CILEX launches Judicial Academy

CILEX has launched a Judicial Academy to help bolster the number of CILEX lawyers, solicitors and barristers applying to become judges, with a goal of helping up to 500 legal professionals prepare for a judicial career over the next five years.

The Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Sue Carr, with the first cohort to join CILEX’s judicial academy

At its official launch in December at the Supreme Court, the Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Sue Carr, told Chartered Legal Executives, “Putting it very simply, if you’re good enough, you’re good enough. It doesn’t matter where you come from, what you’ve done, what your experience is.”

She described CILEX as “vital to my agenda of diversity and inclusion for the future in the judiciary” and welcomed the first cohort of students saying: “This is a great initiative that will contribute to increasing the pool of eligible talent for judicial appointment.”

Baroness Carr outlined the work being done to create a “more certain and objective skills and abilities framework that will make it easier for solicitors, CILEX lawyers, indeed everybody, to meet the requirements that we are looking for in what makes a good judge”.

CILEX President Yanthé Richardson said: “CILEX lawyers consistently demonstrate they have the commitment to excellence in the legal profession but sadly we are all acutely aware that the opportunity to progress within the law is not equal.”

She observed that, in the UK, 87% of all judges and non-legal tribunal members were white and that “those from a non-traditional background often suffer from a lack of confidence, battle imposter syndrome and do not have the opportunities to network and make connections needed to prepare for this role”.

Baroness Carr described ‘imposter syndrome’ as “my least favourite phrase in the English language”.

She went on: “I wish I could just delete it. Self-insight is so important. It can be such a useful tool. Use it as something positive to learn about yourself, how you can be better and improve, but don’t let it turn into something negative.”

Ms Richardson explained that by providing a bespoke development programme that will allow those who “are often overlooked with the opportunity to demonstrate why they will be an asset to the profession”, the CILEX Judicial Academy provided a comprehensive, structured approach to gaining the experience and skills needed to prepare for judicial appointment.

Designed to fit around applicants' current professional commitments, the programme bridges the gap between practice as a lawyer and the personal and professional attributes needed to transition into a judicial role.

The bespoke programme provides those with ambition to pursue a career as a judge with access to career coaching and mentoring from as early as five years before they intend to apply. Traditionally, applicants will not seek support until they begin the official application process.

To successfully prepare applicants, the programme is structured around four key pillars, which explore mindset, networking, personal development, and advocacy. It includes one-on-one sessions with a career coach, a judge mentor, exposure to the range and requirements of different judicial positions, and exclusive networking events, while also supporting candidates to strengthen their leadership experience through pro-bono work and non-executive and trustee opportunities.

The 18-to-24-month programme feeds into the existing Pre-Application Judicial Education Programme which provides support once candidates are ready to make an application. Working closely with the Judicial Office and Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC), CILEX aims to create a pool of at least 500 applicants from a broad range of backgrounds, with the competencies and experience needed to make a successful application within the next five years.

In a bid to also tackle the vast diversity gap at the bench, a particular emphasis will be placed on prioritising places to those from socially, economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds or communities that are currently underrepresented within the judiciary.

Rebecca Morgan, a CILEX Advocate at Admiral Law and one of the first to join the Judicial Academy, said: "I have witnessed the judiciary system diversify but there is still work to be done. The justice system must reflect the society it serves, and I believe this programme is one step closer to ensuring that.

"We are faced with several hurdles to navigate before reaching the application stage, and although there are many sources of information and schemes to help along the way, this programme streamlines the support into one singular place and offers fantastic networking opportunities.”

The annual enrolment process requires applicants to complete an expression of interest and personal details form to determine eligibility. Applicants must be a CILEX lawyer, solicitor or barrister with at least five years PQE.

More information about the academy and how to apply can be found on the CILEX website.