ILEX - Complaints to the Institute of Legal Executives

Page created 30/12/2008 - Just a placeholder for now

This page will change soon ... please check back

Minor update - 03/02/2009 - sent a reminder and got this reply.  Replied here.

Minor update 26/02/2009 - this email says ILEX won't investigate until LCS/SRA/CIU have done their funky stuff.  But are they correct?  She didn't answer my questions about WHO I should raise my concerns (below) with.  Er... following The Most Inept Letter Ever from the SRA are they now free to investigate?  Well, I have asked for a form AND asked the OLSO and the OLSCC here?  Be sure I'll post any replies :-)

On 23rd December 2008 I sent this email (html) to the LCS, ILEX and the Bar Council.  ILEX have acknowledged receipt of complaints made within 6 months about their Member Elaine Pitman.

I am worried about ILEX - when I LAST complained about Elaine Pitman's double charging here they said they wouldn't do anything until the Law Society (then the CCS) had made it's findings.  In actual fact, of course, the CCS simply wasted more time and finally refused to investigate for no good reason (unless their primary goal was to protect Patricia Wayman and FDC Law - heaven forbid)

Anyway, it seems difficult to bring a complaint about a Legal Executive.  Chances are it is the SOLICITOR that (prima-facie) "carries the can" - which potentially makes ILEX as bad as the CCS or, perhaps, even worse.  However, we MUST keep an open mind.  Time will tell - the ALCD proved the BEST to date, so maybe ILEX will prove to be ok

I am STILL worried about ILEX, though....

A few days ago I got this "heads up" from CASIA... see below.  Is this another loophole?  If Legal Executives are to be given new powers the surely the NEED for decent regulation is even MORE important.  If it's taken more than 30 years to bring mal-practicing solicitors into line (and there's no hard evidence that it's over yet) just what will we do with the likes of Elaine Pitman.  Maybe her double charging was minor (still ILEX have done nothing about it, that web page has been there for YEARS now - doesn't reflect well on the "regulator") but Pitman MUST have known all along that the estimates were based on a charging rate of £80/hr whereas Nigel Longs bill was based on £160/hr.  Pitman knew all along that Long and Wayman had misled District Judge Brookes, she permitted His Honour Judge Cardinal to be misled by the SAME lies.  She must also have known that Wayman had misled District Judge Rutherford back in 2003 (the conclusion of District Judge James 25/06/2008) AND thatFDC Law had LIED to the Law Society in 2004.

Greedy, arrogant and lying Legal Executives clearly need top-notch regulation - better than ANYTHING we've seen to date.

Legal Execs Get Jobs Lift Thanks to Law Change 

Tim Saunders: Bournemouth Echo Dec. 19th ’08.

From next year legal executives will be eligible to become district judges and partners in legal firms, according to the president of the Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) who was speaking in Bournemouth.

Addressing more than 260 guests at the Bournemouth & District branch annual dinner, ILEX president, Mark Bishop, said: “Legal Executives can now become partners in legal practices from March 2009 as a result of the Legal Services Act”.

He acknowledged that this is especially good news considering the current economic climate.

And he predicted that the move will pave the way for practices where all lawyers, barristers, estate agents and surveyors will work together under one roof, which will widen access to legal services.

Ultimately this means that businesses not associated with the law will be able to own legal practices such as banks and supermarkets.

Legal executives, who have a similar role to solicitors in preparing cases for barristers, have over recent years seen their role evolve.

They are already able to represent clients in court, after completing the appropriate training.

ILEX advocates can also participate in civil proceedings in the magistrates and county courts while also working in most tribunals and coroners courts.

Legal executives holding a practising certificate are also empowered to administer oaths and use the title “Commissioner for oaths”.

Extreme Warning!

ANY bill from this firm and ANY bill produced by Nigel Long should be subjected to the closest scrutiny - check out the Elaine Pitman Page. and the Leigh Vs. Michelin Tyre page.

TWO entirely FALSE declarations by so-called "officers of the court" FOUR YEARS apart... how MANY bills will Whelan and Wayman have signed in that time?

How many bills will the confirmed LIAR Nigel Long have prepared in that time?

Elaine Pitman factually tried to charge AGAIN for work Council had already charged for - i.e. double charging.

Do we believe this is an isolated, "one-off" incident?  Isn't it more likely "standard practice" in this firm?

This is FDC Liar's PROVEN track record in ONE case only.  Proven complaints of overcharging and attempted over-charging by at least FOUR employees, from the Senior Partner down.  Lying fraudulent, cheats? Or fine upstanding pillars of the community?

Back in August 2005 His Honour Judge Cardinal described the behaviour of Patricia Wayman and FDC Liar as "incompetence" - I suggest you wake up and smell the coffee - to coin a phrase - “Once is an accident. Twice is coincidence. But three times, Mr Bond, is enemy action.” (from here)

I suggest that "FDC" stands for Fraud, Deceit and Corruption.  "Regulated by the Law Society?" - NOT that you'd notice to date ... but we live in hope... either way, you have been warned.

[Home] [More Firms to Avoid?]