http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/ (c) 2007 advancecpd.org.uk All Rights Reserved Advance CPD is currently recruiting students wishing to progress their careers through the Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX). We offer a comprehensive range of law programmes designed to meet the needs of people wishing to become lawyers or to enhance their legal knowledge in specialist areas. From September 2007 we will be running the: Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law (2 years, part-time)The first steps to a fulfilling career in the legal service sector. Level 6 Higher Professional Diploma in Law (up to 4 years, part-time)For those who want to progress onto ILEX Membership status or to study specialist subjects in depth as part of their CPD. Post-Graduate Entry Diploma (Full time, 9 months)This is a direct alternative for qualifying law graduates to the expensive LPC. Why train to become a solicitor when you can become a Legal Executive? No need for a training contract and at up to 75% cheaper tuition fees, what could be more attractive? Well, see below…. Post-Graduate Entry Diploma (Fast Track)This gives qualifying law graduates all the benefits of the above but with the added incentive of finishing much earlier. Set over 12 weeks throughout the Summer of 2008 (two weeks off in August), you will study for the ILEX examinations in October. If successful you will become a Member of ILEX by Christmas, that’s months earlier than the traditional route or the LPC. Not only will you save huge sums on tuition fees compared to the LPC but you’ll save on accommodation costs too. Even better, you’ll be first into that all important job market. Don’t forget, you do not need a training contract and the job opportunities for Legal Executives are buoyant. Don’t just take our word for it, visit www.legal-executive-recruitment.com There has never been a better time to become a Legal Executive. The Legal Services Bill sets out the changes to legal services. It will open up a wealth of opportunities for Legal Executives and sweeping away the last division between them and solicitors, the ability to become partners. More information can be found at: www.dca.gov.uk/legalsys/lsreform.htm  You can also see our Principal’s published articles on this subject here on our Website and please take the opportunity to read the ILEX Secretary General’s articles on the ILEX Web pages on the following link: http://www.ilexjournal.co.uk/ilexopinion/article.asp?theid=1391&themode=1 http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/advance-launches-ilex-courses-2007-07-25.php Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:00:00 BST Advance Principal, Adrian Mason has written the cover story on the August edition of The Legal Executive. Adrian interviewed Sir Mark Hedley, the Family Liaison Judge for London & the South East who also, from time to time, sits in the Court of Appeal. He attended the Royal Courts for a two day visit shadowing Mr Justice Hedley, an experience he described as being extremely rewarding. This month sees his second interview with Sir Mark where he describes other areas of his busy workload. http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/advance-principal-makes-it-to-the-cover-2007-08-09.php Thu, 09 Aug 2007 00:00:00 BST Advance CPD has been awarded \'Accreditated Status\' by the Institute of Legal Executives and this now gives the go-ahead for students to enrol onto ILEX programmes. Advance CPD principal, Adrian Mason said "it is a good day for legal education in Shropshire allowing the County\'s students the opportunity to be legally trained in a professional environment." http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/advance-cpd-awarded---accreditated-status---by-ilex-2007-08-17.php Fri, 17 Aug 2007 00:00:00 BST Advance CPD has attracted some welcome local press coverage in August announcing our arrival and outlining the college\'s plans for the future. The Shropshire Star in its \'Jobchoice\' section explained how Advance CPD could assist in anyone\'s aspirations to becoming a lawyer without having to leave Shropshire and surrounding areas. It detailed the ILEX route to becoming qualified, a path that is not as well known as that of becoming a solicitor or barrister. Anyone contemplating the ILEX route should ask one of our advisers about the options available.  ILEX can open up the prospect of a successful career in law and Advance CPD through its team of professional tutors will be able to guide you through the programme.  http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/advance-attracts-local-press-interest-2007-08-21.php Tue, 21 Aug 2007 00:00:00 BST We are holding a Student Open Day on Tuesday, September 18th. between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. You are welcome to come along to meet the team, discuss the options available to you and view our dedicated training suite. We look forward to meeting you. http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/student-open-day-on-september-18th--2007-08-23.php Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:00:00 BST Advance opened its doors to new students on September 17th. giving them the opportunity to view the state of the art training facilities and meet staff before their courses commence next week. Principal, Adrian Mason said he was \'very pleased with the tremendous response the new college had received and that it was good news for the County that it could now offer law courses in professional surroundings.\'                                                 From the left, Principal Adrian Mason, law student Vanessa Jones, Advance Director, John Turford and law student Charlotte Hyne The Opening gave the opportunity for students to meet Advance\'s latest additions to the lecturing staff. Andrew Barkley and Michael Poulsom. Andrew will be tutoring on the Criminal Law and Criminal Litigation courses and Mike will be teaching Land and Conveyancing. Courses start next week and there are still some places available. Students can either contact the Advance team or simply turn up on the evening to join a course. Enrolments will take place on the following dates: Monday, September 24th. at 5.30 p.m.or, Thursday, September 27th. at 5.30 p.m.         http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/advance-cpd--s--successful-open-day-2007-09-19.php Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:00:00 BST Advance Principal, Adrian Mason has recently conducted a far reaching interview with the Chief Constable of Cheshire, Peter Fahy. Watch out for publication of this interview soon and a full transcript will appear on this site in due course. The Chief Constable expressed his views, frankly about the difficulties facing the modern police force and its relationship with other areas of the criminal justice system. It gives an unique insight into the views of one of our most senior police officers.   