The Institute of Legal Executives announced that for the first time a legal executive has been appointed a partner in a legal disciplinary partnership.

Nick Hanning (pictured), a legal executive with Poole law firm RWPS, took up his new status on 31 March, when LDPs came into being. He is a personal injury lawyer who specialises in occupational stress claims, especially for the targets of bullying and harassment.

He has been an ILEX fellow since 1990 and in 2000 was one of the first to qualify as a Legal Executive Advocate. Hanning has been an ILEX council member since 2005 and is chairman of the organisation’s pro bono forum.

‘I’m obviously pleased that I can finally be acknowledged as a partner as this will clarify my position with clients, suppliers and other bodies,’ he said.

‘It has been a long wait but it is pleasing that there is now recognition of the fact that lawyers in all branches of the legal profession are of equal standing.’

ILEX President Mark Bishop said this was a milestone for the Institute and its members who have been performing at partner level for many years: ‘It has long been a source of frustration for our members and their firms that they have not had the opportunity to have their skill and expertise acknowledged through partnership.’

RWPS partner David Williams said: ‘We are delighted that the legislation has been put in place to enable Nick’s role to be formally recognised.’

‘We have always considered the distinction between solicitors and legal executives in this context to be artificial and out of touch with the realities of the legal world.’

It is anticipated that a number of other law firms will announce legal executive partners in the coming weeks.