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 

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

Joining host Duane Cormell is Matthew Flanagan-Roberts, Associate within the global Corporate Practice team at Squire Patton Boggs.    

Topics on the agenda include:   

• Matthew’s career so far and the challenges he has faced 
• How diversity in the legal profession has changed during his career 
• What firms can do to improve diversity 
• What the gay wage gap is and Matthew's personal experiences 
• The best advice for someone struggling in the workplace 

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 Matthew Flanagan-Roberts 

Matthew is an associate within the global Corporate Practice team at Squire Patton Boggs, based in their Manchester office.  

Matthew advises on national and international transactions and specialises in mergers and acquisitions, and private equity investments, as well as joint ventures, corporate reorganisations, corporate governance and employee ownership trusts.  

Matthew advises private equity investors, corporates and entrepreneurs, as well as individuals across a range of sectors in the local, national and international markets.  

Matthew is also the Immediate Past Chair of the Manchester Young Solicitors Group, a social and professional network for qualified solicitors under 10 years PQE of which he was Chair for almost three years. In addition, Matthew sits on Manchester Law Society’s ED&I and education committees. Internally, Matthew is an active member of the firm’s LGBT+ committee and is committed to raising awareness in this space.
 
About Realm Recruit
At Realm Recruit, we believe in treating lawyers like people, not candidates. And we believe in treating law firms like valued partners, not just transactional customers.  

Through our refreshing approach, we help to develop careers and sustainably grow law firms. 

You can find us on LinkedIn and Twitter (@realmrecruit), Facebook and Instagram (realmrecruit) or find us on our very own Refreshingly Honest Chats with Lawyers LinkedIn page where you can find all the latest clips and get involved in the discussion! 

Subscribe today to Refreshingly Honest Chats with Lawyers to make sure you never miss an episode. 

In this month’s episode of Refreshingly Honest Chats with Lawyers we’re delighted to delve into the topic of Personal Branding for Lawyers.  

Joining host Duane Cormell is Hannah Strawbridge, CEO/founder of the employment law solutions business, Han Law.   

Topics on the agenda include:  

• Why Hannah decided to set up her own law firm 
• The key to success when developing a personal brand 
• How law firms are potentially missing out on a great deal of success due to a lack of personal branding advice 
• Her best piece of advice to all aspiring lawyers looking to build a personal brand  

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 Hannah Strawbridge 

Hannah Strawbridge is an experienced Employment Solicitor, Tribunal advocate and CEO/founder of the employment law solutions business, Han Law.   

Disillusioned by the traditional business model which too often failed to deliver the best for her clients, herself and her team, Hannah set up Han Law in 2019 with the goal of improving working lives for all.   

The Han Law team acts for individuals and businesses and takes a fresh and inclusive approach to employment law, where innovation and creativity go hand in hand with technical ability and a life beyond the office.     

Hannah herself is a passionate advocate for equal rights in the workplace.  She regularly presents and writes on the topic and during the Covid-19 Pandemic, she launched a campaign for employers to be more transparent about potential redundancies, to better protect women’s rights in the workplace.
 
About Realm Recruit
At Realm Recruit, we believe in treating lawyers like people, not candidates. And we believe in treating law firms like valued partners, not just transactional customers. 

Through our refreshing approach, we help to develop careers and sustainably grow law firms. 

You can find us on LinkedIn and Twitter (@realmrecruit), Facebook and Instagram (realmrecruit) 

Subscribe today to Refreshingly Honest Chats with Lawyers to make sure you never miss an episode.