Newport-born Frances Edwards has become the 51st president, and the first Welsh woman president, of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.

After attending St Julian’s High School in Newport, Frances left school at the age of 16 to become a secretary at Llewellin & Burge Solicitors (now Jacklyn Dawson solicitors).

Not wanting to go to university, she studied CILEx’s vocational legal courses and became a qualified lawyer in 2000.

Frances, a grandmother-to-be, now works alongside her husband, a solicitor, at Caerphilly-based law firm Caswell Jones as a legal aid lawyer specialising in family law.

Mrs Edwards said of her new role: “It is such an honour to be elected not only as CILEx president but as the 10th female and first Welsh woman to be president. I am certainly taking office in interesting times. Many changes are taking place in the legal market not least the unacceptable changes to judicial review and reductions in the Legal Aid system.

“With impending practice rights and the recent launch of our paralegal enquiry, I am looking forward to leading CILEx through an exciting year, and supporting our members at a time when they and their firms face challenging circumstances.”

The inauguration was attended by many notable members of the Welsh legal profession, including Counsel General Theodore Huckle QC, and the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd who will give the guest speech.

Lord Thomas said: “I am delighted to see Frances Edwards inaugurated as President of CILEx. She exemplifies the hard-work and determination demonstrated by so many of the CILEx Fellows.

“Chartered Legal Executives occupy an important place in the provision of legal services in this country, and recent appointments of CILEx Fellows to the judiciary are further testament to the excellent work which has been done by CILEx in recent years. I have every confidence that the Chartered Institute will continue to grow and flourish under her leadership.”