CILEx launches proposals for new Government

17 September 2014

The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) has today announced the 27 policy proposals it would like to see the Government of 2015-2020 implement. The measures, covering 11 different policy areas, have been launched to coincide with the beginning of the final party conferences before the UK General Election in May 2015.

CILEx president Frances Edwards said: “These proposals, developed in consultation with our members, cover many broad issues of concern to the public who access legal services and the professionals who provide them. They also touch on matters of national importance; in judicial review, surveillance, human rights and education.”

She continued: “We ask politicians and policy formers of all parties to adopt these proposals that will help build skills to maintain the UK legal sector’s global competiveness, and support vulnerable people to ensure they can meaningfully access justice.”

The proposals include;

• Educating the public on what legal aid is still available
• Desisting privatisation of court functions
• Developing a strategy for legal advice, as recommended by the Low Commission
• Supporting courts and judges in working with litigants in person
• Removing the age restriction for 50% funded apprenticeships, and ensuring all apprenticeships lead to nationally recognised qualifications, and
• Opening up judicial appointments to all lawyers regardless of title

Diane Burleigh OBE, chief executive of CILEx, said: “This is not a static shopping list of items, but more a snap-shot of the issues we feel the new Government can focus on that will remedy many long-standing problems facing the UK’s justice system. We will build on our work with politicians, advisers and other legal bodies to develop and implement these proposals, and adapt them as the policy environment continually evolves.”

CILEx is being represented at each of the main party conferences this year, and will be meeting with party representatives in the lead up to the election.

Read CILEx’s proposals to the new Government 2015-2020

ENDS