--- title: "A different path to professional parity: Gemma's journey to Practice Rights" description: Discover how Gemma progressed from returning to legal studies to becoming a DWF Associate and achieving Civil Litigation Practice Rights, championing equality for CILEX professionals. image: https://blog.cilex.org.uk/hubfs/HubSpot%20Blog%20Featured%20Image%201200x628px%20(4).png --- Close [![CILEX ](https://blog.cilex.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/CILEX_Dec2021/images/cilex-cpq-logo.png?width=2953&height=341&name=cilex-cpq-logo.png "CILEX ")](https://www.cilex.org.uk/) ![Search Icon](https://blog.cilex.org.uk/hubfs/raw_assets/public/CILEX_Dec2021/images/active4.svg) Search ![Toggle Icon](https://blog.cilex.org.uk/hubfs/raw_assets/public/CILEX_Dec2021/images/menu55.svg) X - [About CILEX](https://www.cilex.org.uk/about_cilex) - [Employers](https://www.cilex.org.uk/businesses/) - [Education Partners](https://www.cilex.org.uk/education-partners/) - [Study](https://www.cilex.org.uk/study/law-career/) ![](https://blog.cilex.org.uk/hubfs/HubSpot%20Blog%20Featured%20Image%201200x628px%20(4).png) # A different path to professional parity: Gemma's journey to Practice Rights Published by [Helen Newson](https://blog.cilex.org.uk/author/helen-newson) on 9 Nov 2026, 09:49:46 **After taking a different career path, returning to her legal studies and progressing to Associate, Gemma’s story is one of determination, ambition and a passion for challenging perceptions. Now a CILEX professional with Civil Litigation Practice Rights, she is looking ahead to the next chapter of her career – while helping to create a more equal profession for those following in her footsteps.** ![Gemma Spratt - headshot](https://blog.cilex.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Gemma%20Spratt%20-%20headshot.png?width=193&height=203&name=Gemma%20Spratt%20-%20headshot.png)Gemma is an Associate in the professional indemnity team at DWF in Bristol, specialising in the defence of professional negligence claims, regulatory investigations and policy coverage for insurers. Her particular specialism is defending solicitors – something she recognised can be ironic given some of the outdated misconceptions that still exist about CILEX lawyers. But Gemma is no stranger to challenging perceptions. In fact, it has become one of the driving forces behind her career. **Finding her way into law** Gemma’s interest in the legal profession was shaped by two experiences: a strong sense of justice, which developed after being bullied at school, and an increasing interest in the law while working in retail. Her legal journey began around 20 years ago when she first studied with ILEX at Lackham College. However, despite her enthusiasm, securing an entry-level legal role proved difficult. Without professional contacts or peers working in the sector, she eventually put her legal ambitions on hold and focused on building a career in retail. But her ambition to work in law never disappeared. After exploring different opportunities and gaining valuable life and work experience, Gemma returned to her studies in 2019, completing her Level 6 qualification through Weston College and Brightlink Learning. This time, she also secured her first role in the legal profession. Since then, her career has progressed from administrator to claims handler, trainee legal executive and, ultimately, Associate. Reflecting on her decision to pursue the CILEX route, Gemma says its accessibility and flexibility were key factors. “It was open to me with no university degree. It was flexible and accessible.” Her journey demonstrates that there is no single route into the legal profession, and that taking a different path or stepping away from your ambitions for a time does not mean you cannot return and achieve them. **Overcoming challenges and changing perceptions** Like many people balancing professional development with other commitments, Gemma faced challenges along the way. Studying while working and raising a family required considerable determination. Her approach to getting through it? “Determination and caffeine mostly got me through!” However, the challenges she has encountered extend beyond balancing work, family and study. Gemma is passionate about addressing the wider barriers that still exist within the legal profession, particularly the assumptions and hierarchies that can disadvantage CILEX professionals. “Being a woman in law can be tough; add the outdated misconceptions around CILEX to the mix, and the mountain can feel impossible to climb.” Rather than allowing those barriers to hold her back, Gemma has made challenging them part of her motivation. She is determined to make progress not only for herself, but also for her children and the wider CILEX community. She believes that greater recognition, understanding and equality are essential to ensuring that legal professionals are valued for their skills, experience and expertise, rather than the route they took to qualify. Her own career milestones are testament to how far she has come. Among the achievements she is most proud of are attending each of her three graduations, attending the Opening of the Legal Year, and being recognised as an Associate to Watch by Chambers and Partners. **Taking the next step with Practice Rights** For Gemma, achieving Practice Rights was about more than adding another professional qualification to her achievements. It was an opportunity to strengthen her professional standing and challenge the disparity that can exist between CILEX professionals and their solicitor colleagues. Although Practice Rights were not essential for her existing role, development within the profession prompted her to take action. ![Gemma Spratt](https://blog.cilex.