Messenger September 2017

20 Local News
MTSG Update
Thank you
I feel it would only be appropriate
to open my first
contribution to the Messenger
magazine by saying a
big ‘Thank You’ to the outgoing
2016/17 MTSG Committee.
The last 12 months
have been extremely successful,
with events such as
networking socials, educational
talks, the biannual
balls, sporting triumphs
and a ski trip to Val Thorens
filling the diaries of Manchester’s
paralegals and
trainees. The hard work and
commitment put in by all
the members of the outgoing
committee was fundamental
to the success of
these events and I am sure
that I speak on behalf of
everyone who attended an
MTSG event last year when
I extend my thanks to them
all. Thank you also to all the
sponsors and supporters of
the MTSG over the last year,
whose support and generosity
enabled us to provide
and deliver the events
to our members.
We’ve had a busy few weeks
since the ‘Election Night’
when the new 2017/18
Committee was revealed,
and I know many of the
committee have already
thrown themselves into organising
some fun and informative
events for the
next few months!
The Year Ahead
Since I joined the MTSG
three years ago, I have seen
first-hand how beneficial
being part of the group, and
attending their various activities
and events throughout
the year, can be. I am
excited for my role of Chair
over the next 12 months,
and can’t wait to meet this
year’s new intake of trainee
solicitors, paralegals and
other MTSG members.
Planning for the MTSG
Launch Night is well under
way – and I can safely say
Loretta, Georgina and
Naana have plans in places
to make sure we are set for a
fantastic evening! Keep
your eyes peeled for details
of the night which will be
circulated to our members
over the next few weeks.
Looking further ahead, the
MTSG calendar for the year
ahead is already filling up
nicely and looks to be jampacked
full of exciting
events and informative talks
to keep us all busy. The
MTSG is widely known as
being one of the nation’s
best trainee solicitors
groups, and we are very fortunate
that we continue to
have the on-going support
of our sponsors which make
the wide range of activities
and events on offer possible.
Over the coming year,
we are excited to build on
existing relationships with
current sponsors, and are
enthusiastic to explore the
possibilities of working
alongside new sponsors
and supporters who wish to
get involved with the MTSG.
On behalf of the new
2017/18 committee, I think I
can say safely that we are all
looking forward to the year
ahead, and to developing
and expanding the MTSG.
Here’s to a year of networking,
educational opportunities,
meeting new people,
investing in our careers,
supporting each other and
taking on new challenges.
See you at the launch party!
Charlotte King
Chair of MTSG
Trainee Solicitor at JMW
Solicitors LLP
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).
CILEx Update
Summer BBQ
The Greater Manchester CILEx would like to thank everyone
who attended the annual summer BBQ on 20 July 2017 at
Missoula. We would like to then Sacco Mann for sponsoring
the welcome drinks and providing helpful advice on recruitment
to everyone who attended the BBQ.
The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives CEO, Linda Ford
attended along with the new Deputy Vice President Patricia
White.
Everyone had a fantastic evening and we are all looking forward
to our next event at Christmas.
Training:
The Greater Manchester CILEx branch next training session
will take place at 6pm on Thursday 24 August 2017 Glaisyers
Solicitors, One St. James’s Square, Manchester, M2 6DN.
Michael Fletcher, a Charted Legal Executive and Costs
Lawyer at Glaysiers will provide a Civil Costs update.
If you would like to attend, please email greatermanchester@cilex.org.uk
This training session will be suitable for all levels of experience
Michael’s talk will include a general costs update and
overview of recent case law
CILEx Welcomes a New President:
The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) has inaugurated
Millicent Grant (Millie) as its 54th President.
A Chartered Legal Executive for almost 40 years, Millie, inspired
by her barrister uncle who came to the UK from Jamaica,
entered the profession as a legal secretary in the
1970s with the intention of qualifying as a Legal Executive.
After qualifying as an Associate of the Institute, Millie has
gone on to enjoy a career in both private practice and inhouse
for a number of public sector organisations.
Since 2006, she has run her own consultancy advising and
investigating issues arising from a range of employment
matters and is also a trained executive and personal performance
coach. She has been a member of CILEx Council
since 2013 and became a Fellow of the Institute in 1991.
Alongside this, Millie has been a trustee and vice-chair of
Knights Youth Centre in Lambeth for over 15 years and last
year, was appointed chair of the charity’s board. The centre
provides transformational opportunities to hundreds of
young people each year across South London.
Speaking about her inauguration, Millie says: “Becoming
President of this great institute is one of the proudest moments
of my career. Had I not discovered CILEx, I would not
have enjoyed the varied and rewarding career that I have
had. CILEx gave me the confidence to progress and I feel
very privileged to now be in a position where I can help others
achieve their legal career ambitions.
“As I embark on my term as President, I will be focused on
delivering progression in the profession for all CILEx members.
I am proud to be the figurehead for a highly diverse
membership of over 20,000 Chartered Legal Executive
lawyers, other legal practitioners and paralegals and am a
big believer, indeed an example, that there is more than one
route into the law. Yet, there are many areas where challenges
lie ahead, one of which is tackling the notable diversity
issues in the judiciary.
“There is currently a cap on how far CILEx members can
progress in the judiciary, and alongside our new judicial development
programme, we will be lobbying for the removal
of this artificial barrier so that there is parity with solicitors
and barristers. The make-up of our membership – with 74%
women and 32% of new students from a BAME background
– means that Chartered Legal Executives can play a major
role in improving diversity on the bench.”
During her term, Millie will preside over significant regulatory
reform, which will see CILEx separate out its duties to
the public interest, the profession and independent regulation
with a new governance structure that means it is prepared
should the government choose to make legal
regulators entirely independent.
The reforms, which will take effect from January 2018, are
driven primarily by a desire to embed best practice within
the organisation and ensure its operation is transparent and
promotes good decision making.
Entries for the CILEx Awards 2017 are now open!
We encourage you to nominate yourself, a colleague or your
employer for a CILEx Award and help celebrate excellence,
outstanding achievement and dedication to the profession.
The categories are:
• CILEx Apprentice of the year
• CILEx Employer of the year
• CILEx President’s Award
• CILEx Pro Bono Award
• CILEx Graduate of the year
All award winners will receive a commemorative trophy, certificate
and the winner's logo. Prizes include a £500 cheque
provided by the award sponsor.
The closing date for nominations is 9am on Friday, 8 September
2017, so don’t miss out on your chance to shine.
The Awards will be presented at the CILEx Graduation and
Admission Ceremony on Saturday, 7 October 2017 at Jury’s
Inn, Milton Keynes.
Joining the branch
If you are interested in joining the Greater Manchester CILEx
Branch or attending one of our events, please email us at
greatermanchester@cilex.org.uk or follow us on Facebook
and Twitter.
Rachel Stevens