CILEX lawyer appointed full-time immigration judge

 

CILEX lawyer Gennaro Baffa has been appointed a judge of the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), effective from 1 July 2024. An experienced criminal litigator and advocate, he is one of just a handful of CILEX lawyers to have been appointed to a full-time judicial role.

Judge Baffa has over 25 years’ experience in criminal and personal injury law and from 2017 was a director at North London firm Shepherd Harris. He was one of the first Chartered Legal Executives to be granted advocacy rights and duty solicitor status, and in 2019 was appointed a legally qualified chair of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, handling complex fitness-to-practise cases.

Commenting on his appointment, Judge Baffa said that while applying for a judicial position could be daunting, as a great believer in judicial diversity he wanted to encourage other CILEX members to throw their hats into the ring.

“I would like to see those who make these vital decisions come from a diverse range of backgrounds,” he explains. “It’s not just about race or gender, it is about ensuring our judiciary have a wide range of experiences both professionally and personally. My parents came here from Italy and encouraged me to work hard and follow my dreams. I began my career in the post room and worked my way up to becoming a director in a law firm. Many CILEX lawyers have similar stories and would bring valuable experience to judicial roles.” 

The role CILEX lawyers have to play in the judiciary is increasingly being recognised. Last year, the government amended legislation to open up a range of more senior judicial positions up to CILEX lawyers for the first time.