First Manchester Legal Executive Advocate Takes Centre Stage

15 April 2008 pr011.08

Stuart Cartwright, a Legal Executive lawyer in the Crime and Regulation Department of Manchester law firm, JMW Solicitors is one of the first Legal Executives in England & Wales to be trained as a defence Legal Executive Advocate, and is now preparing to make his first appearance in court.

As a Legal Executive Advocate, Stuart will be able to offer a seamless service to clients taking their case right through to the magistrates court and, in the case of appeal and bail applications, the Crown Court without the need to instruct a solicitor, something ILEX Fellows have not been able to do in the past.

In October 2007,Altior Training, based in Cardiff, became the first ILEX accredited organisation to deliver training courses and assessments to members enrolled under the revised ILEX Advocacy Qualification Scheme. Over 400 ILEX Fellows and Members have already expressed an interest in obtaining rights of audience and in the training to become advocates

“I am proud to have obtained rights of audience and to have qualified as an Advocate,” says Stuart. “This is the end of a very long road for myself and the Institute of Legal Executives and I would encourage anyone in a similar position to grasp the opportunity to take the Advocacy course. I found the course extremely challenging but equally rewarding and hope to play my part in putting Legal Executive Advocates firmly on the map.”

Prior to enrolling onto a course, Fellows and Members have to apply to ILEX for a Certificate of Eligibility which requires them to show that they have the necessary level of legal knowledge and experience before they can undertake the six-day course.

“I am delighted that Stuart is one of the first Legal Executive Advocates to complete the training course and is now ready to hone his skills in court ” said ILEX President, Lesley Graham, who is also based in Manchester. ”And I am sure he will be the first of many.”

“Extended Advocacy rights are something which ILEX has campaigned long and hard for. The expertise and knowledge of Legal Executives has long been recognised and Rights of Audience is the first of many forthcoming important changes within the legal profession that affect ILEX members and will enable them to broaden their areas of practice and status.”

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