Davies: even more consistent service
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has turned to the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) to provide training to members of staff without legal qualifications.
There will be between 10 and 20 learners beginning the programme in January 2015. They will study the CILEx Level 3 unit called ‘Introduction to Law and Practice’ with a view to sitting the exam in June 2015. The training will be delivered by a combination of distance learning and in-house teaching.
BSB director-general Dr Vanessa Davies said: “It is important that all members of staff at the BSB have a good understanding of the sector, and the role played by the Bar in the administration of justice in England and Wales. This initiative will help us to deliver an even more consistent service to the public and the profession.”
Jenny Pelling, business director of CILEx Law School, said: “At CILEx Law School we require all of our customer service team to undertake introductory training in law and legal practice, so I have seen at first hand the benefits of such an initiative.”
Meanwhile, ILEX Professional Standards – CILEx’s regulatory arm – is to be the next major legal body to undergo a change in leadership, after chief executive Ian Watson announced he would be retiring in spring 2015, after nearly 40 years with CILEx.
Alan Kershaw, chair of IPS, said “It was on the basis of Ian’s immense knowledge and experience that IPS was set up as the independent regulator for CILEx. The board and I have drawn repeatedly on his expertise in taking forward our agenda, and the achievements of our first six years speak for themselves.
“We are ready now to embark on an entirely new period in the organisation’s development and I am delighted that Ian will be with us when we celebrate the granting of the first new practice rights to individuals and the regulation of businesses.”
