Christmas thoughts

It seems that these days time simply flies by. It is almost Christmas once again and I can hardly believe that I am already halfway through my Presidential year.

Christmas is traditionally a time of year when we look forward and back at the same time. We reflect on the past year and look forward to the New Year ahead.

In future years when my successors look back I believe they will perceive 2008 as a key year for the Institute and for legal executives. A year of great change when many of the things we have been working towards over the past few years came to fruition.

The dream of seeing ILEX members sitting as judges came a step closer to reality in 2008 when the final piece of the legislation that allows ILEX Fellow to apply for judical appointments became law. ILEX Fellows can now apply for a range of appointments from Tribunal Chairs through to District Judges. We are working closely with the Judicial Appointments Commission to ensure our prospective candidates have all the information and knowledge they will need to enable them to select a post that suits their skills and make a successful application.

Our regulation arm, ILEX Professional Standards came into being during the year, finally completing the separation between representation and regulation. I know the Board are now working hard to put together the policies and standards that will be required to protect the public and ensure members remain properly regulated in the future. We also moved forward on maintaining and promoting equality and diversity in the profession. ILEX has an excellent record in this area but we are determined not to rest on our laurels in our goal of making ILEX and ILEX courses truly accessible to all.

2008 also saw over 400 Associate Prosecutors from the Crown Prosecution Service welcomed on board as members.

During the year we launched a new web site aimed at providing information on ILEX, on being a member and on studying with ILEX. We also completed the work on revising of our range of qualifications and only last week received accreditation for the new Level 6 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice. ILEX now has a suite of qualifications for lawyers that is second to none and, as politicians are fond of saying, ’fit for purpose’ for the years ahead, strengthening our claim to offer a truly alternative route to becoming a lawyer.

And it was brought home to me during the year what a privilege it is to be working within our legal system and how fortunate we are in this country to have that system. During my trip to Columbia in September I was able to see at first hand the problems lawyers working there have just to try and uphold law and justice on a day-to-day basis. They work under immense pressure, with daily intimidation and threats of death, not just to the individuals themselves, but to their families and friends. Such brave men and women. Sadly, many have paid with their lives in the quest to uphold the rule of law in that beleaguered country. Of course we know that this is not the only country which where the Rule of Law does not exist so those other countries should not be forgotten.

The difficulties which have faced the legal profession of late look as though they may extend into 2009. But so often what appears to be a set back can be turned into an opportunity to re-assess a career, to look to change direction or perhaps retrain in other areas of law. To this end ILEX will help, advise and provide information for our members who find themselves considering a change in direction .

However, in 2009 there is also the promise of the first ILEX partners to look forward to. I am sure we will be seeing the first ILEX partners announced by law firms in the spring.

We will also be continuing our work on litigation and probate rights and we have every expectation that this work can be successfully completed in 2009.

Finally, may I thank everyone for all their support over the past year and take this opportunity to wish you all a peaceful Christmas and a happy New Year.