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Your weekly Law Society update 20 May 2019

21/5/2019

 
​Dear colleague,
 
Your weekly Law Society update
 
As the professional body for solicitors, every week the Law Society is working hard to influence the legal and regulatory environment on behalf of our profession and to promote solicitors at home and abroad. We support practice excellence, are an informed source of legal sector news and support members at every stage of their career.
 
Here are some highlights from this week.
 
Influencing on behalf of the profession and promoting the profession
 
The Law Society’s media profile this week:
International Bar Association research into sexual harassment and bullying in the legal sector received widespread media coverage. I released a statement on behalf of our members reiterating that the legal profession must tackle bullying and harassment in the sector head on.
 
You can read my statement in full here. The Times (£), Bloomberg, City AM, Gazette and MSN Money, amongst others, report on the story.
 
Jenny Beck, a member of our access to justice committee, was on the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire to discuss family courts and child arrangement orders. You can watch the programme here. Jenny is on from 52:39.
 
Coverage of our housing legal aid deserts campaign continues in local media. Our head of justice Richard Miller appeared on BBC Tees; you can listen to the interview here (2:12:00). London news, Wigan Today, Derbyshire Times, Gainsborough Standard and others also ran with the story.
 
For mental health awareness week, the Gazette and Legal Futures report on the Law Society, the Solicitors Regulation Authority, LawCare, SBA the Solicitors’ Charity, and the Solicitors’ Assistance Scheme joint campaign, #SupportingSolicitors, which promotes the help available to solicitors dealing with personal challenges. 

The Times (£), Global Legal Post and Law Careers reported the Junior Lawyers Division (JLD) demand for action to prevent a mental health crisis in the profession, following their latest resilience and well-being survey.
 
Legal Week (£) explores how universities are seeking to equip the next generation of legal professionals with the skills to leverage lawtech. Alan East, Chair of our education and training committee, says that lawtech is finally beginning to take hold in UK law schools.
Legal Cheek reports on the SRA’s response to a call from junior lawyers to reintroduce a mandatory minimum salary and concerns that the new work experience element of the Solicitors’ Qualifying Exam (SQE) puts would-be solicitors at risk of exploitation.
The Daily Mail reports that home owners need revisions to the current guidance on Japanese knotweed. We said we would consult to see “whether changes need to be made”.
 
The Times (£) reports that the government is to push more court users towards the online court system despite concerns from the profession. I am quoted saying: “We have long suspected that an outcome of the court modernisation programme would be to drive litigants away from physical courts to online procedures.”
 
The Daily Mail reported that delays to applications for grants of probate are causing chaos. I am quoted saying “It is extremely disappointing to hear of these delays – particularly when the impact falls on the bereaved.”
 
Don’t forget you can read all Law Society press releases by clicking on this link. For live updates follow us on Twitter.
 
Regulation
Members of our Regulatory Affairs team led two roundtable discussions on Ethics Hot Topics in Preston and Lancaster on 8 May. Both sessions were well attended and we received positive feedback from delegates.
Access to Justice
Solicitor judges and advocacy
The Law Society's Solicitor Judges Division hosted a Spring drinks evening with solicitor advocates and solicitor judges in Chancery Lane on 14 May. Vice-President Simon Davis and Alexandra Marks CBE spoke at this networking evening, aimed at solicitors working in the courts, solicitor judges and those aspiring to join the judiciary. This offered opportunities for building peer-to-peer contacts and discussing approaches to cases. 
 
We presented the latest version of the Solicitor Judges Division’s Judicial pathway, a toolkit for solicitors at any career stage seeking to obtain a deep and practical understanding of what is needed to become a judge in England and Wales.
 
Richard Miller, head of the justice, attended the quarterly Judicial Diversity Forum meeting.
Criminal Law
As part of our criminal justice campaign, we launched a petition calling for the government to increase investment in the criminal justice system.  To add your digital signature to the 3,000+ already on the petition, and for further details on the campaign, please visit the campaign webpage.
 
