Manchester Messenger June 2017

18 Local News
Black Solicitors Network (BSN) Update
The challenge for groups
is to offer something of interest
for all members.
BSN’s appeal covers the
full spectrum of careers,
starting with students on
the LPC course right
through to the judiciary.
Last month we helped a
group of students with advice
on applying for their
first legal role and gave
them tips on ways to make
themselves standout from
the crowd.
We are now looking to work
with established lawyers
who are looking for their
next challenge. If any senior
lawyers are interested in exploring
a career within the
judiciary Please email me to
enquire about the BSN initiatives
to assist those wishing
to join the judiciary. For
example, do you have any
questions on the application
process? Are you in the
process of applying and
would like guidance? In
conjunction with The Law
Society, BSN runs a series of
programmes, including support
and coaching, designed
to assist you in your
application.
Turning to a more relaxed
note, we are pleased to be
hosting our first summer social.
SAVE THE DATE – Thursday,
15th June, 6pm at The
Botanist on Deansgate. We
are expecting up to 60 people
on the night along with
special guests. We will be
serving up drinks and
canapes whilst being entertained
with live music. The
format is informal and a perfect
opportunity to make
new contacts and catch-up
with old friends. As always,
BSN and our events are
open to all. If you would like
to attend please email me at
kyle.blackburn@jmw.co.uk
Finally, nominations are
now open BSN’s Diversity
Legal Awards! This is now
our eighth year hosting the
awards and they are the
only industry awards which
focus solely on recognising
and promoting diversity, inclusion
and equality across
the legal profession. Nominations
and submissions are
invited from firms, chambers,
in-house legal teams
(private and public sector),
suppliers to and individuals
within the legal profession.
Submissions may cover one,
some or all aspects of diversity,
including gender, ethnicity,
sexual orientation,
disability and social mobility.
Last year’s winners include
Dr Sandie Okoro of HSBC
Global Asset Management
(Lifetime Achievement
Award), Ruth Grant of
Hogan Lovells (Diversity
Champion), Latham &
Watkins (Retention) and
Freshfields (Law Firm Diversity
& Inclusion Initiative of
the Year).
This year I would like to see
some of the North’s outstanding
talent represented
and hope that you will
make suggestions. The
entry deadline is 31 July
2017. Please email me with
your submissions.
Kyle Blackburn
Chair
Black Solicitors Network
MTSG Update
Social
The MTSG Charity Quiz was
held on Thursday 11 May in
Artisan in aid of one of our
chosen charities for this
year, Forever Manchester,
raising approximately £250
for the charity. Attendees
were welcomed with drinks
tokens and a buffet, in addition
to a duo of brothers
who acted as our quiz masters
for the evening. We
would like to say a massive
thank you to all those that
attended and assisted in
raising money for Forever
Manchester.
Please keep an eye on your
email inboxes and our social
media platforms for details
of the MTSG election
process and the MTSG election
social, which is due to
be held in late July.
CILEx Update
FELT
The FELT-ers were treated to
a rum trail around Manchester’s
infamous Northern
Quarter on Thursday 18
May, kindly sponsored by
Sacco Mann. The rum trail
provided all attendees with
6 rum cocktails in 6 different
bars and plenty of food to
keep them going along the
way.
Bongos Bingo is the word
on all FELT-ers lips as we
anxiously await new dates
to be released for the crazy
bingo event at Albert Hall.
This is to be sponsored by
Think Legal and more info
will be released very shortly!
Watch this space!
Summer Ball
On Friday 23 June 2017, the
MTSG will be throwing their
annual summer ball at the
Imperial War Museum, Salford
Quays, kindly sponsored
by Realm Recruit.