http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/advance-principal-interviews-the-chief-constable-of-cheshire--peter-fahy-2007-10-04.php Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:00:00 BST Advance Principal, Adrian Mason has kicked off his \'Informed Choice\' Autumn tour of universities to highlight an important alternative for law students. The ILEX option needs to be considered before final year law students make a LPC choice. The idea behind the tour is to advise students that the ILEX route into legal practise needs thorough and serious consideration before any decision is taken on the future. Adrian says that \'many students are unaware or have only just recently become aware of the ILEX route into legal practise. It is a crazy situation when many law students are being asked to spend thousands of pounds on LPC tuition and nine months living expenses when there is no guarantee of a training contract at the end of it.\' In fact, statistics show that there is a sizeable minority of students still seeking that elusive training contract two or three years after completing the LPC. Often, people just give up and leave the legal services industry completely. The ILEX Fast Track option offered by Advance leads to ILEX Membership after a 12 week intensive programme of study. Not only are the tuition fees substantially lower, by condensing the existing PGED into 12 weeks, accommodation costs are slashed too! Employment prospects for Legal Executives are bouyant and there is no need for a training contract. \'It is not difficult to point out the contrast with the solicitor route and students owe it to themselves to find out all the facts before making their choice\' said Adrian. The tour of some universities will be taking place over the coming months. As Advance is the only institution offering the PGED Fast Track, competition is likely to be intense and places are allocated on a \'first come, first served\' basis.\' Not every university will be visited as it seems that it may be the case that some who provide their own LPC programmes take a commercial viewpoint first and foremost. However, information on the PGED Fast Track is available on the Advance Website and information about ILEX can be found at www.ilex.org.uk.    Whichever way that students ultimately elect to take into legal practise, it is vitally important that they do so on a basis of informed choice.         http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/pged-fast-track-university-tour-2007-10-16.php Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 BST On October 30th. the Legal Services Bill received Royal Assent. The new Legal Services Act 2007 will pave the way for Legal Executives to become partners in law firms. Along with the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 which will allow Legal Executives to apply for judicial positions, the last remaining barriers between solicitors and Legal Executives will be swept away. For those students at university currently pondering their future direction, this news makes it even more compelling to find out about the ILEX option. \'The reality is that the distinctions between solicitors and Legal Executives will no longer exist\' says Advance principal, Adrian Mason. \'Legal Executives will be able to attain partnership status, act as Commissioners of Oaths and apply to become judges. Legal Executive Advocates will have the same rights of audience as solicitors in their chosen discipline.\'  The Legal Services Act 2007 will fundamentally shake up the legal profession and give consumers a better choice of legal provider. For the first time lawyers and non-lawyers will be able to form partnerships with those non-lawyers being able to form up to 25% of the partnership. It will also allow different types of lawyers to form partnerships hence, the ability for Legal Exectives to achieve this status with solicitors. \'It will wipe away the cobwebs from the profession and bring it out of the 19th. Century right into the modern age\' said Adrian. \'Believe it or not, I still encounter bigoted viewpoints in some quarters. Those who refuse to accept that times have changed. Unless these people move with the times they will be left behind as events have already overtaken them.\' Adrian is currently embarked upon his university \'Informed Choice\' tour of universities trying to spread the message that undergraduates have a third choice in becoming a lawyer in practice. The Legal Services Act 2007 is another compelling reason why students need to consider the ILEX option. Why spend thousands on the LPC without the guarantee of a training contract without first obtaining all the facts from all the options available? Advance CPD can offer interested students a cost effective way to achieve their dreams of a career as a lawyer.          http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/momentous-event-for-legal-executives-2007-11-06.php Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT Advance Principal, Adrian Mason has been appointed ILEX Level 3 Chief Examiner for Land Law and Civil Litigation for the new syllabi commencing in 2009. Adrian had previously been involved in the development and writing of these subjects and the whole qualification has recently been accredited by QCA. The revamping of the Level 6 syllabi commences next month. You are able to see details of the new qualification on the Institute\'s Website at www.ilex.org.uk. For those currently engaged in the Level 3 programme you will have a further year from May 2008 to complete your programme of study within the old programme syllabus but thereafter the programme will cease. The new qualification has been designed to meet the needs of all stakeholders and represents  a significant step forward in the Institute\'s educational provisions.     http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/advance-principal-appointed-ilex-chief-examiner-2008-01-17.php Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Advance CPD is delighted to announce the arrival of several new lecturers to strengthen our already experienced team ahead of this Summer\'s PGED Fast Track programme. Advance Principal Adrian Mason says he is \'delighted\' with the new appointments and that the addition of such experienced practitioner lecturers will \'give us the strength and flexibility to deliver the ILEX programme to the highest possible standard.\'   Advance CPD is committed to providing excellence in the delivery of its courses and a pivotal part of that is the lecturing team. It will allow Fast Track students the opportunity to specialise in a practice based subject of their choice from the Level 6 options offered by the Institute. \'The lecturing team that has been appointed is of the highest calibre and I am delighted to welcome my new colleagues into the college\' says Adrian.  