First ILEX Partner Announced

pr010.09 31 March 2009

The first Legal Executive lawyer to be made a partner under the changes brought about by the Legal Services Act 2007, which allow the creation of Legal Disciplinary Partnerships (LDPs), has been announced

Nick Hanning, a Legal Executive with the Poole law firm, RWPS LLP, has formally been made a partner in his firm. He takes up his partnership from 31 March.

Nick is a personal injury lawyer specialising in occupational stress claims, especially for the targets of bullying and harassment. He has been a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives since 1990 and in 2000 was one of the first to qualify as a Legal Executive Advocate. An ILEX Council Member since 2005, he is closely involved in Finance, Litigation Rights and Legal Services Reform He is Chair of the ILEX Pro Bono Forum. Closer to home, Nick is Secretary of the ILEX Bournemouth & District Branch.

“I’m obviously pleased that I can finally be acknowledged as a partner,” said Nick,” as this will clarify my position with clients, suppliers and other bodies. It has been a long wait but it is pleasing that there is now recognition of the fact that lawyers in all branches of the profession are of equal standing. I know there are many other Legal Executives who would make excellent partners but have been denied the opportunity until now. I am sure they will be playing an important role in the development of legal services in the future either as partners with Solicitors or in their own practices.”

A number of law firms are expected to announce Legal Executive partners in the coming weeks. ILEX President, Mark Bishop, said.” This is indeed another milestone for the Institute and its

members. It is further recognition of the growing importance of Legal Executives in the legal workplace, following on from the judicial appointments announcements last year. ILEX members have been performing at partner level for many years. It has long been a source of frustration for our members and their firms that they have not had the opportunity to have their skill and expertise acknowledged through partnership.”

Commenting on the partnership, RWPS partner David Williams says “We are delighted that the legislation has been put in place to enable Nick’s role to be formally recognised. Nick has been an integral part of the management of the practice since the three of us started as Reynolds Williams in 2000 and we have always considered the distinction between Solicitors and Legal Executives in this context to be artificial and out of touch with the realities of the legal world.”

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posted 01.03.09