The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) is to prioritise campaigning for formal recognition that chartered legal executives operate on a par with solicitors, including removing blocks on judicial roles and post-Brexit professional recognition abroad.
It wants senior judicial roles opened up to chartered legal executives, who are currently unable to apply for judicial roles higher than District Judge. CILEx points out that this would help make the judiciary more representative of society as its members come from more diverse backgrounds than solicitors and barristers.
Phil Sherwood, president of CILEx, said: ‘Chartered legal executives and solicitors have been performing the same roles for decades, but their public standing, and many areas of our legal system, are yet to catch up with that reality.
‘Three quarters of our membership are women and we have far greater representation from ethnic minorities and state-school backgrounds than other parts of the profession.’
CILEx is calling for chartered legal executives to be recognised in the EU Lawyer Recognition Directive so they can offer services to other EU countries. Post-Brexit, it wants its legal executive members recognised alongside solicitors and barristers in any future trade agreement with the EU.
It will also campaign for an end to laws preventing chartered legal executives from providing certain services open to solicitors, for example, proving Power of Attorney by means of a certified copy.
Meanwhile, look out for Bevan Brittan paralegal apprentice Michelle Blackwell, who features in the government’s ‘Fire it up’ TV and social media campaign to highlight the breadth of apprenticeship opportunities. Blackwell currently works in the clinical negligence department and aims to eventually qualify as a solicitor.
