CILEx welcomes David Lidington and Justine Greening as Secretaries of State

11 June 2017

The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives has welcomed the appointment of David Lidington as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, and the reappointment of Justine Greening as Secretary of State for Education.

CILEx president Martin Callan FCILEx said: “CILEx is greatly looking forward to a positive and constructive relationship with David Lidington and Justine Greening.”

He continued: “There are important issues that we hope to support our new ministers in addressing, including perennial problems with access to justice, promoting technical legal education, and encouraging diversity within the legal profession and judiciary. As vocationally educated legal professionals, CILEx members play a unique role in the administration of justice, and their remarkable diversity make them an important voice to contribute to the work of government.

“We are particularly hopeful that the new Justice Secretary will consider reforms that will improve the Prisons and Courts Bill should they wish to reintroduce it. We want to protect access to meaningful legal advice, particularly for vulnerable persons, which will be lost if plans to raise the small claims limit for cases brought by injured people go unchanged. We also believe the Bill would be greatly enhanced by expanding judicial appointment opportunities for Chartered Legal Executive lawyers.

“We look forward to meeting David Lidington and Justine Greening in due course, and building a positive relationship in the public interest.”