The PGED Fast Track begins on July 7th. and will run until October 16th. Examination will take place shortly thereafter. Successful participants will be awarded Membership status of ILEX and will be entitled to use the post-nominal M.Inst.L.Ex.   http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/advance-announces-new-lecturing-appointees-2008-02-01.php Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT Advance CPD and specialist professional recruitment agency MRC International have formed an accord to work closely together in the future. The association between the College and MRC is an exciting development and represents the meeting of two forward thinking, very proactive organisations in Shropshire . MRC International specialises in, amongst others, legal and accounting recruitment and this is ideal in assisting Advance CPD’s students in finding that all important job. Advance Principal, Adrian Mason said that ‘this working relationship will benefit our students enormously, not only our many law graduates undertaking ‘Fast Track’ studies this Summer but also our part-time students. Adrian added ‘to be able to work closely with a specialist recruitment agency will facilitate our students’ job seeking in the legal sector and beyond.’ The MRC legal team, based in Shrewsbury is headed by Victoria Heard and will be specifically recruiting for Solicitors, Legal Executives and support staff. Victoria will be using her excellent contacts across the industry to introduce Advance’s students to potential employers across the Country. ‘As a number of my colleagues within the legal team have experience of working in practice, we have an unparalleled contact book of clients keen to recruit candidates who will have a positive impact on their business’ said Victoria  The relationship between MRC and Advance is sure to grow as Advance CPD increases its courses and education disciplines from this September. ‘Advance was formed to provide high class professional education in Shropshire . Whilst we currently only offer law courses that provision will soon be expanded to cover other professional areas of study’ said Adrian . ‘Clearly, MRC represents the final link in the educational chain by assisting students into appropriate employment.’ Victoria plans to introduce CV and interview skills sessions to Advance’s many students and will offer regular workshops to law graduates studying at the college this Summer.  This will give Advance CPD’s students a clear advantage when applying for employment in a competitive job market.                                                                                             http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/advance-teams-up-with-recruitment-specialists-mrc-international-2008-02-21.php Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT Advance CPD is continuing with its plans to extend its provisions to other professional disciplines. It plans to run the ACCA programme of study from September 2008 and is now recruiting students for the new academic year. Further announcements are due shortly for other new courses to start in September.  http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/advance-to-run-acca-courses-from-september-2008-03-07.php Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Advance CPD is to run the Council for Licensed Conveyancers course from September 2008 and this represents a further step in the College\'s desire to increase its range of professional programmes of study. Principal, Adrian Mason says the addition of the CLC programme is another "significant step forward" for the College adding to the recently announced ACCA courses. "It is in Advance\'s mission statement that we will provide high class, professional education for the people of Shropshire and surrounding areas" said Adrian. The introduction of the CLC programme, to be run from the Shrewsbury Campus is significant for the area as the closest other Centre to run the course is in Manchester. It will enable people from a wide geographical area to obtain this qualification leading to Licensed Conveyancer status. Details of the programme will appear soon on the College\'s Website.      http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/advance-to-run-clc-courses-2008-04-04.php Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:00:00 BST Advance is holding an Open Day on June 14th. 2008. The College is opening its doors to one and all and will give newly enrolled and prospective students the opportunity to view our facilities and meet the tutors. The event will take place over lunch time and a light buffet will be provided. Anybody wishing to attend can simply turn up on the day. You will receive a warm and cordial welcome and we look forward to meeting you then. We are easy to find, just up Castle Street from the Railway Station on the left. The following link will display a map but in doing so you will exit this Site.  http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=25+castle+street+sy1+1da&sll=52.711755,-2.756023&sspn=0.048982,0.116043&ie=UTF8&ll=52.716123,-2.746239&spn=0.016274,0.038795&z=14&iwloc=addr                                                     http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/advance-to-hold-open-day-on-june-14th--2008-05-28.php Wed, 28 May 2008 00:00:00 BST On June 14th. on a warm and sunny Saturday, Advance held its second Open Day. It just happened to be the Carnival in Shrewsbury and the upbeat atmosphere of the town was transferred to the rooms and corridors of the College. \'It was a successful day\' was how College Director, John Turford summed it up. \'We were very busy from the moment we opened our doors\'  This was echoed by Principal Adrian Mason when he said \'time just seemed to fly by as I was kept busy talking to our new students.\'   Principal, Adrian Mason and director, John Turford outside the College on Saturday. The Open Day was a superb opportunity not just for enrolled post-graduate students to see the College and meet the tutors but also, for prospective learners who plan to commence their studies this September. Advance will be offering a full range of Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) and Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) programmes this Autumn and will begin providing ACCA programmes in 2009. The College was fortunate to have in attendance, Lynne Squires, the ILEX Regional Liaison Officer seen here pictured left with from left to right student, Vanessa Jones, tutor, Richard Llewellyn-Bell and student, Tracy Benjamin. This July the ILEX PGED Fast Track will begin. This is a programme designed for law graduates and is run as an alternative to the LPC. Advance CPD is the ONLY institution in England & Wales to run this programme which gives successful participants Membership of ILEX after just 12 weeks of study. It reverses recent trends in Shropshire whereby many of our talented people have left for pastures new, seeking career progression and educational training elsewhere.    