We are also hosting a series of free roadshows as part of our criminal justice campaign, exploring issues such as the growing shortage of duty solicitors, court closures and barriers to accessing legal aid. The first of the roadshows took place on 16 May in London. 
Book your free place here to learn more about the issues from Law Society experts, get involved in our criminal justice campaign and give us your views on the Ministry of Justice’s crime fees review and HMCTS’ reform programme. 
Role of the Profession
Simplifying the Immigration Rules
We responded to the Law Commission’s Home Office-sponsored consultation on Immigration Rules, which will feed into its review to make the Rules simpler and more accessible to users. 
 
Our response supports the proposed simplification of the Immigration Rules, making legislation more accessible and fit for purpose. However, we also highlight the complexity of this task and provide specific examples of how the confusing intricacy of the Rules causes a wide range of problems. 
Court and Tribunals (Online Procedures) Bill
Our justice and public affairs teams collaborated to produce a briefing for the Second Reading of the Courts and Tribunals (Online Procedures) Bill, which will establish the Online Procedure Rules Committee as part of the HMCTS reform programme.
 
Commercial
Tax Law
We responded to HMRC and HM Treasury’s consultation on Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).  The consultation sought views on the design of a 1% surcharge on non-UK residents purchasing residential property in England and Northern Ireland. Our full response is available here.  
We express concern about the insufficiency of the evidence base to show that the surcharge would meet the policy objective and suggest amendments to seek to avoid potential unfairness and anomalies that would arise from the current proposals.  We also voice serious concerns about the introduction of significant further complexity into the home-buying process.
The Law Society’s guidance on buying a home is available here, and the Government’s key guidance on buying and selling, which the Society recently endorsed, is available here: How to Buy a Home How to Sell a home.
Rule of Law and Environment Event
As part of our influencing work for the Environment Bill we are developing a breakfast panel event to coincide with Environment Day.  Details will soon become available on our Events page.  
 
Code for completion guidance
We released our new Code for Completion by Post in response to the Court of Appeal decision in the Dreamvar case last year. We amended the TA13 Completion Information and Undertakings form to reflect the changes made to the Code.
 
Conveyancing
We attended the All-Party Parliamentary Group on leasehold and commonhold, where we engaged with a large number of MPs. 
Technology
The Technology and Law Policy Commission will be launching its report at our AI in Legal Services Summit on 4 June 2019.  Over the past year the Commission has examined the ethical implications of AI in law and the growth and adoption of emerging technologies in the criminal justice system. The international summit will bring together our findings, along with insights on the latest legal innovations. Council members wishing to find out more or attend can register on the event website. 
 
Consultation responses and parliamentary activity, influencing on behalf of the profession:
 
Parliamentary
On Tuesday the House of Lords held its Second Reading of the Courts and Tribunals (Online Procedure) Bill. The Law Society briefed ahead of the debate and were mentioned four times.
 
On Thursday, Ministers from the Department for Exiting the European Union were questioned by MPs in the House of Commons. The Law Society briefed beforehand and was mentioned twice in the session.
 
Our influencing work internationally:
 
This week, I was in Moscow and St Petersburg with our international policy adviser for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Chika Muorah.  In Moscow, we met with members to gather their views on proposed regulatory reform and the likely impact on their practice. The issues raised by our members were discussed at our bilateral meeting with the Russian Federal Chamber of Lawyers.  We also hosted our first international women in law roundtable in Russia in partnership with our Russian counterparts and the British Embassy in Moscow.
 
We attended the International Legal Forum in St Petersburg to show our support for the Russian bar association and I participated in two sessions. The first was a panel discussion on women in law and the second was a session hosted by the Russian bar on lawyers' fees.
 
On 14 May, our Brussels Office co-hosted a legal breakfast event with FLINN Law on Court of Justice of the European Union’s opinion on CETA’s Investment Court System and its implications for the future EU trade policy.  Panellists were Helena Raulus, Head of Brussels Office; Leonard Hawkes, Flinn; Colin Brown, DG Trade, European Commission; Nicolas Angelet, Doughty Street Chambers, London; a representative of the Canadian Mission to the EU (TBC) and Emily Hay, Senior Associate at Hanotiau & Van Den Berg.
 
Head of our Brussels office Helena Raulus chaired a British Chamber of Commerce event, Priorities of the Finnish Presidency with Ambassador Rislakki, on 14 May.
 
