Two top officials from the Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) are visiting from the UK to promote ILEX training in Bermuda.

ILEX president Derek Larkin and managing director of ILEX (Paralegal Training) Ltd. John Westwood are here to revamp the ILEX course run at the Bermuda College and to meet the local ILEX branch as well as law firms, banks, insurance companies and people employed in Government who may be interested in taking ILEX training courses.

They will also hold talks with College officials to see what courses might be offered in the future, "with a view to qualifying Bermudians either as legal executives or give them a training in the law of a type and standard which they require in the workplace'', said Mr. Westwood.

These discussions will be extended to people in Government, staff in the local courts and from other quarters where a legal training is an advantage.

Mello, Jones & Martin has a programme for its legal secretaries and David Addington, the firm's litigation manager, said: "Other firms might wish to follow our example.'' "Firms are concerned with quality issues and increasingly want to make sure staff are going in the same direction and training is seen as crucial, particularly vocational training which enables employees to perform well in the workforce,'' remarked Mr. Westwood.

Mr Westood said ILEX Paralegal Training is concerned with developing support staff not just in the law firms but in the legal environment generally.

The skills obtained through ILEX training can be taken to other non-legal sectors and other English law jurisdictions such as Hong Kong, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

The visiting ILEX representatives are keen to emphasise accessibility to a career in law and "competence-based training'' which allows for progression to the Institute of Legal Executives programmes in all areas of English law.

Through competence-based training law firms can carry out in-house training obtained from Bermuda College. Mr Larkin believes ILEX training aims to "find the right lawyer for the right job and offer something to Bermudians in the courts, Government, in Customs and the police service, etc.'' The Institute of Legal Executives was formed in the United Kingdom in 1963 in order to provide a system of professional training and education.

Legal Eagles: Pictured (from left are: John Westwood, president of ILEX Paralegal Training Ltd., Derek Larkin, president of ILEX, David Addington, of Mello, Jones & Martin and Diane Alleyne of AS&K. Mr Westwood and Mr Larkin are visting Bermuda to promote ILEX training at Bermuda College.

LAWYERS LEG BERMUDA COLLEGE EDC