Teresa Silleras, president of the College of Social Graduates of Madrid: “Your future, our commitment”

Graduated from the Carlos III University of Madrid in 2006, that same year she began her professional activity as a free collegiate practitioner at the Excmo. Official College of Social Graduates of Madrid, leading the professional and business project that he maintains to date as head of the professional office Silleras Asesores. Specialized in advising companies in the audiovisual sector in all its aspects, the office has a staff of 50 workers, the most important department being labor law, with 17 colleagues and social graduates registered as company practitioners.  

At the time and recently graduated, and at the same time that she began her professional activity, she was a student at the XXXII School of Procedural Practice of the College of Social Graduates of Madrid, achieving the best record at the School.  

Throughout his professional career he has not stopped training with continuous training both with the Madrid College and in others in other provinces and in different private entities.  

Currently, in addition to the development of his professional career and his collegiate activity, he teaches classes at different public universities in his practical area of ​​labor law and Social Security, and at film schools in different autonomous communities, teaching the value of the workplace within audiovisual productions.

Last Friday, July 4, we experienced a very special moment: the commemorative event of the Centenary of Social Schools, a celebration organized by the General Council of Official Colleges of Social Graduates of Spain and the Social Justice Foundation, and directed by the College of Madrid.

In it, tribute was paid to Eva Torrecilla, president of the College of Madrid from October 2021 to the present, when Teresa takes over after the elections were held on July 8. Eva's work for the group has been of great relevance, and she will continue to promote initiatives from her role as director of the Social Justice Foundation, where she will continue to work with dedication in favor of the profession.

After this commemorative event loaded with emotional and professional value, Teresa's words dedicated to Eva recognizing her dedication and effort were an unforgettable touch on the day.

Teresa, to begin, do you want to dedicate any of those words to Eva again?

The profession of social graduate and specifically the community of Madrid, can only address Eva one word that encompasses everything: THANK YOU. Eternal thanks for your dedication and tireless work. His example of perseverance and vocation for service are a guide for all generations of the profession and not only as an institutional reference, but as the pure essence of the profession within its daily activity.

It has been an honor to share the Governing Board table with her and soak up her love for the profession.

We are very interested in learning more about your professional career. What led you to choose this specialty of law as your professional career?

In my case and I think that of the majority of the group, being a social graduate was not an option but the only choice.

I decided to study Labor Relations fully convinced and with a desire both in my mind and in my heart, to become a free practicing social graduate, because I was always clear that I wanted to be the owner of an office.

My childhood and youth were marked by the shadow of permanent disability within my closest family nucleus, specifically by my father. This entire process was worked on, managed and defended in court by a professional to whom I will be eternally grateful, a social graduate.

From that moment I fell in love with labor law and Social Security, understanding that there was no legal profession more valuable and precise in that field than that of a social graduate.

In 2006, having just graduated, I began my professional career as head of the firm, Silleras Asesores Jurídicos, mostly within the procedural area, and creating a small portfolio of business advisory clients. For 6 years I also led the legal direction of an independent union, which made me work exhaustively under the umbrella of union law and conflict, both collective and individual, before the social courts and higher authorities.

However, my professional career evolved in a very different way, taking Silleras Asesores to the place where it is today, a labor law firm specialized in audiovisual production, since 100% of our clients are located within the audiovisual sector.

Although we have developed different lines of business, the main one continues to be the labor one, in which we work on different aspects within the social graduate profession: the legal one with legal advice and technical assistance in court, the management of people in its entire spectrum, and the care of talent and professional development, which we could call "Human Resources", but which I personally do not like to call that, because people are in no way a resource, but rather an investment.

And I tell you aspects within our profession, because my team is the driving force of my professional project and for this reason, although we are 51 professionals, within the labor area I have 17 registered social graduates, giving a guarantee of professionalism and excellence.

What has your appointment as president of the College meant to you?

For me, being named president of my College, in addition to being an honor, means an immense responsibility, for representing a group and a profession that is vital for society, essential for the maintenance of the Welfare State and essential for the society of our country.

