THE director of a law firm from Swindon has been awarded a coveted accolade for advancing her profession.

Christine Bunting, director at Hyphen Law in Drakes Meadow, which specialises in cases of mental capacity going through the Court of Protection, has been awarded a prestigious award for ‘advancing the legal profession’ from the Chartered Institute of Legal

Executives.

Christine, who has dedicated more than 30 years to helping vulnerable clients – many of them children and young adults with severe brain injuries and neurological conditions - impressed the judges with her commitment to promoting access to the legal profession and inspiring future generations of legal practitioners.

She has had a long career mentoring law students and visiting schools in the CILEx ‘Inspiring Future’ service, building links with teachers and visiting schools to promote and inspire students into taking up law as a career.

Christine said: “I am passionate about reaching out to young people who may be interested in developing a legal career but are unclear or unsure about the best route for them to take.

“You don’t necessarily need to take the traditional route and qualify as a solicitor or a barrister to embark on a successful legal career.

“I started at a Bristol law firm with no legal qualifications and worked my way up the ladder using the CILEx route, learning on the job and qualifying as a lawyer without accruing any debt. CILEx continues to go from strength to strength and I am proud to be part of its community.

“My aim is to continue to set an example for young people and to encourage them to have the self belief, confidence and motivation to make that next step towards embarking on a rewarding and fulfilling career in law.”

Christine received the award at CILEx’s inaugural awards at the Shakespeare Globe Theatre on London’s Southbank.