Our Brussels office hosted an event on European in-house organisations, LPP Task Force, on 15 May. Stephen Denyer and Sophia Adams Bhatti were in attendance.
 
Supporting members at every stage of their career 
 
Please remember The power of gender equality to transform the business of law, our international symposium is next month. This two-day conference is designed to bring together professionals from across the legal profession and other sectors to identify steps needed to achieve gender equality in the workplace, crucial to boost growth, innovation and productivity
 
Male Champions for Change report launch - Monday 20 May 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
Join us on Monday 20 May for the launch of our male champions for change report following a series of roundtables. Led by Law Society vice president Simon Davis, our panel of expert speakers will discuss the outcomes of the research conducted as part of the Women in Leadership in Law project.
 
How to implement a diversity and inclusion (D&I) strategy in your legal team
Join our regional panel sessions on 'How to implement a diversity and inclusion (D&I) strategy in your legal team'. The Law Society's In-house Division and D&I team are bringing together in-house lawyers to discuss common concerns and examples of how issues can be overcome. Discussion points will feed into a Law Society guidance. Book your place to hear from our panel and input your views.
Manchester - 25 June (17.30-20.30) 
London - 27 June (8.00-10.30) 
 
Advocacy and the Vulnerable Training - Wednesday 22 May 2019, Bradford - Afternoon session
Location: Bradford – Jury’s Inn Bradford
The Advocacy and the Vulnerable Training was developed in conjunction with the Bar to help solicitor advocates and barristers strike the balance between advancing their client’s case effectively in court whilst ensuring vulnerable witnesses are not subjected to undue stress.
 
Career options and support available - Wednesday 22 May 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
This free event that will help you explore career options and support available to those wishing to return to or change their career in the legal profession. The event will feature a panel of speakers showcasing different examples of the careers options available to you. Delegates can find out more about the support offered by the following organisations: LawCare, Women Returners Network, Practice Advice Service, SBA, SAS, SRA.
 
Supporting practice excellence    
Some of our upcoming events are:
 
MLRO and MLCO peer to peer learning, Cambridge - Wednesday 5 June 2019
Location: Mills & Reeve, Botanic House, 98-100 Hills Rd, Cambridge CB2 1PH
This event, aimed at MLRO’s, is designed to provide you with the platform to discuss best practice and upcoming developments in economic crime, while also acting as a peer to peer learning opportunity.
Criminal justice roadshow, Exeter - 21 May 2019
Location: Veitch Penny Solicitors, 1 Manor Court, Dix's Field, Exeter, EX1 1UP
Our criminal justice system is at breaking point. Due to years of underinvestment it is facing an avalanche of problems, such as growing shortages of duty solicitors, court closures and barriers to accessing legal aid. The Law Society has been making the case to Government for increased spending on criminal justice to help fix the broken system, but we need your help. Attend this event to ensure your voice is heard.
 
CQS Roadshow, 23 May, Cardiff - Thursday 23 May 2019
Location: The Law Society, 5th Floor, Capital Tower, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff CF10 3AG
These seminars are designed to provide CQS members with an update on the improvements being made to the accreditation in 2019 and provide the support needed to ensure compliance with the new scheme requirements. There will be an opportunity for Q&A and for networking with speakers and members of other accredited practices.
 
AML City of London update - Thursday 23 May 2019
Location: Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Adelaide House, London Bridge, London, EC4R 9HA
This event is for MLROs, MLCOs and other AML compliance professionals working for London City firms. It will give you a platform to learn about the regulator’s perspective on AML as well as upcoming changes to the UK’s Suspicious Activity Reporting regime. Speakers will include representatives from the SRA, the UK Financial Intelligence Unit, BDO and the Law Society.
 
CQS Roadshow, 29 May, London - Wednesday 29 May 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
These seminars are designed to provide CQS members with an update on the improvements being made to the accreditation in 2019 and provide the support needed to ensure compliance with the new scheme requirements. There will be an opportunity for Q&A and for networking with speakers and members of other accredited practices.
 
Criminal justice roadshow, Bristol - Monday 3 June 2019
Location: Bristol Law Society, 12 Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4ST
Our criminal justice system is at breaking point. Due to years of underinvestment it is facing an avalanche of problems, such as growing shortages of duty solicitors, court closures and barriers to accessing legal aid. The Law Society has been making the case to Government for increased spending on criminal justice to help fix the broken system, but we need your help. Attend this event to ensure your voice is heard.
 