Left to right: Fast Track student,Michelle Wilkes, Adrian Mason and Michelle\'s parents The College is particularly pleased to have assembled a quality team of tutors who will be involved in teaching on the Fast Track programme and autumn course presentations. Pictured below is some of the team with Adrian (centre).  From left to right: Andrew Barkley,Ian Johnson, Richard Llewellyn-Bell, Lynne Turner and Mike Poulsom      \'The tutoring team we have assembled at the College is in line with our fundamental teaching philosophy of excellence\' explains Adrian. \'Our tutors are professional lawyers with a wealth of experience of legal practice. They are also experienced lecturers too which gives us the expertise to offer our students a rewarding and worthwhile experience whilst at the College said Adrian. With the passing of the Legal Services Act 2007 there has never been a better opportunity to become a lawyer through either ILEX or the CLC. The Act paves the way for Legal Executives to become partners in law firms alongside their solicitor colleagues and Legal Executive Advocates enjoy the same rights in court. The Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 allows Legal Executives to apply for judicial positions. If you want a career as a fully qualified lawyer and to know what is required please contact us by either visiting the Website or telephone our automated service 01743 237614.            http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/open-day-report-2008-06-18.php Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 BST Advance CPD is pleased to announce an addition to its ILEX portfolio this Autumn. From September we will be offering not just the traditional evening based Level 6 programme but a weekend study version too! This is an important development for those students who find weekly evening study difficult if not impossible because of work or family commitments. \'It underlines our commitment to flexible study options\' was how Principal, Adrian Mason put it. \'Our intention is to ensure that we offer as wide a range of options to our students as possible\' he added. The new programme will be run over five weekends an academic year commencing in October with further weekend study sessions in December, February, April and May. In addition, students will be given six assignments to complete during the study year and they will be allocated a personal tutor to oversee this. Examinations will take place in June. The programme is open to all traditional Level 6 students and because it is a weekend based programme of study, the College hopes to attract students from across England & Wales.  It is an excellent alternative to distance learning providing continuous support and the all important class contact. \'It is a natural extension of our \'Fast Track\' programme for law graduates\' said Adrian \'It builds upon our experience and expertise in providing teaching that does not always follow the traditional  format.\' It is one of the advantages of being an independent private College as this allows us to offer programmes that others cannot . It widens participation to those who would otherwise not be able to study said Adrian. For anyone interested in this new programme, details can be found on the Website.     http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/weekend-level-6-introduced-2008-06-21.php Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:00:00 BST Advance CPD\'s exclusive PGED Fast Track commenced on July 7th. The intensive 12 week course is designed to \'fast-track\' qualifying law graduates to Membership of ILEX. It is a direct alternative to the LPC and will enable successful participants to become potential fee-earning members of law teams within just a few months. The ILEX route to becoming a fully qualified lawyer is becoming more and more desirable as recent changes in legislation has swept away the last remaining barriers between legal executives and solicitors. \'The Legal Services Act 2007 will allow legal executives to become partners in law firms and this removes the last major hurdle in legal executives achieving parity with solicitors\' said Principal, Adrian Mason. \'The  Tribunal, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 will also allow legal executives to apply for judicial positions\' he added.                           Some Members of the Class of 2008 Members and Fellows of ILEX can now undertake a six day advocacy rights programme in either criminal, civil or family practice which will allow themselves to be called Legal Executive Advocates giving them identical rights of audience with their solicitor counterparts in their chosen field. Legal Executives are set to become the new \'up and coming\' players in a changing world of legal services. \'By undertaking the PGED Fast Track, our students are embracing this exciting opportunity\' said Adrian. The PGED Fast Track is available to students with qualifying law degrees achieved within the last 7 years and tuition costs are a fraction of the cost of the LPC. As the programme is only 12 weeks in length, participants also benefit from vastly reduced accommodation costs too. For further details contact Advance CPD where a member of our recruitment team will be pleased to assist.     http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/pged-fast-track-kicks-off--2008-07-11.php Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 BST The College is pleased to announce that Mr Justice (Sir Mark) Hedley, Family Liaison Judge for London & the South East will visit the College on August 1st. to give a lecture entitled \'The Family Courts as Final Arbiters\'. Advance Principal, Adrian Mason said he was \'delighted \' when Sir Mark agreed to visit the College and deliver his lecture to staff, students and other members of the legal community in Shropshire. \'It underlines the commitment the College has to legal education\' explained Adrian. \'It is not every day we are fortunate enough in Shropshire to welcome such an eminent member of the judiciary he added.     Sir Mark\'s lecture begins at 3.15 p.m. at the College premises.   http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/sir-mark-hedley-to-visit-college-2008-07-22.php Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:00:00 BST The College welcomed Sir Mark Hedley on Friday, August 1st. who gave a lecture entitled \'The Family Courts as Final Arbiters.