“This is only the beginning" 100 partners and 1st ILEX Judge celebrate

Speaking at the event, the first Legal Executive Fellows Judge, Ian Ashley-Smith said: “I am proud to be standing here today and addressing you as a judge, as well as being a Legal Executive lawyer.

“We are witnessing Legal Executives across England and Wales receiving awards from associated institutions for their work, Legal Executives now becoming advocates; we are here celebrating our first 100 partners, and of course the first Legal Executive Judge. I have a feeling that this is only the beginning.”

Addressing the guests, ILEX President, David McGrady, spoke of the future: “We must look to more of our members becoming Deputy District Judges, full District Judges, Tribunal Judges and we must help and assist our other ILEX Fellows to advance to our next 100 partners.”

Nick Hanning, the first ILEX Lawyer to be made a partner spoke on behalf of other Legal Executive partners when he said: “ILEX believes that everyone should be able to become a lawyer if they have the skills to do so. We strive to celebrate the unique attributes of each individual which creates such rich diversity and above all we aim to include not to exclude.

“I am proud to be a modest example of that philosophy and I honour all of our ILEX lawyer partners here tonight and all ILEX lawyers and members everywhere for the examples they too are setting.”

Jack Collins, the editor of AllAboutCareers.com, welcomed the appointment of the first ILEX judge and 100 partners saying, "The time has come for Legal Executives to have the recognition they deserve for the important role they play as lawyers. It's an option too many aspiring lawyers overlook, but it certainly looks like this is about change".

The event was held in the Terrace Pavilion at the House of Commons and hosted by Richard Fuller MP for Bedford and Kempston, home of ILEX’s HQ. Mr Fuller said: “I was delighted to host the event in the House of Commons to mark this major milestone in ILEX’s history. I am very proud that the Institute, which is producing such a great pool of talented people, is based within my constituency in Kempston and I applaud their work in providing an alternative route into the legal profession.”