Law Management Section People in Practice seminar, in association with Leeds Law Society- Tuesday 4 June 2019
Location: Leeds Law Society, 62 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 2EE
Looking after the people in your practice is paramount to running a successful firm. This seminar covers key topics in legal human resources including culture and behaviour in the workplace, agile and flexible working and employment case law update.
 
Criminal justice roadshow, Birmingham - Tuesday 4 June 2019
Location: BPP University, 32-34 Colmore Circus Queensway, Birmingham, B4 6BN
Our criminal justice system is at breaking point. Due to years of underinvestment it is facing an avalanche of problems, such as growing shortages of duty solicitors, court closures and barriers to accessing legal aid. The Law Society has been making the case to Government for increased spending on criminal justice to help fix the broken system, but we need your help. Attend this event to ensure your voice is heard.
 
Resilience and Wellbeing face-to-face workshop -Thursday 6 June 2019  
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
This face-to-face one day workshop puts the focus firmly on your personal coping mechanisms. We demonstrate how to self-assess, manage emotional responses and deal with everyday stressors, so you can better deal with the pressures of your job. We will tackle anxiety and its causes, encourage positive thinking and you will leave with valuable skills for life.
 
The Annual President’s and Secretaries’ Conference 2019 - Friday & Saturday 14-15 June 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
This free, must-attend event for local law societies will incorporate a varied mix of plenary and breakout sessions. Delegates will have the opportunity to discuss common challenges, share experiences and hear practical tips from both their local law society peers and expert speakers.
 
Keeping members up to date
 
We have a number of newsletters for members. Below is a list, along with links for signing up to them.
 
Newsletter
Sign-up method

Advocacy Update
Update My Law Society preferences

Anti-money Laundering Update
Law Society newsletter page

City Update
Contact the City relationship management team

Diversity & Inclusion Update
Update My Law Society preferences

In-house Forum
Update My Law Society preferences

International Update
Law Society newsletter page

Junior Lawyers Update
Law Society newsletter page

JLD sign-up page

Legal Aid Update
Law Society newsletter page

Professional Update
Law Society newsletter page

Regional Update
Contact your regional relationship management team

Risk & Compliance Update
Join the Risk and Compliance Service

Small Firms Focus
Contact the Small Firms Division

Solicitor Judges Update
Join the Solicitor Judges Division

 
You can also register for the Gazette daily update here.
 
As always, please feel free to share this update with your constituents unless otherwise specified.
 
Kind regards,
 
Christina
 
Christina Blacklaws
President
The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London. WC2A 1PL

Your weekly Law Society update 7 May 2019

7/5/2019

 
​Dear colleague,
 
Your weekly Law Society update
 
As the professional body for solicitors, every week the Law Society is working hard to influence the legal and regulatory environment on behalf of our profession and to promote solicitors at home and abroad. We support practice excellence, are an informed source of legal sector news and support members at every stage of their career.
 
Here are some highlights from this week.
 
Influencing on behalf of the profession and promoting the profession
 
The Law Society’s media profile this week:
 
Politics Home reports on joint efforts across the legal sphere to support LGBT+ pride events. The Law Society will be joining the Bar Council and CILEx this summer at pride events across the UK – marching together under the banner of #LegalPride. I said “it’s important to show the public the legal profession will constantly and unequivocally support LGBT+ people and their rights”.

The Gazette,  New Law Journal, Guardian and the Times report on the launch of the FDA’s ‘Manifesto for Justice’ – supported by the Law Society, Bar Council and the Secret Barrister. In a foreword, I called for more resources for the creaking criminal justice system. See our full press release. The manifesto was unveiled at the Law Society.

IT glitches are causing major delays to grant-of-probate, the Gazette reports. Council member Melinda Giles says that delays have been acknowledged across the country, and that HMRC is also facing a backlog.
 
Meanwhile, the Daily Express reports that the proposed increases to probate fees are still on the House of Commons agenda despite being delayed by Brexit. “This is a tax on grief,” I said.
Further coverage in FN Talk and the Business Telegraph.
 
