Philip Sherwood

The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) has argued the lack of recognition for legal executives under EU directives providing for the recognition of legal qualifications “unreasonably restricts their ability to offer services to other EU countries”.

Philip Sherwood, president of CILEx, has identified this issue as one of the Institute’s key policy and law reform priorities for 2019.

He is also pressing for chartered legal executives to be allowed to apply for senior judicial posts, blaming “professional snobbery” for a ban on CILEx members applying for court and tribunal posts higher than district judge, and for reforms to allow chartered legal executives to prove a power of attorney by means of a certified copy.

Mr Sherwood said: “Chartered legal executives and solicitors have been performing the same roles for decades, but their public standing, and many areas of our legal system, are yet to catch up with that reality.

“Three quarters of our membership are women and we have far greater representation from ethnic minorities and state-school backgrounds than other parts of the profession. This diversity, along with the technical specialism many of our members have, means CILEx has a unique perspective to offer policy makers. In 2019, CILEx will be pushing to have its voice heard on areas such as court reform and access to justice.

“It is also vital that in the interests of a diverse, competitive and dynamic legal market that serves both the public and business, that our laws keep pace with changes to the profession. Competition requires a level playing field, and so we are committed to working in the public interest to remove any outdated restrictions that unjustly prevent chartered legal executives from offering to consumers the full range of services they are capable of.”