National Paralegal Awards judging panel announces shortlist

Thanks to everyone who put forward entries for this year’s National Paralegal Awards. The awards, which celebrate the very best paralegals across the UK and the businesses that support them, are closed for entries and the judging panel has announced the nominations shortlist, comprising 10 firms and 59 paralegals.

To read the full shortlist click here.

This year’s awards ceremony will take place on Thursday 5 September at the Burlington Hotel in Birmingham. You can find more information about how to book here.

Member survey – your chance to have your say

It is important to CILEX that the benefits offered to members reflect their career goals as well as providing value for money. To achieve that and to continue to improve CILEX’s offering, we need your feedback.

CILEX is asking members to complete a short survey, which should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete, covering CILEX’s membership value, career development support and communications. Your feedback is essential for us to ensure we continue to deliver a membership offering you want to be part of, for now and the future.

The survey is open until 31 July 2024, so please take this opportunity to share your thoughts with us.

All responses are completely anonymous. However, if you wish to enter the prize draw for a chance to win a spa day voucher worth £250, please provide your membership number when prompted in the survey.

Member news

Former CILEX president and CILEX companion, Millicent Grant KC (Hon) was appointed High Sheriff of Greater London at a ceremony held at the Royal Courts of Justice in April. As High Sheriff, Ms Grant is the sovereign’s representative for the judiciary and the wider justice system in Greater London.

April also saw the retirement of Barry Wood, a director and Chartered Legal Executive at Sunderland’s Richard Reed Solicitors, after 37 years. Mr Wood headed up a department specialising in civil law, working mainly in dispute resolution.

CILEX lawyer Juliet Harvey was made partner at top-50 firm Birketts. Juliet has over 30 years’ experience in family law and last year spoke at CILEX’s graduation ceremony as the immediate past chair of family law group Resolution. She was the first Chartered Legal Executive to hold the position.

Two CILEX members have been made associates at Woodfines, based in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Cambridgeshire. Chartered Legal Executives, Millie Ireson and Natasha Moore, specialise in family and employment law respectively.

May saw South-west firm Watkins Solicitors appoint Chartered Legal Executive and licensed conveyancer Sophia Ramzan as a partner and head of residential conveyancing. Beverley Watkins, managing partner at Watkins Solicitors, said she was thrilled to welcome Sophia to the team and that “her wealth of experience and commitment to excellence make her an ideal fit for our firm”.

May also saw Peterborough firm Hegarty announce the promotion of two CILEX members. Sarah Martin,who works in the residential conveyancing team, was promoted to partner and Rachael Griffiths, a Chartered Legal Executive in wills, trusts and probate, was promoted to associate.

National law firm Simpson Millar welcomed two new CILEX members to its clinical negligence team. Chartered Legal Executive Emma Hickey is now based in the firm’s Liverpool office and Lauren Bayliff, who is currently undertaking her CILEX exams, is based in Manchester.

In June, Sarah Davisworth became the first CILEX partner at Lancashire’s Forbes Solicitors. She has been with the firm for over 20 years and specialises in public and employer’s liability claims, particularly for the housing sector, as well as handling housing conditions claims.

Yorkshire firm Ramsdens Solicitors promoted Chartered Legal Executive and probate specialist Kirsty Dunn to associate.