charge of these reforms, published a letter in July in an attempt to ‘demystify’ the proposed pilot schemes that will commence in October (see page 5 of this issue, and Louise Turner, ‘Late court sittings?: The jury is still out’, (2017) August CILExJ pp22–23).

CILEx is concerned about the potential impact on our practitioners, and we are keen to provide HMCTS with a full understanding of how these proposals might impact on you. If you are taking part in any of the pilot programmes, or wish to offer your views, CILEx would like to hear from you.

• Please e-mail : courtusers@cilex.org.uk.

Bach Commission

Ahead of the drafting of their final report, CILEx met with representatives from the Bach Commission, including CILEx past president Nick Hanning, who sits on the group.

The commission is looking into issues affecting access to justice, and proposes to develop a set of minimum standards for access to justice. CILEx encouraged the members of the commission to consider the importance of trust in the justice system, for which a diverse and representative profession and judiciary is integral. The commission’s final report is due later this year.

CILEx invited to work with the Solicitor General

CILEx has been invited to sit on two newly constituted panels, chaired by the Solicitor General, Robert Buckland QC, to give policymakers access to expertise and evidence around pro bono and public legal education (PLE) initiatives. The panels, which include all the professional associations as well as representatives from regulators and charities, will meet twice a year. The PLE panel plans to look at evidence and data relating to both proactive as well as reactive PLE (called respectively ‘just-incase ’ and ‘just-in-time ’ PLE), while the Pro Bono panel plans to better promote and coordinate lawyers’ voluntary efforts..

There are many opportunities for CILEx members to offer their skills and expertise in PLE, as many of the charities regularly seek legally qualified volunteers for the development, and sometimes delivery, of PLE materials and the demand for volunteers for pro bono work continues to rise.

Consultations

Consultation responses Solicitors Regulation Authority: A new route to qualification : new regulations

CILEx responded to the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s consultation and has called for greater clarity regarding exemptions from the Solicitors Qualifying Examination, and the recognition of Chartered Legal Executives as individuals who are qualified and able to provide prospective solicitors with the confirmation in the prescribed form of the period of work experience required to become a solicitor.

CILEx Regulation: Consultation on proposals to revise the investigation, disciplinary and appeals rules

CILEx responded to this consultation offering support for the consistent approach to enforcement taken by CILEx Regulation, tentatively calling attention to a lack of clarity regarding the rules allowing evidence that may not otherwise be admissible when investigating complaints. CILEx has also highlighted the need for sufficiently detailed guidance to ensure that regulated members are clear as to what information they should supply when declaring prior conduct.

Live consultations

Leasehold reform

The government’s housing white paper, Fixing our broken housing market, has seen its first major development. The recently published leasehold reform consultation entitled Tackling unfair practices in the leasehold market, looks to address a number of issues that have been the subject of intense scrutiny from conveyancers, leasehold buyers, the media and professional bodies.

The consultation’s proposals include the following:

• limiting the sale of new build leasehold houses;
• reducing Help to Buy Equity Loan support for leasehold houses;
• limiting the reservation and increase of ground rents; and
• tackling the legal issues associated with possession orders on leasehold houses and service charges for maintaining communal areas and facilities on freehold and mixed tenure estates.

A survey has been sent to members of the CILEx Conveyancing Specialist Reference Group (SRG) to inform our response. If you are interested in joining the SRG, or would like to provide your views on leasehold reform, please e-mail us at: conveyancing@cilex.org.uk. We kindly ask that you provide us with your views before 10 September 2017.

Family Procedure Rules reforms

The government has called for responses to its plans to continue the process of procedural de-linking of matrimonial and civil partnership proceedings from any financial remedy application arising from divorce or dissolution. In order to ensure complete separation, the government hopes to reform the family procedure rules to ensure that applications are made on a completely separate basis.

Furthermore, the consultation includes proposals for the establishment of a new ‘fast-track ’ procedure route for financial remedy claims in family proceedings.

A survey has been sent to members of the CILEx Family Practitioners Specialist Reference Group to inform our response. If you are interested in joining the SRG, or would like to provide your views on family procedure rules reform, please email us at: family@cilex.org.uk  

#CILExHelp: one year on

Matthew Brecknock, membership contact centre manager at CILEx, writes:

So, it’s been one year since the launch of #CILExHelp. Since its inception, in August 2016, #CILExHelp has grown from strength to strength, assisting our 10,000 plus followers with tips, insights and bespoke Q&A sessions. The initial vision, from the outset, was to provide a further channel of communication to support and engage with our membership base. Over the past year, this service has helped hundreds of individuals and has evolved to offer live Q&A sessions, CPD clinics, and the launch of a new social media platform in the form of @CILExHQ on Instagram.

#CILExHelp stems from the membership contact centre, and therefore shares the same ethos of providing an individualised, tailored service to every member. Over the last 12 months, we have shown this by assisting on matters such as CPD, qualifying employment, Work-based Learning, exam queries, and even helping lost students find their exam centre.