\' The lecture\'s attendees included the College\'s PGED Fast Track students and local family law practitioners. Front Row: Adrian Mason, Sir Mark Hedley Charlotte Hyne Back Row: Esther Williams, Hannah Burden, Phil Coupe and Rob Corrigan   Advance principal, Adrian Mason explained that it was an extremely important day for the College and it underlined that \'we are now regarded as one of the most respected private law colleges in England & Wales. Advance CPD aspires for excellence in whatever it does and a visit by such an eminent speaker as Mr Justice Hedley is in line with this philosophy\' he explained. \'We are extremely grateful to Sir Mark for agreeing to visit us and I know that the feedback we received from delegates after his visit has been as good as it can get.\'   The College sees this visit as the first of numerous CPD events it will be holding in the forthcoming twelve months and further announcements about this will be placed on the Website shortly.   http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/college-welcomes-sir-mark-hedley-2008-08-03.php Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:00:00 BST The College is proud to announce that Advance students who undertook the ILEX professional examinations this June have achieved results well above the National average. \'I am very pleased for all our successful students and offer them my sincere congratulations\' said Principal, Adrian Mason \'It is the culmination of a year\'s hard work and it gives me a great deal of job satisfaction to see our students do so well.\'The results achieved by its students is ultimately, the benchmark of the success of any educational institution said Adrian. \'Advance CPD\'s mission statement is one of quality and success for students and these results have reinforced that\' he added. The ILEX programme gives participants the opportunity to become fee earning lawyers and can be studied at a pace to suit virtually everyone. Students attend college in the evening or at weekends depending on their preferred choice and study in modern, well equipped training suites. \'We have brought together a very talented team of lecturers at Advance and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their hard work during the last year\' said Adrian. Recruitment for this September\'s courses is underway and a stand will be in the Darwin Centre on Saturday, August 16th. and 30th. for those interested in finding out more. Alternatively, you can e-mail Jackie Cassidy on mail@advancecpd.org.uk or ring her on 01743 237614.     http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/exam-success-for-advance-students-2008-08-15.php Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 BST The College is pleased to announce that it intends to offer CLC weekend programmes (subject to demand) this coming academic year. The programme is designed to accommodate students who are unable to attend weekly evening sessions for a variety of reasons. Advance Principal, Adrian Mason said \'we already offer weekend study programmes for ILEX so it seemed logical that we extended that to the CLC .\' The weekend programme will take place once a month and tutor support in between sessions will be provided. Further details can be obtained by telephoning the College 01743 237614 or email mail@advancecpd.org.uk     http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/college-announces-clc-weekend-programme-2008-08-27.php Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 BST The College is pleased to announce that it has recently been given CPD Accreditation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. It means that the College will be able to provide SRA accredited CPD sessions for the local legal community and other businesses. \'It is a major step in the right direction for us\' said Principal Adrian Mason. \'It will allow us to provide on-going training for solicitors in Shropshire and that will provide a cost effective alternative for local law firms\'  he said. The provision of on-going legal training is not just for solicitors and other lawyers. The wider business community in the County will also be able to benefit from this development. \'Legislation is changing contantly in areas that have direct conseqences on the business community\'\' said Adrian. \'We intend to provide seminars and updates to all concerned parties during the course of the next year\' he added. Following on from the successful visit of Sir Mark Hedley last month, the College will shortly be announcing further CPD sessions from its Castle Hill premises.       http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/advance-given-accredited-cpd-status-by-sra-2009-06-02.php Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:00:00 BST Advance CPD is delighted to announce that from Autumn 2008 it will offer Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses for Law Firms at Bangor University\'s newly opened Management Centre, a major new executive standard conferencing and seminar facility. Bangor University Law Lecturers will participate in the CPD courses, bringing their up to date knowledge to the practitioner community served by Advance CPD. Commenting on this new partnership, Professor Dermot Cahill, Dean of the Bangor University Law School said: ‘This is an important development for law firms in North Wales and indeed in the adjacent counties of England, as it will allow solicitors to complete their required CPD hours locally with all the convenience this will bring. It is also important for the Law School as we develop our links with the practitioner community so that we can assist in analysing and updating on legal issues which face the daily work of the practitioner, whether they be in specialist or general practice’ Advance Principal, Adrian Mason said: Bangor University Law School has just scored a 92% national rating in the National Law Student Survey. Our involvement with Bangor University will no doubt bring similar satisfaction benefits to the practitioner community whose interests we serve. Combining our respective strengths provides solicitors and other lawyers in North Wales with the best possible choice of CPD events and at a cost effective price for CPD requirements. CPD events in Bangor are scheduled to commence in early December 2008 and will run throughout 2009. An itinerary will shortly be sent out to local firms inviting them to participate in forthcoming events. http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/advance-in-cpd-partnership-with-bangor-university-2009-06-02.php Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 BST This College is pleased to announce that it will be holding a comprehensive schedule of  SRA accredited CPD events for 2009, commencing in March. This follows on from a successful inaugral event in December 2008. Advance Principal, Adrian Mason  said \'the provision of CPD events for legal practitioners represents an important addition to our current portfolio of legal educational services. It provides local firms in Shropshire and North Wales with the opportunity to attend high class seminars within the locality, avoiding the need to travel as has been the case in the past.