Branch News
Coventry & Warwickshire Branch
The Coventry and Warwickshire branch of the Institute of Legal
Executives celebrated their first anniversary on the 8th
of December.
The branch hosted an anniversary / Christmas
party at the Cocked Hat Hotel in Coventry. Among the guests
who braved the torrential rain to attend the event were Ilex
President Susan Silver, Chief Executive Diane Burleigh and District
Judges Lynch and Sanghera.
Susan Silver and District Judge Sanghera both
addressed the guests with kind words about the branch and the work
of Legal Executives.
The Committee, comprised of Chairman Emma
Upstone, a property lawyer with Leamington Solicitors Blythe
Liggins, vice-chairman Clare Round from Caterpillar Financial
Services, secretary Harjinder Bhambra from Warwickshire County
Council, treasurer Lisa Moseley from Band Hatton Solicitors and
Media Representative Emma Young from Alsters Kelley LLP, were
delighted with the turn out at this years event.
Since the launch of the Branch last year the
branch seen a steady increase in the number of members. They
have organised many events including quiz nights, CPD events,
revision sessions and student meet and greet evenings.
Further events are being organised for 2012.
For more information about the Coventry and
Warwickshire branch please contact Emma Upstone or Clare Round at
the Branch email address Coventry.warks.ilex@hotmail.co.uk.
You can also join us on facebook at "ILEX - Coventry &
Warwickshire Branch" where you will need
to "like" our page to keep up-to-date with upcoming events.
Chester & North Wales Branch
AGM
23rd February 2012
To be held at The Grosvenor Pulford Hotel, Wrexham Road, Pulford
in the Belgrave Suite at 18.00
Susan Silver, Ilex President and Lynne Squires, Regional Liaison
Officer Wales & South West will be in attendance.
Forthcoming Branch events will be discussed. Please
also attend if you would like to become a committee
member.
The meeting will be followed by a meal at Ciro's. Take a look at the menu.
RSVP by the 16th February 2012. View the event invitation here.
Devon Branch
Following their successful launch in November 2009, the Devon
branch of the Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) continues to
grow from strength to strength. The branch held its second ball in
September last year and raised over £1,000 for the local charity
and ILEX Benevolent Fund. “Last year’s event was a complete
success and the feedback we received last year was excellent,
although numbers were down” comments Caroline Lavis branch press
officer. This year, the branch is hoping to repeat its
fundraising success and will be holding another black tie social
event in September, venue to be voted on . Like last year
there should be a charity raffle and auction of an evening cruise
on the river Dart on the boat 'Fairmile' which was kindly donated
by Greenway Ferry Torquay and proceeds of the raffle and auction
will go to alocal charity.
The ILEX Devon Branch is also pleased to announce the graduation of
three members of the branch which includes Vice Chair Alison
Starkey (Michelmores LLP) A short informal event was held at
Michelmores LLP in Exeter, originally set up solely for Alison as
she fell ill before the last Ball when she was due to Graduate.
Dianne Burleigh was in attendance. We plan to hold an event to mark
the granting of the Charter, this will be held in Plymouth.
Cpd events continue to be held, new members & ideas always
welcome.
Leicestershire and Rutland ILEX branch
On 12 November 2011, the Leicestershire and Rutland ILEX branch
held a black tie ball at the Belmont Hotel in Leicester. The
Ball also raised funds for the Leicester, Leicestershire and
Rutland branch of Headway.
Headway is a Charity providing education, assistance and support
to adults with acquired brain injury. Headway gives people
opportunities to learn skills to help them gain employment, to
retrain or learn new skills for life. The charity also offers
support to families of brain injured adults to help them with the
changes that an acquired brain injury can bring.
The guests at the Ball included the National President of ILEX,
Susan Silver, and CEO Diane Burleigh and James Conningsby,
President of the Leicestershire Law Society. The Lord
Lieutenant of Rutland, Dr Lawrence Howard also attended as Patron
of the night’s charity, Headway and gave a fantastic speech about
the work of Headway.
Also enjoying the sumptuous 3 course meal was Sheree Peaple from
De Montfort University in Leicester, other representatives of
Headway, other dignitaries, as well as Members and Fellows of the
Institute of Legal Executives.