Today’s Conveyancer has a detailed overview of the changes to the Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS), which came into effect on the 1 May 2019. Joanna King, legal and compliance analyst at Ochresoft, says that “active promotion of the CQS quality mark is reflected in added credibility and gravitas for member firms”.
 
The Times (£) reports on why access to phone data is needed for a fair trial. “Being up front about the need for proper disclosure is important,” said Richard Atkinson, co-chair of the Law Society’s criminal law committee.
 
The Times (£) and Legal Cheek report the Law Society’s junior lawyers division (JLD) has written a letter to the Solicitors Regulation Authority warning that aspiring solicitors risk being exploited if they are not paid a minimum salary while completing the work experience element of the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).
 
Legal Cheek also reports that according to research by the JLD, junior solicitors are under high levels of stress and one in fifteen have experienced suicidal thoughts in the past month.
 
Content Live reports on how to create good cyber security. “The most vulnerable people are at the two ends of the scale,” said Peter Wright chair of our GDPR working group.
 
Chair of the Law Society’s employment law committee Max Winthrop was interviewed on BBC Money Box on a recent employment law case. You can listen to the interview here. Max’s interview starts at 04:35.
 
The Gazette, Legal Voice, Exeter Daily, the Leicester Mercury, Lancashire Telegraph and East Anglian Daily Times cover our legal aid deserts campaign showing the sparse provision of housing legal aid across the country. You can see our legal aid desert map here.
 
In a comment for the Gazette, Dr Judith Bourne wrote on Gwyneth Bebb, one of the first women to apply to the Law Society to sit her preliminary exams and qualify as solicitors.
 
The Gazette also reports on my work on women in the law.
 
Richard Atkinson and Ian Kelcey – who co-chair our criminal law committee - along with Jonathan Black, president of the LCCSA and Bill Waddington, chair of the CLSA have a letter in Friday’s Times (£) responding to media coverage of the standardised consent form giving police access to digital devices belonging to complainants and other witnesses. They write: “Following high profile cases, such as that of Liam Allen, we know that if relevant evidence found on a complainant’s digital device is not disclosed it can risk a miscarriage of justice.”
 
Head of justice Richard Miller was on ITN London’s 6pm bulletin on Wednesday talking about funding of the justice system in the context of a breach of court security.
The Times (£) reports on our support for Law Commission-proposals to extend the right to manage to include owners of leasehold houses and not just flats. We said the proposals were “consistent with the need to make the process more efficient”.
Legal Futures covers the LSB’s decision to conduct a consultation process on revising its internal governance rules (IGR) moving away from a position that would have hampered representative bodies in their role lobbying on behalf of their members. I’m quoted: “We believe the IGR should not hamper legitimate influencing activities by professional bodies, so we’re pleased the LSB appears to have taken our views on board.”
Don’t forget you can read all Law Society press releases by clicking on this link. For live updates follow us on Twitter.
 
Consultation responses and parliamentary activity, influencing on behalf of the profession:
 
Parliamentary
On Wednesday the Law Society was referenced by a member of the Constitution Committee during an evidence session with the lord chancellor. Baroness Corston highlighted the Law Society’s map of legal aid provision for housing cases, and asked the lord chancellor how people could enforce their rights in areas which the map showed as having no housing legal aid provider.
 
On Thursday the government introduced a new Bill to provide for online procedures in civil and family courts in England and Wales, in the First-tier Tribunal, Upper Tribunal, in employment tribunals and the Employment Appeal Tribunal. The Law Society will be briefing parliamentarians ahead of the second reading of the Courts and Tribunals (Online Procedure) Bill, which will take place in the House of Lords on 14th May.
On 30th April 2019, the Law Society’s international human rights adviser, Dr. Marina Brilman, gave evidence to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on the rule of law and human rights in South America. The Law Society submitted written evidence in November 2018. The main subjects addressed in the session were:
  • Regional challenges to the Inter-American system of human rights by PROSUR member states and lack of financing
  • The rise in attacks against lawyers and human rights defenders in Colombia, especially after the signing of the peace agreement
  • Challenges by the Colombian government to the Special Jurisdiction for Peace
  • The lack of effective protection measures in Colombia for lawyers and human rights defenders
  • The breakdown of judicial independence and rule of law in Venezuela
  • Human rights violations committed in Venezuela by state authorities, including the use of military jurisdiction over civilians
 
The recording of the session can be watched here:
https://bit.ly/2vCdd8h
 
Access to Justice
On 25th April we relaunched our Advice Deserts campaign with a new housing map showing the shortage of housing practitioners across the country. It received good coverage on television and radio.  Further information on the campaign is available on the webpage. 
 
