A year ago in a 60 second interview for The Voice newspaper, I was asked to name my most inspiring solicitor or lawyer of all time. Without hesitation I said that it had to be Nelson Mandela. In 1985 I had just passed my Solicitors Finals and I particularly remember the letter he gave to…

My weekly presidential newsletter went out yesterday shortly before the sad news of Nelson Mandela’s death. In these circumstances, I think it right to issue an additional president’s update. Nelson Mandela was a lawyer. He spent his life defending human rights and the rule of law. He campaigned for democracy, freedom and equality under the…

Special general meeting The Law Society has called a special general meeting at 10:30 on 17 December. The meeting will consider a motion of no confidence in the Law Society’s leadership. The motion relates to the strategy adopted by the Law Society to influence and ameliorate the government’s criminal legal aid proposals. Full details Referral…

The following selection exercise has launched today. Please consider sharing this information with anyone this might be of interest to. 00864: Principal Judge (Criminal Injuries Compensation) Social Entitlement Chamber, First-tier Tribunal Number of vacancies: one Location: Any site, as agreed with the Chamber President. Salary: Salary group 7 £103,950. Please note however, that this is…

The 2013 Diversity League Table report has made a number of observations and findings that the legal profession, in fact professions in general, can no longer ignore. Women appear to be “falling off the edge” as they attempt to make the career transition to the highest levels. The figures for senior Black lawyers are little…

Last night saw the presentation of the 4th UK Diversity Legal Awards, at the launch of the 2013 Diversity League Table report. The event, attended by well over 100 people, was hosted by Hogan Lovells at their London office and opened by the chair of Hogan Lovells, Nicholas Cheffings. The UK Diversity Legal Awards are…

Please click here to view the BSN’s comprehensive response to “Transforming Legal Aid”.

The Bar Council, the Law Society and the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) are proud to announce the second of this years’ Minority Lawyers’ Seminars. The seminars, alternating between London and the regions, are covering some of the challenges around career development, with a focus on supporting lawyers from minority communities. Developing Careers post-Legal…

Clifford Chance, Linklaters, Matrix Chambers and Morrison & Foerster have all been shortlisted for a 2013 UK Diversity Legal Award. The results will be announced at the launch of the 2013 BSN Diversity League Table report, which takes place on the evening of Monday 11th November. The event is hosted by Hogan Lovells LLP at…

LAW SOCIETY COMMITTEE VACANCIES The Law Society of England and Wales is the independent professional body, established for solicitors in 1825, that works globally to support and represent its 166,000 members, promoting the highest professional standards and the rule of law. Law Society committees help our work by: •    giving advice and guidance about policy,…

Law Society Council meeting summary: 16 October 2013 At this first Council meeting of the legal year 2013-14, we welcomed the 19 new members of Council who had been elected or nominated to Council seats earlier in the year, the great majority of whom were able to attend their first Council meeting in person. There…

Update on Criminal Legal Aid On 16 October, the Law Society Council resolved to: 1. Note and support the concessions and amendments to the Government’s initial proposals that have been achieved via the Society’s engagement with the MoJ. 2. Note that the Society opposes uneconomic or inappropriate fee structures. This short paper summarises the presentation…