\' The announcement is a natural progression resulting from the recent partnership with Bangor University Law School. The combined strengths of both Advance and Bangor Law School will ensure that practitioners will, for the first time, be able to undertake their CPD requirements locally providing a cost effective option in these difficult economic times. \'Our philosophy is simple said Adrian \'we will provide value for money to local firms and our CPD sessions will be priced very competitively. Details of the CPD events for 2009 will appear on the Advance and Bangor Web Sites in early 2009.       http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/college-announces-programme-of-cpd-events-for-2009-2009-06-02.php Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT The 2008 intake of the ILEX PGED Fast Track enjoyed huge success in the recently announced Membership examination results. In fact, the results for the Level 3 courses showed success was achieved by virtually the whole course intake. Civil Litigation tutor, Richard Llewellyn-Bell was extremely pleased with the students\' performance. "This is a fantastic performance by the group" enthused Richard "it just goes to show how much can be achieved in such a short time in the classroom."  This view was shared by other tutors and College principal Adrian Mason proclaimed the whole Fast Track experience to be a resounding success saying "there is no reason why many other courses cannot be condensed providing you have students willing and able to work hard. Clearly there are immeaserable benefits to completing courses over a shorter period of time not least, the savings in financial cost and the ability to find that all important job ahead of others." Advance CPD is still the only institution to offer the PGED Fast Track and sees the introduction of fast track courses as the future of education. "There are many instances where courses are run for far longer than need be said Adrian. "For example, I have never understood why is takes two or three years to complete a degree programme when it could be completed far sooner if students kept commercial hours. It is, after all, only what they\'d be expected to do in the workplace. To allow students to attend lecturers for only a handful of hours per week is a scandalous waste of time and ill prepares students for the real world."It has more to do with universities generating fee income rather than providing students with real service"  he added. Advance CPD wants to change the way that education is delivered and this recent success has encouraged the College to look at ways of introducing further accelerated educational programmes. Watch this space! In the meanwhile, the College wishes it\'s PGED Fast Track class of 2008 the best of luck for the future. They are pioneers and an example for others who follow.     http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/high-level-of-success-for-fast-track-students-2009-01-27.php Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT Advance is pleased to announce that it has teamed up with Swansea University\'s Department of Professional Legal Studies to run collaborative CPD seminars for legal professionals. It marks a further commitment by the College to expand its CPD programme. Hot on the heels of the already successful partnership with Bangor University Law School to provide practitioner training for North Wales, this will allow the College to offer CPD training to practitioners in South Wales. Advance Principal, Adrian Mason said that \'CPD plays an important part of the College\'s future plans and the ability to offer practitioners high calibre CPD sessions at very low rates is a pivotal part of our continuing development. Swansea University\'s  Director of CPD at the Department of Professional Legal Studies, Andrew Clemes said \'it will allow the two organisations the opportunity to pool its respective skills and resources to offer South Wales legal practitioners CPD sessions in the locality.\' \'We are impressed with Advance CPD\'s commitment to providing quality CPD sessions at realistic prices and this collaboration will be of immense benefit to practitioners. The first CPD seminar will take place on April 29th., Inheritance (Family Provisions) and Contentious Probate led by Ian Johnson and further topics of interest will be announced shortly. All details of future events will be available on the Advance Web Site.  http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/cpd-link-up-with-swansea-university-law-school-2009-06-02.php Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT Advance is delighted to announce that it has been given accredited CPD status by the Bar Standards Board. Principal, Adrian Mason said \'it is another major leap forward for Advance\'s ambition to become a major CPD provider to the legal profession. We will be announcing a full programme of events in the Summer for the next 12 months to include seminars and conferences at various venues around the Country\' he added. Advance Continuous Professional Development is being set up as a division of the existing Advance College and given its own distinct Web-Site shortly so that solicitors, barristers, legal executives and licenced conveyancers can all easily access information, booking and on-line payment information.      http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/advance-awarded-bar-standards-board-cpd-approval-2009-06-02.php Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:00:00 BST Advance held the first of its two Devolution CPD Conferences at the Management Centre, Bangor on April 27th. The Conference was led by Senior Welsh Legislative Counsel, Huw Davies and he was ably supported by His Honour Judge Michael Farmer, Dewis Jones and Osian Rees. The day was a resounding success\' said Advance\'s Events Manager, Jackie Cassidy. \'The delegates all seemed to have enjoyed the event and found it very informative.