Fast Entry to Courts for Professional Users
We attended the first meeting of the Professional Users’ Access Scheme Project Board on 24th April and are engaging with member services colleagues as to the Law Society’s position in respect of the project.
 
Solicitor Judges and Advocacy
As the Spring legal term draws to a close, the Law Society's solicitor judges division and Advocacy Support will be hosting a Spring drinks evening with solicitor advocates and solicitor judges on 14th May. Vice president Simon Davis and Alexandra Marks CBE will speak at this celebratory networking drinks evening, aimed at solicitors working in the courts, solicitor judges and those aspiring to join the judiciary and offering an opportunity to network with peers, make career contacts and discuss anecdotes and approaches to cases over a drink and canapes. Any members wishing to attend can book through our events page. 
 
Criminal Law
As part of our ongoing criminal justice campaign, we have launched a petition calling for the government to increase investment in the criminal justice system.  To add your digital signature to the 3,000+ already on the petition, and for further details on the campaign, please visit the campaign webpage.
 
At the justice questions session in the House of Commons on 23rd April, our criminal justice campaign was name-checked, in particular the increasing average age of solicitors and succession planning.
 
The criminal law committee and the Crime Practitioner Group have undertaken a review of the Legal Aid Agency’s Crime Contract Standard Terms.
The comments from the Criminal Law Committee and Practitioner Groups have been shared with Matt Howgate of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group, who has been commissioned by the Access to Justice Committee to undertake a review of the Standard Terms from both a criminal and civil perspectives.
 
We have sent a further letter to justice minister Lucy Frazer MP to request an interim fee increase for crime practitioners following the 10% fee increase for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which will encourage even more young defence lawyers to move to the CPS.
 
Our influencing work internationally:
 
On 7th May, Helena Raulus, head of our Brussels office, will be chairing a British Chamber of Commerce event on: cybersecurity and disinformation in the EU elections and the priorities of DG Connect with Claire Bury, deputy director general, DG Connect, European Commission. Anna Drozd, EU Policy Adviser will also be in attendance.
 
On 8th May, Helena Raulus will be chairing a Brussels-Based UK Organisations and Offices (BBUKOO) Plenary meeting in CBI Brussels Offices.
 
Supporting members at every stage of their career
 
Preparing 2nd year trainee solicitors for qualification - Career planning tips for trainees approaching qualification, London - Thursday 9th  May 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
This event will provide an opportunity for trainee solicitors, mulling their post-training contract options, to gain insight into the newly qualified (NQ) jobs markets from Husnara Begum, a career coach who specialises in offering guidance to final seat trainees who miss out on internal jobs.
 
Judicial appointments: interview training for solicitors Manchester - Monday 13th May 2019
Location: Townhouse Hotel,101 Portland St, Manchester M1 6DF
In view of increasing competition for judicial appointments, this interactive course will equip delegates with the skills to help enhance your application and interview performance. This workshop has been developed specifically for solicitor applicants but the content is relevant for anyone serious about submitting a credible judicial application.
 
Advocacy and Solicitor Judges' Division Spring Drinks, London - Tuesday 14th May 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
Join us for The Law Society's Advocacy and Solicitor Judges' Division Spring Drinks; an excellent opportunity to meet solicitor advocates and solicitor judges.
 
Male Champions for Change  Report Launch- Monday 20th May 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
Join us on Monday 20 May for the launch of our male champions for change report following a series of roundtables. Led by Law Society vice president, Simon Davis, our panel of expert speakers will discuss the outcomes of the research so far conducted as part of the Women in Leadership in Law project.
 
Mental health week – Panel event: Diversity and intersectionality London -Tuesday 14th May 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
To mark mental health week, we are hosting a breakfast panel session. The theme of the event will be exploring well-being with lawyers from different diversity backgrounds. The event will also feature the impact of intersectionality and MH. Join us on Tuesday 14 May for insight on this important topic.
 