It is a challenge that I take on with courage, a lot of affection and a lot of ambition. Ambition in the good sense of the word, trusting in positioning both the institution and the profession in its rightful place, not only on a professional level, but also socially, with the visibility it should have.

Could you comment on the advantages of joining a college? Do you consider that the work of social graduates is sufficiently valued by public institutions? And if not, what measures could be implemented to improve this perception?

I think the concept of collegiality is an advantage in itself. Beyond the strictly technical advantages such as access to the rights that we have as third-party processors or as legal professionals within the social jurisdiction, among others, the association brings together the right and duty of the Professional Association to defend the rights and interests of the group, to ensure the position of professionals and enrich the profession.

To do this, we must be aware that belonging to the College makes us greater, because the value of unifying thousands of voices into one makes us much stronger.

The constant training services, specialization in the subjects of which we are advocates and the bond and brotherhood generated by the institution, are the driving force of our work and the great advantage of the union.

Regarding public institutions, I know that we are perceived as an essential group, a link and bridge between companies and working people and the Administration. However, since the terrifying pandemic, the Administrations have placed on professionals a huge number of new administrative obligations that suffocate professionals, congesting offices with work that does not really correspond to us and that is not valued as it should be.

It is the obligation of all of us who represent the group to face the problem and become advocates of our constituents. I believe that if we transferred to the Administration what would mean 48 hours without social graduates in our country and a reflection was made on the repercussion that this would entail, the perception and value they give us would grow exponentially.

The Social Justice Foundation and the General Council of Official Colleges of Social Graduates of Spain collaborate to promote plans for specialization within the profession. What are the main objectives that you have proposed for your mandate in collaboration with the Council?

The electoral program that drove our electoral campaign, not only mine, but that of the group of professionals who joined us in this journey, has been based on 5 major lines of development.

1. Modernization, in two aspects. Firstly, advance in applications and digitalization of the School itself, growing in audiovisual media and implementing an internal sustainability plan, which positions the School of Madrid as an innovative, cutting-edge and environmentally aware school. But also and as a second objective within this point, create a support plan for the professional firm to guide it in digitalization and technological development, so that social graduates can focus on their personal talent, which is what is truly essential and gives value to the firm.
2. Training plan: creation of an annual training plan with different training itineraries, depending on the development or expectation of each colleague, with the aim of establishing a professional training development developed and executed by and for professionals, generating its own seal of quality.
3. Strategic marketing plan: whose purpose is to promote dissemination on social networks and the media to socially position the profession and also its members, promoting their activities, services and projects.
4. Expansion of the number of members: For me, the most vital point within our commitments and with three primary focuses of action, universities, prevention professionals and professionals related to Human Resources. We must work to show the benefits of the professional and the need to be part of the school to receive service, create synergies and evolve professionally.
5. Facilities: We must seek a balance between accessibility and the image of modernity and development to which our profession is directed and the College's facilities must be a reflection of it, so we have hard work ahead of us.

What is your perception about the role of mutual collaborators? From your experience, what specific actions could you take to offer greater support to companies and advisors?

Mutual insurance companies are a vital and parallel element to the activity of professionals. He is a strategic friend for us and a companion in our work with the companies that we lead as entrepreneurs and the companies that we advise and manage.

Training is essential in the world of labor law and Social Security, so collaborating hand in hand with mutual insurance companies should be the standard for all professionals who operate in the world of work.

And finally, what is your vision regarding the future of the profession in a context of constant legislative and technological changes?

Since 2020, legislative changes have constantly overwhelmed us and tested our capacity for change and adaptation, which has demonstrated the value that our profession generates in the legal and advisory field.

These changes and all those to come once again show the need for constant training that Schools must offer to our members, in a fast, effective and efficient way.

Regarding technology, he can only say that it is a reality, a reality not of the future, but of the present. In particular, it is an area in which I have especially invested, having my own innovation and development department within my office and with which we eliminated 100% of paper 10 years ago.

By this I mean that technological development is not an option, it is an obligation, which will keep us on the professional front line and will make us effective and aware of the environment, another aspect for which we are all responsible.