Supreme Court president hails CILEx’s diversity

20 March 2014

Supreme Court president Lord Neuberger has hailed the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) as the unsung heroes and heroines of diversity.

Speaking in his Rainbow Lecture on Diversity at the House of Commons, Lord Neuberger outlined his vision of creating a more diverse judiciary. He suggested that the lack of diversity in the legal profession as a whole has led to a ‘reduction in excellence’ in the judiciary.

Lord Neuberger said: “The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives represents a very valuable way into the legal profession for those who cannot get to be solicitors or barristers, because for instance they have no university degree, or even for quite a few with a degree.”

He continued: “[Chartered] Legal executives have become district judges and I have no doubt that more will take that route. Those who have been running the Chartered Institute were until recently unsung heroes and heroines of diversity in the legal profession, but in the past three years I am glad to say that people have started to appreciate their contribution.”

As part of CILEx’s commitment to promoting diversity within the legal profession, it is supporting the latest series of Improving Diversity judicial appointment seminars which will take place in Leeds, Birmingham and London later this year. The seminars will raise awareness of opportunities in the judiciary and are open to under-represented groups including BAME, women and those with a disability.

The events are jointly run by the Judicial Appointments Commission, CILEx, the Bar Council and the Law Society and are suitable for junior members of the profession and those with a number of years’ post qualification experience.

Improving Diversity – judicial appointment seminar schedule:

• Leeds: Thursday, 26 June at 6.30pm
• Birmingham: October, date tbc
• London: Tuesday, 18 November at 6.30pm

Find out more about the events at: www.cilex.org.uk/membership/events.aspx

Chartered Legal Executives have been eligible to apply for judicial appointment since 2008 and there are already two deputy district judges on the South Eastern Circuit.

ENDS

Photograph: Chartered Legal Executive judges Ian Ashley-Smith (left) and Simon Lindsey (right)