At CILEx, member engagement is a fundamental principle, and as such we recognise that, as a sector, there is an issue of increasing time pressure. To combat this, #CILExHelp is a way for members to communicate with us, and they can expect a comprehensive, timely response which they can look at in a time convenient to them.

Overall #CILExHelp has engaged, assisted and supported members over the last 12 months. We will continue to do this by introducing new initiatives, and adding a greater depth to our customer service by consistently adapting to our members’ needs and requirements.

Looking forward, #CILExHelp will continue to thrive on Twitter. Additionally, we will now also offer the same level of service through our Instagram page, assisting members with tip videos, discussion threads and regular updates, all with our relaxed and friendly approach. By expanding our social media reach, this gives us the ability to interact and provide members with the opportunities to choose how they wish to engage with us.

We would like to thank our members for their continuing support with the #CILExHelp initiative, and encourage you to make the connection if you haven’t already.

‘New friends and new ideas’ : CILEx Branch Personnel Day

Nina Roby GCILEx, who is a member of the Hertfordshire Branch and has just attended her first-ever Branch Personnel Day event, writes:

I am a Graduate Member of CILEx, having passed my final exam last year. I have worked for Longmores Solicitors LLP for 15 years, making my way from junior legal secretary to my current position of paralegal specialising in family law.

I joined the Hertfordshire Branch earlier this year - out of curiosity - to see what a branch does and to meet other CILEx members. It was suggested, at my first branch meeting, that I attend the Personnel day.

The event took place at Box End Park in Bedford, a water park with lakes for wakeboarding and water skiing. Watching the water sports from the balcony outside the conference room was a great icebreaker and provided much entertainment during the breaks.

I immediately felt welcome on meeting Ellen Birch, CILEx branch oÿcer ; she explained where everything was and provided me with my name badge. It was amazing to see how far other branch members had travelled: from Bournemouth, Bristol and Manchester, and some were only attending for the day!

Victoria Hurdley, director of operations, made the introductions, and Ellen Birch and membership manager Louise Turner went through the ‘You said, we did’ presentation, including a ‘What’s new’ feature. It is clear that CILEx wishes to provide as much support as possible to the branches, and took the suggestions made seriously. For example, to increase membership and event attendance, a branch can send the details to Ellen for them to be sent, by e-shot, to CILEx members in the branch’s area. CILEx is now also on Instagram, making it even easier to access important dates and information, and runs #tiptuesday and #factfriday as well as Q&A sessions (see ‘#myCILExHelp’).

LawCare staff also gave a short presentation. The charity provides support, and promotes good mental health and wellbeing, to all legal professionals, including support staff.

My highlight was Deborah Ogden’s workshop. She was amazing! I now understand what I would like my personal brand to be, and she provided the tools to achieve it. These are some examples of the tips she gave:

• The power pose: spend two minutes channelling your inner superhero before going into intimidating situations. It is proven to increase testosterone and, therefore, confidence... it really works!
• Be conscious of your ‘screensaver’ or resting face. Try to be a ‘radiator’, for example, warm and friendly rather than a ‘drain’.
• When networking, for an easier entry to a group of people, aim for the broken circles (‘croissants’) rather than closed circles (‘ bagels’).
• Listen and ask questions when speaking to networking contacts rather than trying to bring the subject back to you: make them feel good and they will remember you.

The Ball was the icing on the cake! The Northants and Beds, Herts and Bucks Summer Ball was set in a marquee at CILEx HQ, with a DJ, buffet and bar. Awards were presented for new branch; branch chair, branch of the year, member of the year and most innovative branch (see box on page 41), after which the party really started!

I left with new friends and new ideas. Branch Personnel Day also gave me confidence to accept the role of social secretary in my branch. I am looking forward to attending next year already!

• If you would like to find out more about the important work our branches do in raising the profile of CILEx and, in the process, having fun, please visit: www.cilexbranches.org.uk/about_branches
• CILEx branches welcome members of all membership grades, so whether you are just starting out on your CILEx journey or have been a member for many years, CILEx branches want to hear from you. If you would like to discuss joining a branch in your area, or setting up a new branch if you don’t have a local branch, please contact Ellen Birch: e-mail : branchsupport@cilex.org.uk

 

 

Wing walking for charity!

Christine Bunting describes her fundraising effort on behalf Cerebra, a national charity set up to help improve the lives of children with brain-related conditions through research, education and directly supporting children and their carers.

Well, the sky really was the limit on Friday 4 August when, armed with my fear of heights, I climbed onto the wing of a 1940s Boeing-Stearman biplane and, in the experienced hands of my pilot from the famous Breitling Wingwalkers Wingwalking team, was flown across the Gloucestershire countryside at speeds of up to 135mph while I wing walked to raise money for the fabulous charity, Cerebra. It was by far the most terrifying - but incredible - experience I have ever had.

Two years ago, I did a skydive for Cerebra over Salisbury Plain. I wanted to do something that would beat that, and something that people would really want to pay me to do. Having given it some thought over the winter months and not really coming up with anything very original, I sat down one evening to watch a television programme in which Phillip Schofield interviewed the Duke of Edinburgh (the ITV1 documentary, ‘When Phillip met Prince Philip: 60 years of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award’,  was broadcast in December 2016.) It culminated in the presenter wing walking for his Duke of Edinburgh challenge. The seed of an idea was born! I mentioned it to a few people, and before I knew it I was committed.

