Less than one year after completion of her studies and qualification as an Associate Member CILEx, we are delighted to announce that lawyer, Helen Griffiths, has been recently appointed as Chair of the CILEx Newcastle Branch.
CILEx, or the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives to give it it’s full name, is the professional body which represents all trainee and practising Chartered Legal Executives. Similar to the Law Society (which represents all solicitors in the profession), CILEx has branches throughout the whole of England and Wales and it is testament to Helen’s drive and professionalism that she has been chosen to take a leading role in promoting CILEx in the North East at such an early stage in her career.
Of course Helen is not the first of our lawyers to take such a prominent role in the activities of their representative body. Also flying the flag for CILEx is Head of the Family Department, Kath Hill. A past CILEx Counsel member, Kath is one of few CILEx Advocates in the country. Kath is also on the Admissions and Licensing Committee for CILEx Regulation and is a tutor for the CILEx Law School.
And Family and Crime Solicitor, Allan Devine, has earned much well-deserved recognition for his contributions to the work of the Law Society since he became a Member of the Standing Committee of Newcastle-upon-Tyne Law Society some 5 years ago. Now an elected member of the Law Society Council for Northumbria, a 4-year term of office which began in July 2014, Allan is keen to raise awareness of the threats to the rule of law and for provision of legal services, whilst continuing to represent vulnerable clients in criminal cases and in care proceedings brought by Local Authorities.
Allan also played a part in the formation of the Client Support Group which was set up to oppose the Government’s proposals to curtail legal aid in criminal matters and alongside the other seven members of the Group, Allan received The Lawyer of the Year Award at the 2014 Law Society Awards in recognition of his commitment to this cause. More recently Allan has been heavily involved in the fight against the Government’s controversial proposals for a dual contracting scheme which would have seen Legal Aid Practitioners competing against each other for Legal Aid Contracts.
Inspiring achievements all round, we’re sure you will agree.