\' Principal Adrian Mason said that the feedback from the event showed that 82% of the delegates recorded either an \'excellent\' or \'very good\' response to the event overall. Advance Director, Valerie Edwards and Principal Adrian Mason  preparing to meet delegate guests  The event moves to Cardiff on May 15th. hosted at the Millennium Stadium where an equally impressive line up of speakers,  led by First Welsh Legislative Counsel, Professor Thomas Watkin will outline the future of Welsh Law http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/excellent-devolution-day-in-bangor-2009-05-05.php Tue, 05 May 2009 00:00:00 BST this is a test news story for CPD http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/test-cpd-news-story-2009-05-26.php Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 BST Advance is pleased to announce that the two Conferences on Welsh Devolution were a resounding success at the Management Centre, Bangor on April 27th. 2009 and the Millennium Stadium on May 15th.. The Conference led by Senior Welsh Legislative Counsel, Huw Davies in Bangor and Thomas Watkin, First Welsh Legislative Counsel in Cardiff was well received by delegates. Over 82% (Bangor) and 84% (Cardiff) of delegates recorded either an \'excellent\' or \'very good\' return on the evalution questionnaires after the event. Many delegates were surprised at just how much the issue of Devolution will affect their practice. One delegate commented that there is a great deal of complacency over the issue amongst Welsh lawyers and their English counterparts who have Welsh clients. It is a fact that the Government of Wales Act 2006 will have a major impact of the working lives of practitioners over the coming years. Unless practitioners prepare themselves now then they will not be able to give their clients accurate legal advice in the future. Valerie Edwards and Adrian Mason welcoming delegate guests The Conferences included a host of eminent speakers and Advance CPD is grateful for the participation of all involved in ensuring that both days were a complete success. Advance Principal, Adrian Mason said \'the events demonstrated the real need for Welsh only Conferences in which the practitioners of Wales are updated on Welsh law as and when it changes.\' One delegate remarked during question time at the Millennium Stadium that English texts and materials do not cover the changes to Welsh law, leaving practitioners exposed when it comes to giving clients accurate legal advice. Advance CPD intends to bridge that information gap over the next few moonths and years he added.   Photo Gallery: Cardiff  Cadi Dewi (Angel Chambers, Swansea) Professor Thomas Watkin Kathryn Wilcox and Rachael Armstrong (Romano & Ferrari    Jon Howden-Davies (Swansea School of Law) Joanna Morgan (Rubin Lewis O\'Brien)  Lakhbir Kaur (Loosemores Solicitors), Mary Evans (Mary Evans & Co.) Rachael Humphreys (Welsh Water)  Lucy Griffiths (Lowless & Lowless), Catrin Williams (Rubin Lweis O\'Brien)   Polly Ellis and Vesna Cole (Cardiff City Council) http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/successful-welsh-devolution-conferences-in-bangor-and-cardiff-2009-06-03.php Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 BST The 2009 PGED Fast Track commenced in July and will continue until mid-October. Students on the course come from across the Country and represent a wide ranging cross section of universities. During the opening address Principal, Adrian Mason congratulated one and all on choosing the legal executive route to full time lawyer status. By doing so, he said \'showed that they were prepared to reject traditionalism and follow the common sense route to qualification in the new post Legal Services Act era.\'The fact that there is very little distinction between solicitors and legal executives nowadays then it no longer makes sense to spend all that money on the LPC especially if someone doesn\'t actually have a training contract \' he added. The college will be promoting next year\'s programme with universities and will be stressing the importance of the legal executive route to qualification. For a fraction of the time and cost, law graduates will be able to train the legal executive way, unencumbered by training contracts and and excessive fees charged by LPC providers. In the new world, legal executives have similar opportunities to their solicitor colleagues but it is still a fact that many universities fail to offer their students an informed choice as to their options after their degree is over.   http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/2009-fast-track-course-underway-2009-09-29.php Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:00:00 BST Advance is pleased to announce that it is supporting the Legal Wales Conference taking place at the Marriott Hotel, Cardiff on Friday, October 9th. 2009. The Conference\'s organisers has lined up an impressive array of speakers, not least the Lord Chief Justice. Advance Chief Executive, Adrian Mason said \'the opportunity to sponsor such an important event for Welsh practitioners is both an honour and a logical step for us. We have made no secret of the fact that we want to support Welsh lawyers in their professional development and events like this bring together Welsh legal talent he added. Over the last 12 months Advance CPD has formed partnerships with Bangor University, Swansea University and the North Wales Branch of Solicitors for the Elderly demonstarting its commitment to Welsh lawyers and Welsh legal affairs. The Conference commences at 10 a.m. and runs throughout the day. There are a number of breakout sessions planned and Advance itself will be giving an abdriged presentation of the \'Negligence in Your Filing Cabinet\' seminar designed by Michaela Leyshon of Swansea University.   http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/advance-sponsors-the-legal-wales-conference-2009-2009-09-29.php Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 BST The Legal Wales Conference 2009, sponsored by Advance CPD was a resounding success. Held at the Marriott Hotel, Cardiff on October 9th. the event featured several key note speakers including the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge and Lord Justice Pill. A dinner was held in the evening for invited guests. Advance CPD is extremely proud to support events designed specifically for Welsh lawyers and those with Welsh clients. The lack of CPD events specifically designed for Welsh lawyers leaves a vacuum in provision which Advance intends to fill. A series of events are planned for 2010.     http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/legal-wales-conference-judged-a-success-2009-10-22.php Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 BST The College is delighted to announce that it has been accredited by the Institute of Legal Executives to run the Advocacy Rights programme. Advance principal, Adrian Mason said that he was particularly pleased that the College has been accredited for this all important course. The new rights of audience bestowed upon ILEX by the Lord Chancellor followed years of lobbying by the Institute. The enhanced rights given to Legal Executives who successfully participate in the 6 day course will put them on the same level as solicitor colleagues in their chosen discipline. Advance intends to actively and vigorously promote the advantages of Legal Executives becoming Legal Executive Advocates. \'Not only  is it a tremendous boost for a Legal Executive\'s career but it also represents an extremely cost effective benefit for legal employers\' said Adrian. The College takes the view that it makes compelling economic sense for law firms to assist in their Legal Executives achieving these higher rights, rather than putting an unknown person through the trainee solicitor route. \'The whole process of becoming a Legal Executive Advocate is quicker and substantially cheaper for legal stakeholders\'  he added.   