The President of ILEX, Susan Silver, spoke of her delight at the
recent granting of the Royal Charter and confirmed that ILEX is
well placed to continue to provide quality legal training for
lawyers into the future.
Vicky Loughnane, Chair of the Branch spoke of the successful
Branch events this year and her commitment to ILEX as a
professional body and her passion for raising awareness of the role
that ILEX plays in the legal world.
The Branch has raised a total of £832 this year for Leicester,
Leicestershire and Rutland Headway.
SOMERSET BRANCH
For the first time since the formation of the Somerset Branch of
ILEX in 1964, the branch took a table at the 2011 Somerset Dinner
of the Devon and Somerset Law Society held at a rather rainswept
Somerset County Cricket ground in Taunton.
The Devon and Somerset Law Society is one
of the oldest local law societies in England, tracing its ancestry
to 1808 and the Somerset Dinner has been a highlight of the
local legal year for many years. The local law society has admitted
members of the Institute as affiliates since 2009. This boost to
membership and income helps to maintain the society as one of the
most vibrant in the country, which as a local branch, we are happy
to support.
Our picture shows Branch Chair Gayle
Defries (4th from left), former ILEX President David
March with committee members Sally Lowe (2nd from left)
Rachel Oaten (3rd from left), Debbie Osborne
(5th from left). Committee member Peter Watkin who has
recently been elected to the Council is kneeling. Branch members
Pam Lucas (left) and Sarah Doble (6th from left)
joined Sue Press (right) of Wessex Law Academy and her husband to
complete the party. The guest of honour was Peter Price,
Bishop of Bath and West who gave an amusing and thought provoking
address. Other guests included District Judges Joan Dowell and
David White of Taunton.
Birmingham Branch
The Birmingham & District ILEX Branch
held a drinks reception on Thursday 30 June 2011. The event
was to mark the new committee members being appointed and to
encourage local members to come along and network with their
colleagues.
Honoured guests included Diane Burleigh,
Chief Executive, David McGrady, President, Rachael Palmer, Council
member for the Midlands and East Anglia, and His Honour Judge
Martin Cardinal, a senior family Circuit Judge from Birmingham
County Court. The Branch was also pleased to welcome
representatives from Perception Solutions who sponsored the
event. With over 50 guests in total the evening was a great
success and provided the perfect platform for a new chapter in the
Branch’s history.
Historically the Birmingham & District
Branch has been one of the most active and successful regional
Branches across the country. For many years the Branch has
proudly represented and supported Legal Executives across the
second city and the surrounding areas and the new committee members
hope to emulate this success.
Alex Loxton of Anthony Collins Solicitors
LLP has been appointed as Chairwoman of the Branch with Vikki Smith
of Else Solicitors and Cassandra Bates of Dass Solicitors being
appointed as joint secretaries. Gemma Bolton and Samantha
Flood, both of Blakemores Solicitors, take on the role of joint
membership secretaries with Savibah Tariq of Claim Today Solicitors
becoming Treasurer.
The new committee would like to offer its
thanks and gratitude to all of the previous committee members who
have assisted the Branch but especially to both Norman Rea and
Derek Larkin, founder members of the Branch. 
Both have given tirelessly to ILEX not only
on a local level but on a national one as well. The success
of the Branch in previous years is a testament to their commitment
to local Legal Executives and to ILEX generally.
The Branch hopes to offer a good mix of CPD
sessions, networking opportunities, student support and social
events over the coming months – look out for updates via email and
in the Journal!
Pictured Left to Right:
David McGrady, ILEX President,
Alex Loxton, Birmingham Branch Chair
and Norman Rea, retiring Branch Chair
Should you wish to join the Branch or have any
queries please email birminghamilex@gmail.com for
further details.
NEW CAMBRIDGE BRANCH
CIB Official Launch – sent: 14 April 2011
The Cambridgeshire Branch of the Institute of
Legal Executives (“ILEX”) held their official launch event on 12
April 2011 at the Royal Cambridge Hotel in Cambridge.
The event was a huge success with some 46
guests in attendance. Among the guests were the President of
ILEX, David McGrady, the CEO of ILEX, Diane Burleigh and the
Cambridge Mayor, Councillor Sheila Stuart.
