Naomi’s journey into law is one of determination, resilience and unwavering belief that, whatever the obstacles, you can keep moving forward.
“I was not from a background of opportunity to go to university, or ever felt clever enough to study something like law,” she says.
Her route into the profession was anything but traditional.
Find a way forward
Naomi left sixth form early as her mother was unable to work following extensive surgery for bowel cancer. She took a job to support her family and, after marrying her husband Phil at 18 and becoming a mum to two daughters, Naomi built her working life around childcare and family commitments.
She worked a variety of roles – from night shelf-stacking at a shop to ordering parts, delivering, and working for a local parcel firm.
Then, while her daughters were still at secondary school, a friend who was a CILEX Fellow suggested she apply for a part-time receptionist role at her firm.
That decision changed everything.
“I simply fell into law and fell in love with it!”
What began with reception duties soon developed into supporting lawyers and solicitors with everything from typing telephone notes and preparing court bundles to covering secretarial roles across civil, criminal, family and conveyancing teams. Before long, Naomi was working full-time and looking for her next challenge.
It was a family secretary at the firm who first suggested that she could go further and introduced her to CILEX.
Naomi knew nothing about the CILEX route, so she began researching. She contacted Weston College but initially faced another barrier: the cost of studying.
“I was so disappointed, but following a conversation with my employer, they agreed that if they paid the full year’s fees up front, I could pay them back each month on a set repayment plan directly from my wages.”
That support gave Naomi the opportunity she needed. She has since funded her own studies, tutoring, exams and applications – and never looked back.
A route that fitted around real life
For Naomi, one of the biggest attractions of the CILEX route was its flexibility.
As a working mum, studying at a pace that fitted around her family and career was essential. Being able to pay for individual units also made the cost manageable without taking on significant debt.
Just as importantly, Naomi could specialise while continuing to work in law.
“I could also take a specialist route to work alongside my working life, putting the learned work into practice, making it easier to absorb and understand.”
That combination of study and practical experience helped her build not only her legal knowledge, but also her confidence.
Each new achievement opened another door, bringing new roles, new skills, and ultimately, progress in her career.
The challenges behind the achievement
Naomi’s journey was far from straight forward.
Over the seven years before her death, her mother’s health declined significantly, and Naomi provided a huge amount of personal care alongside her work, family life and studies.
She also had to navigate the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition to remote examinations.
Then, just three weeks before her final Level 6 exam, Naomi’s mum passed away.
“It was a real blow,” she says.
But when Naomi contacted CILEX, the exam was moved to the next sitting, with understanding and compassion.
“I could not have asked for more.”
There were other difficult moments too. Naomi put her studies on hold twice – once because of her mother’s health and personal reasons, and once because she had simply burned out.
She also failed the same exam four times in a row.
“Failing the same exam four times in a row was soul-destroying, but it taught me that I had to stop and rest to be at my best.”
It was a lesson she has carried with her ever since.
Her motivation came down to one thing: determination.
“My motivation has been a deep-seated determination to get up and keep going. You can achieve everything you desire, but you must keep trying. The only failure is failing to try.”
From Fellowship to Practice Rights
The biggest milestone in the last stage of Naomi’s journey was achieving Fellowship and gaining her Litigation Practice Rights in family Law.
For Naomi, Practice Rights were a natural step in her professional progression.
She applied through the portfolio route, drawing on her practical experience in family law. Because her previous firms had generally used Counsel or barristers for advocacy, she did not yet have the experience to pursue Advocacy Rights.
Her new role, however, is giving her great exposure to advocacy, and Naomi hopes this will eventually enable her to pursue those rights too.
The Practice Rights process itself presented challenges.
As one of the early applicants, Naomi found that some of the guidance was still developing. Understanding exactly what evidence was required and how to demonstrate the outcomes through her portfolio was, she says, one of the most time-consuming parts of the process.
“There was always the doubt that you had not provided enough or what CILEx Regulation needed.”
She changed some of her examples several times, questioning whether they were strong enough to meet the criteria.
But she persevered and has some valuable advice for others considering the portfolio route.
“Work through each and every outcome and make sure you use the best evidence you can. Use bold headers in your logsheets to outline how you believe that you have met the particular skills required.”
And, perhaps most importantly, don’t try to do it alone.
“Try to team up with other CILEX-ers who have obtained their rights in your area of law, so you can reach out for help and advice on preparing and collating. We are all here to support each other after all.”
For Naomi, the support of the CILEX community was invaluable throughout her journey. WhatsApp groups and connections with other members provided practical advice, reassurance and encouragement when the process felt difficult.
Putting Practice Rights into practice
Naomi believes her Litigation Practice Rights will make a real difference to both her career and the experience she can provide clients.
Previously, even when she was capable of dealing with matters herself, files sometimes needed to be reviewed and authorised by others, which could create delays, particularly for urgent or emergency applications.
Having Practice Rights gives Naomi greater ability to progress matters swiftly and independently, while still working within the appropriate supervision and structures of her new role.
“I am confident that in now having these rights, I can move swiftly when required without delay, offering clients the best experience of the law possible.”
Her achievement has also already had an impact on her career prospects, with Naomi receiving significant interest from recruiters through her social media channels.
For her, it’s clear evidence that employers value Practice Rights and that they can help legal professionals stand out in a competitive market.
A community that made the journey possible
Although Naomi is immensely proud of becoming a CILEX Lawyer, she sees her achievement as about much more than professional status.
She credits her husband, her daughters, friends and other CILEX members for helping her get there.
“The camaraderie of the CILEX community is something else. Full of likeminded and supportive individuals who come together to make this organisation something of a force of nature!”
Over the years, she has made lifelong friends, found mentors and connected with people who have shared the highs and lows of studying and progressing through the profession.
She remembers one of her first opportunities to engage with CILEX beyond simply booking exams and purchasing study materials: attending a CILEX ball in Bristol with her college friends. There she met the then CILEX President, Matthew Huggett and Vice President Emma Davies. Their conversations about making CILEX more approachable and member-focused left a lasting impression.
For Naomi, that sense of belonging has become one of the defining features of her CILEX experience.
“I am most proud of simply getting here”
If Naomi had to sum up her journey in a few words, they would be:
Worthy. Community and Connections. Pride.
And perhaps the work that best captures her story is Pride
“Most proud of simply ‘Getting Here!’ My journey has not always been easy, but I am so proud that I have kept going.”
It’s a sentiment rooted in her mother’s own words:
“If you can conceive, and believe, you can achieve!”
Now, as Naomi prepares to start her new role as a CILEX Lawyer, she is looking ahead to the next stage, continuing to develop her expertise in the area she loves the most: family law.
Her story is also a powerful reminder of why alternative routes into the legal profession matter.
“We have built a legal community and a secure environment that has allowed so many, with such amazing skills, diversity and resilience, the opportunity to follow a career path that would simply not have been an option to them if CILEX didn’t exist.”
And her message to anyone considering Practice Rights?
“Choose your path wisely – portfolio or online course – speak to others, lots of others, before you decide. Get teamed up for the best support and join the socials for further information and guidance – and then JUST GO FOR IT!”