Missed promotions and stranded jobseekers: practitioners sitting in post-Mazur limbo

More stories of despair and desperation have emerged from legal executives who were told overnight their litigation rights were effectively withdrawn.

The Gazette reported last week on scepticism among some legal executives about the claim from CILEx Regulation that applications for practising rights were taking on average nine weeks.

Those applications, where candidates submit a body of work to show their experience, were needed after the Mazur ruling stated that it was unlawful for them to conduct litigation even under supervision.

Understandably, risk-averse firms - who previously worked under the misapprehension they were compliant - have removed caseloads from legal executives while they wait to have practising rights certified.

Practitioners have spoken anonymously to the Gazette of feeling humiliated and demoralised by their temporary lowly status, as well as losing out on job opportunities and financial windfalls.

‘Working life has changed considerably,’ said one. ‘I have effectively gone from running multi-million-pound cases to trial pre-Mazur to having to seek approval for nearly everything I do.

‘As an accredited litigator, I also give junior colleagues a lot of advice and input on their cases. All my cases are now out of my name and there is a continual threat of defendants arguing my bills. It’s pretty miserable to be honest.’

Another added: ‘I specialise in catastrophic PI and clin neg. Multi-million-pound cases. We’ve had to apply in a lot of those issued cases to amend pleadings to replace my signature on claim forms/pleadings etc with that of the only solicitor here (who, ironically, wouldn’t have a clue how to run these cases as he deals with lower value claims).

‘We had to amend work practices such that he now does all my c-e filing etc. The irony of this is that it’s effectively turned him (the only authorised person we had) into my secretary. Ludicrous.’

Legal executives have revealed they have missed out on bonuses and even promotions because they have used their billable time trying to put together practising rights applications. Others have had to put moves to other firms on hold because they do not have full practising rights.

The issue is acutely difficult for those currently out of work. One legal executive said: ‘Unfortunately I lost my job just before Mazur and am now unable to obtain practice rights. I’ve not been able to secure a civil litigation support role as a paralegal or even admin. The feedback from recruiters has been that I’d eventually get bored in an administrative role, therefore I’m not hired.’

Another chartered legal executive, who qualified more than 15 years ago and enjoyed a successful litigation career, left practice before Mazur and her former firm then closed.

She explained: ‘I have always had a keen eye back on practice. However I find myself post Mazur in the most odd position - I cannot do the portfolio route as I don’t have access to cases, and the law firm I last worked for no longer exists.’