LETR: CILEx calls on bodies to work together

As part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the London branch of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx), President Nick Hanning called for the legal professions to work together to implement the recommendations of the Legal Education and Training Review (LETR).

The LETR report was released last week. Among other things, it discussed diversifying routes into the profession, including by way of apprenticeships and paralegals. In his speech, Hanning said: "I hope that businesses will not make the mistake of thinking that 'apprentices' equals 'cheap and cheerful labour', but understand the importance of there being an effective and accessible progression route. […] There must be progression routes within the apprenticeship frameworks, as well as transferability in, out and across professions within the sector. I believe there is a real danger here. If the cost of going to university becomes such that only the wealthy attend, and everyone else has to hunt around for CILEx, an apprenticeship or something else, a hierarchy of practitioners will quickly develop."

On paralegals, Hanning commented that CILEx has always had paralegal members, but warns against a single regulatory scheme: "CILEx is, in effect, the largest paralegal membership and regulatory organisation in the UK. […] The LETR recommends a single voluntary recognition scheme […] I have some difficulties with this recommendation. It has all the hallmarks of an expensive regime without the guaranteed quality assurance the public would expect from such a scheme. It also overlooks the 50-year history of CILEX paralegals, and that measures of competence and knowledge already exist."

Hanning also proposed that a conference be held later in the year to debate the report and work out how to take its recommendations forward. Maura McGowan QC, chair of the Bar Council, has been the first to accept the offer.