It seemed like a good idea at the time, but I have to admit that when I was getting ready to leave home on the afternoon of 4 August, I was having some second thoughts. What kept me focused, however, was the thought of the young people and their family’s that Cerebra supports. They all face huge challenges every single day, so a wing walk for 20 minutes would pale in comparison, wouldn’t it?

I was very nervous, but I had a great team to support me. Yes, it did seem like the longest 20 minutes of my life and I did wonder if I would end up with flashbacks forever, but it was a truly amazing experience.

The most exhilarating moments, despite my fears, were the very steep climbs: but then what goes up must come down, and in an equally steep fashion! I don’t even go on theme park rides, so it really was a big test of my nerve.

Would I do it again for Cerebra? Absolutely ‘yes’. Would I do it again for fun? ‘Well, maybe’ … when the memory fades a little!

The great thing was the team at AeroSuperBatics who, despite my fears, made me feel very safe. Thank you to everyone who came along to watch, and to those who sponsored me: it is very much appreciated.

If you would like to support Cerebra, it is still possible to make a donation by visiting my fundraising page at: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ChristineBunting

To find out more information about Cerebra, visit: http://w3.cerebra.org.uk

Talking about mental health

Elizabeth Rimmer, director of LawCare, suggests ways to start a conversation about poor mental health or stress in the workplace:

We all have mental health, just like we have physical health. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel and act, and it also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.

Mental health problems range from the worries we all experience as part of everyday life to serious long-term conditions. It is easy to dismiss mental health problems as something that happens to other people, but research shows that one in four of us will experience them each year. And the legal community is no exception.

Many legal professionals are reluctant to talk about mental health in the workplace, for fear that they may be perceived as weak or not coping.

Spotting the signs

It is not always easy to recognise the signs of poor mental health or stress. Stress is the most common cause of workplace distress. These are the signs to look out for:

• out-of-character behaviour, such as irritability, mood swings, anger or short temper;
• lack of energy, concentration and motivation;
• frequent bouts of illness;
• problems with sleeping;
• panic attacks, which can include feeling sick and short of breath, and shaking and sweating;
• failure to achieve targets;
• overconfidence despite making mistakes;
• withdrawal from usual social interaction and hobbies;
• deteriorating relationships with managers and/or colleagues;
• neglect of personal dress and hygiene;
• increasing use of alcohol/coming into the workplace smelling of alcohol; and
• overreacting when challenged.

Talking about mental health at work can be difficult. Some may find that it helps to be open, and feel relieved that things are not hidden anymore; however, they may also experience negative reactions. It is important for people to remember they are not alone, and that many people in work have mental health problems.

The conversation could be started with a simple ‘How are you?’. Alternatively, offering to make the person a cup of tea, or inviting them somewhere private for a chat, or suggesting popping out to a nearby café or for a walk can all get people talking. Setting aside enough time to talk and switching off the phone are also good things to do in this situation.

There are some useful tips on how to start that conversation from Mental Health First Aid England, an educational course which teaches how to identify, understand, and help a person who may be developing a mental health issue:

• Keep the discussion positive and supportive: explore the issues and how to help.
• Be mindful of body language: make sure it is open and non-confrontational.
• Be empathetic and take them seriously.
• Don’t be tempted to say things like ‘Pull yourself together’.

Ask questions, such as:
- ‘How are you feeling at the moment?’;
- ‘How long have you been feeling like this?’;
- ‘Are there any work issues that are contributing?’; and
- ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’

• Listen carefully, don’t interrupt and try to be non-judgmental.
• Be reassuring and signpost them to support, such as LawCare, HR, another colleague or suggest a visit to their GP.

Talking makes a difference

LawCare works with the legal community to encourage more open discussion about mental health to tackle the stigma that can make it tough for those in need of support to ask for it. Talking really makes a difference. LawCare's key support service is a free, confidential and independent helpline, and trained staff and volunteers listen to and support callers. Tel: 0800 279 6888 or visit: www.lawcare.org

CILEx Awards: last call for nominations

The annual CILEx Awards are a chance to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our members and of the wider legal community. So, we encourage you to nominate yourself, a colleague, or your employer for a CILEx Award, and help to celebrate excellence, outstanding achievement and dedication to the profession. The categories are as follows:

• CILEx Apprentice of the year;
• CILEx Employer of the year;
• CILEx President’s Award;
• CILEx Pro Bono Award; and
• CILEx Graduate of the year.

The closing date for nominations is 8 September 2017 at 9 am. The awards will be presented at the CILEx Graduation and Admission Ceremony on 7 October 2017, which will be held in Milton Keynes. All award winners will receive a commemorative trophy, and a certificate and winner's logo. Prizes include a £500 cheque provided by the individual award sponsor.

• For more information, e-mail nominate@cilex.org.uk or telephone: 01234 845715