The Branch’s launch event was sponsored by Taylor Vinters,
Kain Knight and Archer and Archer. The evening started off
with speeches from the Branch’s Chairman, Meena Veja and the
President David McGrady which was followed by a buffet , a
quiz hosted by John Sheehan of WKH Accountants and a business card
raffle the winners of which received two bottles of champagne, one
sponsored by WKH Accountants and the other by Jason Webb of Primary
Source Legal.
Meena Veja and David McGrady
Whilst it is early days for the Branch, it
already has a strong membership of 34 with 10 further applications
pending.
The Branch’s Chairman, Meena Veja says “it has
taken a year to get the branch launched, but the response we have
received to date both from members and supports/sponsors have been
equally rewarding. I am very excited at the opportunities the
Branch will offer to all its members by way of comprehensive cpd
training, social and networking opportunities as well as raising
the profile of Legal Executives in this region”.
Photos of the launch event can be found at the
Branch’s group page on LinkedIn.
The Branch’s next event will be a fundraiser
event in support of the Eastern Legal Trust who are arranging a
10km walk in Cambridge on 16 May 2011. For further details,
please contact Meena Veja on : meena.veja@taylorvinters.com.
Front row: Meena Veja, David McGrady, back
row from left: Sheilah Bruce CIB's Secretary, Janine Moore
CIB's Research/Information Officer, Diane Burleigh, Daryl Robinson
CIB's Training Officer.
LEICESTER BRANCH
51 YEARS OF PARTYING AT LEICESTER
Having launched in 1959 and as the 1st of the local branches of the
Institute of Legal Executives( ILEX) the Leicestershire and Rutland
Branch of ILEX has a long and distinguished history of supporting
its members in the essential legal work they do.
The branch has continually strived to support local Members and
Fellows of ILEX to ensure quality legal services are provided and
building professional and social links between lawyers, the courts
and local businesses.
To celebrate its 51st Anniversary, the Leicestershire and Rutland
ILEX branch held a black tie ball at the Belmont Hotel in Leicester
on 27th November. The Ball also raised funds for the
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland branch of Headway.
Vicky Loughnane, Chair of the Leicestershire and Rutland Branch
of ILEX presents a cheque for £1359 to The Lord Lieutenant of
Rutland, Dr Lawrence Howard Patron of the night’s charity,
Headway.
Photo credit: Michael Stockton Studio
Leicester
Headway is a Charity providing education, assistance and support to
adults with acquired brain injury. Headway gives people
opportunities to learn skills to help them gain employment, to
retrain or learn new skills for life. The charity also offers
support to families of brain injured adults to help them with the
changes that an acquired brain injury can bring.
The guests at the Ball included the National President of ILEX, Mr
David McGrady, and CEO Mrs. Diane Burleigh, Mr. James Conningsby,
Vice President of the Leicestershire Law Society together with the
first Fellow of ILEX to be appointed to the Judiciary, Mr Ian
Ashley-Smith. The Lord Lieutenant of Rutland, Dr Lawrence
Howard also attended as Patron of the night’s charity,
Headway.
Also enjoying the sumptuous 3 course meal were representatives from
De Montfort University in Leicester, various firms of solicitors,
barristers, and local dignitaries as well as Members and Fellows of
the Institute of Legal Executives.
Vicky Loughnane, Chair of the ILEX branch spoke of her commitment
to ILEX as a professional body and her passion for raising
awareness of the role the Institute of Legal Executives plays in
the legal world.
The President of ILEX, David McGrady, confirmed his view that ILEX
has a history of diversity and is well placed to continue to
provide quality legal training for lawyers into the future.
The Branch raised a total of £1359 for Leicester, Leicestershire
and Rutland Headway.
Business
Please contact us to obtain details of the new grading of ILEX
Members from 1st September 2009. Please also contact us to
ask about ILEX Judicial Appointments for ILEX Members as Judges and
the opportunities avaiable for Fellows to become Partners as
from 31st March 2009.
No Branch in your area?
Would you like to help raise the profile of
Legal Executives and meet people in a similar job to
yourself? Perhaps you would be willing to start a branch in
your region or become part of the committee?
For more information please contact John
Burns, Head of Membership, ILEX at jburns@ilex.org.uk