In this month’s episode of Refreshingly Honest Chats with Lawyers we’re delighted to delve into the topic of Alternative Routes into the Legal Profession in particular CILEX.   

Joining host Duane Cormell is Gillian Lavelle, Senior Partner at MBH Solicitors.   

Topics on the agenda include:   

• Gillian’s career so far 
• The differences between alternative routes to law 
• How CILEX has helped Gillian in her dream of becoming a lawyer 
• Why CILEX can be a better route to the legal profession than others 
• What stops more people from going down the CILEX route 

About Gillian Lavelle 

Gillian started her career as a legal secretary straight from finishing her A-Levels in June 2004.  She joined a legal firm and enrolled on a Legal Executive course run by CILEX in September 2004.  Gillian thereafter worked her way up the career ladder alongside her studies and qualified as a Legal Executive in June 2010.  She then decided to continue her studies and qualified as a Solicitor in July 2014. 

Gillian first started her career in the litigation team before moving into family law in August 2010.  Gillian joined her current firm, MBH Solicitors, in March 2015 and was promoted to Partnership on 1st May 2018 and to Senior Partner on 1st May 2020. 

About Duane Cormell
Duane is the Co-founder and Managing Director of Realm Recruit. Duane set up Realm in 2015 with the aim of developing careers and sustainably growing law firms through a refreshing, values-driven approach to legal recruitment. Since moving to recruitment after obtaining a degree in Law, Duane has amassed more than 10 years of legal recruitment experience and uses that knowledge to help law firms, lawyers, and aspiring lawyers alike.   

About Legal Job Coach 

Legal Job Coach is an online careers advice brand which aims to increase diversity within the legal sector and fill the gaps left by traditional careers services. 

At Legal Job Coach, we believe that no matter what your background, with encouragement, support and guidance, it is possible to reach your potential and secure your dream legal role.   

Legal Job Coach will:   

• shine a light on the gaps left by traditional legal career advice, promoting the less talked about legal practice areas and routes into the profession 
• help you develop soft skills for the workplace that aren’t taught at university   
• give you practical advice on how to navigate the job market and recruitment process, on topics ranging from CV writing to interview skills 

legaljobcoach.com 

About CILEX 
CILEX is the professional association and governing body for over 21,000 Chartered Legal Executive Lawyers, other legal practitioners and paralegals. Their role is to enhance the role and standing of Chartered Legal Executives and all our members within the legal profession. 

For fifty years, they have been offering a unique route to a legal career and becoming a qualified lawyer without a requirement to having a law degree, although law graduates and graduates with non-law degrees can also qualify as a lawyer through the CILEX route.  

To find out more click the link below: 

CILEX - Study to Become or Grow into a Specialist Lawyer