Bridges and ladders

CILEX chair Eileen Milner reflects on changes to the CILEX charter that will open up careers in law and provide an equal voice to all CILEX members

It is one of the great privileges of my role as chair of the CILEX board that I have the opportunity to hear from our members and learn about the work they undertake. To describe it as rich, varied and impactful does not do justice to their many amazing achievements.

It is similarly gratifying to hear recognition of the impact that members are having from employers and policy makers, all of whom appear very keen to see those who are part of the CILEX professional body prosper in their careers.

In this spirit of positivity, it was especially pleasing to hear that, on 6 May, His Majesty the King signed his agreement to a small number of amendments to our underpinning charter. These amendments represent a further continuation of CILEX’s proud and longstanding history of opening up careers in the law to those who might traditionally not have had such opportunities.

“We are a membership institute that provides a professional chartered home and advocacy body for those who span roles from paralegal through to members of the judiciary”

As a result of the charter amendments, we can now proudly say we are a membership institute that provides a professional chartered home and advocacy body for those who span roles from paralegal through to members of the judiciary.

This continues to set us apart from others in the legal landscape and, furthermore, is a visible embodiment of the way in which CILEX has consistently been an organisation that offers the bridges and ladders of opportunity to all.

Changing the legal landscape

We are ambitious to do more still in this space and want to work with you, our members, to ensure that we are consistently and impactfully pressing for changes in the legal landscape that allow for all the talents within our membership to be fully utilised. We have a public benefit duty to ensure that, by focusing on access to justice, as we consistently do, we are matching membership expertise with the real need for such talent in the market.

A further important element of our charter change is that every member now has a full and equal voice when matters of importance are put to members for a decision. This is an important step and one which once more sets us out as an organisation that finds its strength and legitimacy in recognising that all colleagues bring perspectives and experience that are demonstrably valuable.

A highly effective ambassador

Let me end with a significant thank you to Yanthé Richardson, our outgoing president. During what I am sure Yanthé would say has been a very significant and important year for both CILEX and for her professionally, she has contributed an enormous amount. Senior members of the judiciary have commented to me that she is a “very impressive individual” and “a highly effective ambassador for CILEX and its members”.

These comments very much mirror my experience of working alongside Yanthé, particularly in the context of board meetings, where she has been an excellent representative of the member voice. Professionally, through talent, hard work and determination, she has also, in recent months, been welcomed as a full equity partner at her firm. This is a huge and well-deserved achievement and, if needed, a real signal that being an office-holder really does build profile, confidence and networks that are highly prized by employers.

As we say goodbye to Yanthé, we will welcome new president Sara Fowler. Sara has already proven herself to be an excellent advocate for CILEX and is someone who brings the perspective of working in-house as a lawyer and governance lead in a major NHS trust. Sara will use her voice, her experience to ensure that the richness, variety and impact that I referred to at the outset are even better understood by those we wish to influence.