14 June 2010

ILEX students win big after success on City & Guilds support staff courses

The Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) has been recognising some of their most outstanding students.

The students were selected from the 4,500 people who each year study their leading paralegal and legal secretary courses, which are a joint venture with City and Guilds, the UK’s largest vocational qualifications provider.

Ewelina Plichta scooped up the ILEX Legal Studies award for her success whilst studying for the Level 2 Certificate in Legal Studies, which is a basic level paralegal qualification.

Commenting on her medal, Ewelina said: “When my law teacher told me that I had won, I didn’t know what to say. It’s a great feeling when your work is being noticed by someone beyond your lecturer. The course has been really helpful in helping me get an introduction to law. It is a useful starting point for those deciding whether law is the subject that they are really passionate about, if they are still making their career choices.”

This year’s ILEX Legal Secretaries award went to Karen Whyte for her success on the Level 3 Diploma for Legal Secretaries course.

Karen said the course has helped her in ways she couldn’t imagine: “Before starting this course I had no confidence and very low self-esteem. I worked exceptionally hard, having to overcome many difficulties throughout with the help of my teachers who I could not have done this without. Completing the course and winning this prize has now given me every confidence in my own ability, knowledge and skills to follow a career in law, something I have always been interested and enjoy that I never thought I was capable of.”

Both awards were presented by ILEX Council member Keith Barrett. They will receive £500, a trophy and a certificate as well as the recognition of winning an ILEX Annual Prize for Support Staff.

Three ILEX students also received Medals for Excellence. They were: Carly Lane who studied Level 3 Legal Secretaries at South Essex College; Deandra Codrington who studied Level 3 Legal Secretaries at Kingston College; and Stacy Carruthers who studied Level 2 Certificate in Legal Studies at Coleg Llandrillo.

Since 2004, ILEX, in association with City & Guilds, has offered the Legal Secretaries and Legal Studies qualifications. ILEX maintains responsibility for the content of the syllabus and the assessments and City & Guilds manages the centres, quality assurance and certification.

ENDS