08 March 2011
Manchester Law Society announces its first Legal Executive of
the Year
Stuart Cartwright has been named as the first recipient of the
Legal Executive of the Year at the Manchester Legal Awards.
The Manchester Legal Awards, held on 3 March 2011, celebrated
the cream of Manchester’s legal profession and were organised by
the Manchester Law Society and its Media Partner, The Manchester
Evening News. This is the first year that there has been an award
for the Legal Executive of the Year category.
Stuart, who is a partner at law firm JMW Solicitors and was one
of first Legal Executives in England and Wales to be trained as a
defence Legal Executive Advocate, said his recognition proves that
Legal Executives are respected members of the legal sector. "The
fact that there is now a specific award for Legal Executives
reflects the change in attitude towards lawyers who have qualified
using the ILEX route. I'm pleased I can play a role in promoting
ILEX and highlighting how Legal Executives can now progress within
their firms"
Fran Eccles-Bech, Executive Director of Manchester Law Society
agrees: “The Manchester Legal Awards is all about celebrating the
quality, excellence and talent of the legal profession in and
around Manchester. As the status and standing of Legal
Executives continues to grow and they are such an integral and
important part of the legal profession, we felt it only right that
we have a Legal Executive of the Year Award this
year.
“The quality of entries into this category was extremely high
and I know that the judges had a hard time deciding on the winner,
but we were delighted to congratulate Stuart Cartwright from JMW,
the first time winner of this award.
“As we at Manchester Law Society work more closely than ever
with ILEX in the North West we look forward to supporting and
promoting legal executives in all areas throughout the coming
year.”
Stuart started life with aspirations of becoming a professional
footballer, but an injury during a trial with Manchester United
meant he had to look at other career options. In 1994 he joined JMW
Solicitors as a junior fee earner and was actively encouraged to
take an ILEX course which gave him the qualifications needed to
further his career in law.
“Whilst a full time law degree did not appeal to me, combining
work and study did.” says Stuart. “As time went by I assumed more
responsibility in criminal work while continuing with my ILEX
studies. I became an ILEX Fellow in 2002 and a defence Legal
Executive Advocate in 2008.
“It's always nice to be recognised and I hope it encourages
other ILEX members to have the confidence to realise that are
respected by their colleagues and enter similar awards.”
Chief Executive at ILEX, Diane Burleigh added: “I am very
pleased to hear about Stuart’s well deserved success, which goes a
long way to prove that qualified Legal Executive Lawyers are just
as important and respected as their peers.”
So what next for Stuart? On Wednesday (9 March 2011) he will be
one of ILEX’s first 100 partners at a reception at the House of
Commons, also there will be ILEX’s first judge. Diane continues:
“This event marks an important milestone for ILEX in that it
proves, through the Legal Services Act 2007, that the Government
and the JAC know how important Legal Executives are in creating the
diversity the Legal Sector needs, while maintaining high quality
services to those that need it.”
ENDS