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Gemma%20Spratt.png?width=223&height=325&name=Gemma%20Spratt.png) She had always wanted the ability to conduct litigation without supervision, even though her particular role did not require it. However, following the first-instance decision in the Mazur case in 2025, and the subsequent debate around litigation and advocacy rights, she felt there was an even greater reason to act. She was conscious of the impact that public commentary and misconceptions could have on clients, and wanted to ensure that both she and her firm were protected from potential challenges. Gemma applied for Civil Litigation Practice Rights through the portfolio route. Having previously completed a Work Based Learning Portfolio, she was familiar with the general process and was keen to get started as soon as standalone applications became available. However, she found some aspects of the application more challenging than anticipated, particularly where the guidance did not always reflect the realities of different working environments. Despite the challenges, she is clear about the value of taking the next step. Her advice to other members considering Practice Rights is simple: “Go for it! I didn’t need them for my job at all, but it does remove the disparity with my peers.” **Building a more equal profession** For Gemma, the significance of Practice Rights goes beyond what she can or cannot do in her day-to-day role. It is about recognition, professional parity and helping to remove unnecessary distinctions between legal professionals. While achieving Practice Rights will not fundamentally change her current responsibilities, it will give her the ability to supervise others undertaking litigation – creating further opportunities as her career develops. She also hopes that greater parity will help address differences in professional recognition, respect and pay. Looking ahead, Gemma has ambitions to progress towards partnership and, perhaps most importantly, to help other CILEX professionals achieve their own career goals. She is particularly passionate about encouraging firms to recognise CILEX as a valuable route into the legal profession and to provide greater support for those undertaking CILEX qualifications. “I am very disappointed how many firms do not support CILEX as a training route or don’t understand it at all.” For Gemma, improving understanding and creating opportunities for future CILEX professionals is an important part of building a more inclusive and representative legal sector. **Looking ahead with pride and ambition** When asked what becoming a CILEX professional with Practice Rights means to her, Gemma describes it as being proud of the parity achieved and how far she has come. Her journey has not followed a traditional or straightforward route, but that is precisely what makes her story so powerful. From her first steps into legal study 20 years ago to becoming an Associate recognised by Chambers and Partners, she has demonstrated that determination and ambition can take you a long way. And she has no intention of stopping there. Reflecting on what she would say to other members considering Practice Rights, Gemma offers an important reminder. “Don’t let the past dictate your future. Practice Rights are well worth the investment of time and resources; there is nothing more satisfying than removing an argument that you don’t have parity with solicitors or cannot do x or y.” For Gemma, her CILEX journey has been “life-changing and exhilarating”. Now, with Practice Rights achieved and her sights set on the future, she is determined to keep challenging perceptions, opening doors and helping others realise what is possible. Her message is clear: your route into law does not define your potential, and your past should never dictate how far you can go. Tags: [CILEX Lawyer](https://blog.cilex.org.uk/tag/cilex-lawyer), [CILEX Stories](https://blog.cilex.org.uk/tag/cilex-stories), [Practice Rights](https://blog.cilex.org.uk/tag/practice-rights) [Back to Blog](https://blog.cilex.org.uk) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ## Related Articles ## [From sixth form to property paralegal: Rory’s CILEX journey](https://blog.cilex.org.uk/from-sixth-form-to-property-paralegal) For Rory Wallis, a career in law began straight out of sixth form. At just 18, with only three... [Read More](https://blog.cilex.org.uk/from-sixth-form-to-property-paralegal) ## [Get the Recognition You Deserve: Become a CILEX Chartered Paralegal](https://blog.cilex.org.uk/chartered-paralegal-status-recognition) In today’s legal world, experience, skill and credibility are everything. If you’re already working... 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[Read More](https://blog.cilex.org.uk/careers-week-2026-cilex-law-school) ### CILEX (Chartered Institute of Legal Executives) 2nd Floor, The Pinnacle, Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes, MK9 1BP Incorporated by Royal Charter number RC000850 - - [CILEX Journal](https://www.cilex.org.uk/system_pages/quick_links/cilex_journal) - [CILEX Law School](https://www.cilex.org.uk/system_pages/quick_links/cilex_law_school) - [CILEX Regulation](https://www.cilex.org.uk/system_pages/quick_links/cilex_regulation) - - [About us](https://www.cilex.org.uk/about_cilex) - [CILEX Blog](https://blog.cilex.org.uk) - [Work for us](https://cilex.livevacancies.co.uk/) - [Contact us](https://www.cilex.org.uk/contact_us) - [Corporate Policies](https://www.cilex.org.uk/contact_us/corporate_policies) - [Terms & Conditions](https://www.cilex.org.uk/footernav/terms-conditions) - [Privacy Notice](https://www.cilex.org.uk/footernav/privacy_notice) - [Copyright](https://www.cilex.org.uk/footernav/copyright) - [Accessibility](https://www.cilex.org.uk/footernav/accessibility) - [Feedback](https://www.cilex.org.uk/footernav/feedback) - [Sitemap](https://www.cilex.org.uk/footernav/sitemap) - [Cookies Policy](https://www.cilex.org.uk/footernav/cookies-policy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Helen Newson", "url" : "https://blog.cilex.org.uk/author/helen-newson" }, "dateModified" : "2026-11-09T09:50:07.377Z", "datePublished" : "2026-11-09T09:49:46.000Z", "headline" : "A different path to professional parity: Gemma's journey to Practice Rights", "image" : [ "https://blog.cilex.org.uk/hubfs/HubSpot%20Blog%20Featured%20Image%201200x628px%20(4).png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.cilex.org.uk/a-different-path-to-professional-parity-gemmas-journey-to-practice-rights", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.cilex.org.uk/hubfs/Logo_CILEX_White_Full.png" }, "name" : "CILEX" } } ```