Case Studies | A CILEx Regulation Journey

I’ve enjoyed a varied career history, having worked for the Ministry of Defence at a US Air Force base and as PA on a House of Commons Select Committee, but the long commute into London wasn’t for me and I became a PA at a local law firm, where I worked for six years.

It was here I found myself working with Legal Executives and realised that a career as a lawyer was within my reach, without having to go into full-time university education. Soon after, I completed my Level 3 CILEx (then Part 1 of ILEx) to become a trainee Legal Executive and started my CILEx journey.

After a brief career break to have children, I returned to the workplace as a Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. However, I had a yearning to return to the law and subsequently secured a job at SEN Legal, one of the country’s leading education law firms. That was nine years ago.

Today, I am a newly-qualified CILEx Fellow and feel privileged to be assisting parents in obtaining special educational provision for their children. My work involves advising on: education, health and care plans; running appeals and disability discrimination claims in the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal; advising on social services and care proceedings; making applications for Deputyship in the Court of Protection and assisting with Judicial Review proceedings. 

It has taken me seven years to reach Fellow status; two years to become an Associate Member and to complete my first Level 6 subject. I then took a break to focus on bringing up my children. It took me a further four years to graduate and then just over 12 months to complete my Work-Based Learning, allowing me to become a Fellow. 

I submitted my evidence-based portfolio in mid-May, and my fellowship was confirmed in late July, so it wasn’t too long to have to wait.

Of course, this can all be achieved much more quickly than I did but that’s the beauty of qualifying with CILEx, you can go at your own pace.

Being a Fellow and part of CILEx is extremely important to me. I have a recognised legal qualification, a rewarding and fulfilling career and am proud to be part of a very well-respected professional association. 

Angela Tyrrell, SEN Legal