Diversity in legal executives an example for the profession, says LCJ

74 per cent of CILEx members are women

The diversity of legal executives is an example to solicitors and barristers, the Lord Chief Justice said today.

CILEx has provided a pathway into the profession for people who would otherwise have considered it "ridiculous" said Lord Judge

"Whether their reservations about joining the legal profession stem from the belief that they would be held back because they were female, or black, or somehow or other because there would be prejudice against them, those individuals were offered an open door by CILEX," Lord Judge told guests at a lunch to mark CILEx's 50th anniversary.

CILEx, whose membership is now 74 per cent women, has enabled both the solicitors and barristers profession to make it clear that their doors too are open to men and women from diverse backgrounds, he said.

In comparison, 48.2 per cent of solicitors on the Roll last year were women, and women made up 47.4 per cent of solicitors with a practising certificate.

The senior judge went on: "The achievement of enabling talented men, but particularly talented women, to come forward into the legal profession regardless of background is one of the great achievements.

"Perhaps even more, it is not based on diminished standards".

Last year Lord Judge said that the introduction of quotas would be "insulting" to women and ethnic minorities, and that increasing the number of women judges would be like "turning a tanker around".

CILEx chief executive Diane Burleigh had made "monumental progress" in furthering the position of legal executives, said Lord Judge.

Paying tribute to the pro bono work of CILEx members, Lord Judge highlighted the ever-increasing importance of pro bono.

"Pro bono work by lawyers is assuming greater and greater importance as diminished public resources leave more and more people to act as litigants in person.

"The advice and help given pro bono is a great help to the Ministry of Justice."