Mark the date in your diary
now as following on from
the amazing Winter Wonderland
Ball, this year’s Ball
Directors Aisling, Charlotte
and Nikki have put together
an exceptional themed
night for you! The early bird
tickets have now sold out so
please contact one of our
Ball Directors, Charlotte
King
(charlotte.king@jmw.co.uk)
to obtain a copy of the
ticket request form for details
of how to get your
ticket for the Summer Ball
2017 which includes:
• Drinks reception
• Three course meal at the
Imperial War Museum, Salford
Quays
• Half a bottle of wine and
one drinks voucher
• After dinner entertainment
• Raffle in support of Forever
Manchester, Save the Children
and The Christie (prizes
to be announced)
• After party venue at The
Liquor Store (located on
First Street)
3 Peaks Training
In preparation for the 40
MTSG members taking part
in the 3 peaks challenge in
July, MTSG and JCI have
arranged various training
walks to prepare our members
for the challenge –
please note that you can
come along to the training
walks even if you are not
taking part in the challenge
itself. The dates and the venues
of the remaining training
walks are listed below:
• Sunday 4 June 2017 -
LAKES - Scafell Pike
• Sunday 18 June 2017
(bring your father!) - DALES
- Bolton Abbey, The Strid,
Simon's seat, Bardeen Fell,
and the Valley of Desolation.
For more information on
the training walks, please
contact Sports Directors,
Catherine Anderson
(catherine.anderson@jmw.c
o.uk) or Neil Munford
(neil.munford@bermans.co.
uk).
Matthew Flanagan
Chair of MTSG
Solicitor at KPMG
matthew.flanagan@kpmg.co.uk
The Manchester Trainee Solicitors
Group provides social,
education, sporting and networking
opportunities for
junior legal professionals in
and around Greater Manchester.
If you would like to
become a member, whether
you are a paralegal, prospective
trainee, trainee or newly
qualified solicitor, please visit
the ‘Join Us’ section of our
website (www.mtsg.org.uk),
contact us via twitter
(@mcrtsg) or via the facebook
group (MTSG 2016/17).
Training
The Greater Manchester
CILEx would like to thank
John Mitton of Park Square
Chambers and Ian Skeate of
Clerks room for providing
training for the Branch in
April and May.
John Mitton provided an
overview on advocacy. The
training will be followed up
with a particle session and
details will follow shortly.
The next training session
will take place on 25 May
2017 and will presented by
District Judge Margaret Mc-
Donald of Kenworthy
Chambers. Ms McDonald
will be providing training on
‘Advocacy from a Judges
Perspective.’
For further information,
please email greatermanchester@cilex.org.uk
If you would like to attend
any of our training sessions
please email greatermanchester@cilex.org.uk.
Alternatively,
you can join our
Facebook Group.
Preston Legal Walk
Rachel Stevens, Vice Chair
and Media Secretary of the
Greater Manchester CILEx
Branch took part in the Preston
Legal Walk on 24 April
2017.
The 10K walk around Preston
started at the County
Court at Preston, continued
along the River Ribble, up to
Marina and ended at the
University of Central Lancashire.
The branch will be taking
part in the Manchester
Legal Walk that is due to
take place on 28 September
2017.
CILEx Head Office news:
The Chartered Institute of
Legal Executives (CILEx) has
appointed Linda Ford as its
new chief executive officer
as it presses ahead with significant
governance reforms
and puts a renewed focus
on speaking to and supporting
members.
Ms Ford has been CILEx’s
chief operating officer since
she joined in 2015 from the
General Optical Council,
where she was head of the
education and standards directorate.
She has also been
interim CEO for the past
year.
In addition to the governance
reforms announced
earlier this year, Ms Ford
oversaw the launch in
March of the “I am ACILEx”
campaign, aimed at both individuals
and employers.
This offers the opportunity
for practitioners without a
professional status to become
an Associate member
of the Chartered Institute.
Ms Ford has also led the financial
turnaround of CILEx,
with the organisation returning
to the black in 2016
and the projections for 2017
looking more positive still.
Linda Ford says: “CILEx and
its members can look to the
future with positivity and
optimism and safe in the
knowledge that they have a
great deal to offer the public,
the profession and those
looking for a career in the
law. We want to do all we
can to help our members
progress their careers and
make their mark.
“It is a privilege to be asked
to set and lead the future direction
of CILEx, and member
engagement will be at
the heart of what we do.
This will be aided by the
new governance structure,
which will make clearer the
role and responsibilities of
the various parts of the
group.”