The College intends to promote this message at a series of events planned to take place from next month onwards to a Countrywide audience. http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/advance-accredited-by-ilex-for-advocacy-2009-10-29.php Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT The recent Redress & Patient Safety in the NHS in Wales Conference held by Advance CPD and Bangor University\'s School of Healthcare Sciences, contributed to the Consultation process confirmed Pat Vernon, Head of Patient Safety Team, Welsh Assembly Government. The Conference, held at the SWALEC Stadium on March 2nd. and at Bangor University on March 8th. was attended by legal and healthcare stakeholders from throughout Wales and some from over the border in England. A host of eminent speakers contributed to the debate which in some instances was the catalyst for some lively debate amongst delegates. Advance Principal, Adrian Mason said \'it is fair to say that the Conferences produced its fair level of critique which was useful for the Welsh Assembly Government officials in attendance.\' Advance CPD and Bangor University are grateful for the contribution of our speakers and to the delegates who made the two days eventful and worthwhile. Questions raised by attendees are currently being collated and will be sent to WAG shortly. It is Advance\'s continuing intention to specialise in providing CPD for Wales and Welsh practitioners as the Principality has been less than well served in this area over the years. The Government of Wales Act 2006 will mean that the provision of Welsh events for Welsh practitioners is essential in the future.     http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/redress---patient-safety-conference-assists-consultation-2010-03-10.php Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT The College launched its ILEX Criminal Advocacy course at JMW Solicitors, Manchester on April 21st. The event was open to all ILEX Fellows, Members and Students and special guests included Susan Silva, Deputy Vice President and former President of ILEX, Lesley Graham. The evening was introduced by Advance Principal, Adrian Mason who announced details of the course outlining the substantial advantages that attaining the qualification will have on Legal Executives and employers. He said that it will be \'far more cost effective for employers to train their existing Legal Executives to become advocates than the cost of putting someone through a training contract.\' Adrian added \' so much has changed recently for Legal Executives, partnerships are available along with judicial positions. It is now simply a logical step to achieve complete parity with solicitor colleagues in their chosen discipline by completing the 6 day advocacy course.\'\' It was recently announced by Diane Burleigh, ILEX Chief Executive that the Duty Solicitor Scheme will shortly be open for Legal Executive Advocates. We await, with interest, the details of this but it will be a further significant boost to the other enhanced rights recently bestowed upon the profession. Advance announced that it would be offering portfolio training to Legal Executives wanting to apply to ILEX for a Certificate of Eligibility, a pre-requisite to joining the course. In a further significant announcement for Legal Executives, the cost of the course offered by Advance has been set at a special introductory price of £995 ex. VAT. Easy payment terms are available. Adrian Mason stated that \'In these days of tight training budgets we recognised that our competitors are simply charging too much for the course and we have reduced the price to allow more people to consider it. It is appalling that we have ILEX Fellows and Members out there who want to become advocates but who simply cannot afford to do so in the current economic climate.\' Advance is grateful for the speaking contribution of Stuart Cartwright, JMW Solicitors. Stuart eloquently outlined the advantages of advocacy to Legal Executives. He was one of the first three Legal Executives to qualify for the Scheme. Thanks is also extended to Alan Wells who stepped in as a speaker at the last minute to recount his path to recent Fellowship. Advance further extends its thanks to JMW Solicitors for providing the venue and ILEX Regional Liaison Officer Anne-Marie Dhillon.         http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/launch-of-ilex-crimiinal-advocacy-in-manchester-2010-04-22.php Thu, 22 Apr 2010 00:00:00 BST Advance held an Education Law Update Conference at the Marriott Hotel, Cardiff on May 21st. 2010 and received a 92% approval feedback from the delegates who attended. The day\'s event saw six eminent speakers giving useful and interesting updates on current legal issues in education in Wales. The Conference was part of Advance CPD\'s schedule of events designed specifically for Welsh practitioners, so important now that the Welsh Assembly has primary law making powers. Advance is grateful to our speakers for making the day a resounding success and further events on a variety of topics are planned for the Autumn in both Cardiff and Bangor. http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/education-law-update-in-cardiff-is-voted-top-of-the-class-2010-05-25.php Tue, 25 May 2010 00:00:00 BST The 2010 PGED Fast Track commences in September with students on the course from across the Country and represent a wide ranging cross section of universities. The Fast Track course at a fraction of the time and cost, allows law graduates to train the legal executive way, unencumbered by training contracts and and excessive fees charged by LPC providers. In the new world, legal executives have similar opportunities to their solicitor colleagues but it is still a fact that many universities fail to offer their students an informed choice as to their options after their degree is over. For more details visit the [PLUGIN:PAGE_LINK]20070722093329_13[END:PLUGIN:PAGE_LINK] page. http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/2010-fast-track-course-commencing-september-2010-07-12.php Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00 BST We are holding Advice/Enrolment sessions on Friday, August 20th between 2pm and 6pm, Saturday 21st August between, 10am and 1pm and Monday, September 6th. between 4.30pm and 7pm at our training centre on Castle Street where our team will be pleased to answer your questions. In the meanwhile, you can call Jackie Cassidy on 01743 237614 or email her at jackie.cassidy@advancecpd.org.uk to arrange a telephone appointment with the course manager.Visit our [PLUGIN:PAGE_LINK]20070821123009_20_26[END:PLUGIN:PAGE_LINK] pages for full details. http://www.advancecpd.org.uk/en/news/acca-advice-and-enrolment-sessions-beginning-august-2010-2010-07-14.php Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:00:00 BST