The Annual President’s and Secretaries’ Conference 2019 - Friday & Saturday 14th & 15th June 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
This free, must-attend event for local law societies will incorporate a varied mix of plenary and breakout sessions. Delegates will have the opportunity to discuss common challenges, share experiences and hear practical tips from both their local law society peers and expert speakers.
 
Supporting practice excellence   
Some of our upcoming events are:
 
Nominations are open for the Excellence Awards
Don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate your success, nominations for the Excellence Awards have been extended to Friday 17 May. For your chance to be recognised as a leader in your field submit your nomination now. We encourage teams, firms and individual solicitors across England and Wales to take the opportunity to promote their success. There are 22 categories to choose from, including Practice Manager of the Year, Excellence in International Legal Services and Excellence in Access to Justice.
 
MLRO and MLCO peer to peer learning, Manchester -Tuesday 7th May 2019
Location: Shoosmiths, The XYZ Building, 2 Hardman Boulevard, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3AZ
This event, aimed at MLRO’s, is designed to provide you with the platform to discuss best practice and upcoming developments in economic crime, while also acting as a peer to peer learning opportunity.
 
MLRO and MLCO peer to peer learning, Bristol - Wednesday 8th May 2019
Location: Bristol Law Society, 12 Colston Avenue, BS1 4ST
The event is for MLROs, MLCOs and solicitors with an interest in anti-money laundering compliance. It will give you a platform to learn about best practice and upcoming developments in AML.
 
Competition Section annual conference 2019 London - Thursday 9th May 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
The annual Competition Section conference is an established fixture in the competition law calendar. This event draws on speakers from the UK and overseas and includes leading practitioners, regulators and economic experts.
 
Compliance support forum for in-house lawyers, London - Thursday 9th May 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
This popular forum has been updated with new materials to prepare you for the SRA Standards and Regulations which come into force in November 2019. Some of the key themes of this replacement to the SRA Handbook are very relevant to in house practitioners and we discuss the meaning of effective supervision and management, personal accountability, and the flexibility which comes with new practising styles.
 
Private Client Section: Practical inheritance tax update, Manchester - Thursday 9th   May 2019
Location: The University of Law, 2 New York Street, Manchester, M1 4HJ
This seminar will provide a practical focus on recent changes affecting inheritance tax. This one-hour seminar will provide an update on: residence nil-rate bands and downsizing, business property relief, criminal facilitation of tax avoidance, and the future of inheritance tax and trust taxation.
 
CQS Roadshow Birmingham- Monday 13th May 2019
Location: Shoosmiths LLP, 2 Colmore Square, 38 Queensway, Birmingham B4 6BJ
These seminars are designed to provide CQS members with an update on the improvements being made to the accreditation in 2019 and provide the support needed to ensure compliance with the new scheme requirements. There will be an opportunity for Q&A and for networking with speakers and members of other accredited practices.
 
Property Section: half-day conveyancing convention 2019 Birmingham-Tuesday 14th May 2019  
Location: BPP University, 32-34 Colmore Circus Queensway, Birmingham, B4 6BN
The Law Society's Property Section, is hosting a bespoke, half-day event for property practitioners. This new-format event focuses on the most important issues affecting modern property practice.
 
Criminal justice roadshow  London- Thursday 16th May 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
Our criminal justice system is at breaking point. Due to years of underinvestment it is facing an avalanche of problems, such as growing shortages of duty solicitors, court closures and barriers to accessing legal aid. The Law Society has been making the case to government for increased spending on criminal justice to help fix the broken system, but we need your help. Attend this event to ensure your voice is heard.
 
 
 
Keeping members up to date
 
We have a number of newsletters for members. Below is a list, along with links for signing up to them.
 
Newsletter
Sign-up method

Advocacy Update
Update My Law Society preferences

Anti-money Laundering Update
Law Society newsletter page

City Update
Contact the City relationship management team

Diversity & Inclusion Update
Update My Law Society preferences

In-house Forum
Update My Law Society preferences

International Update
Law Society newsletter page

Junior Lawyers Update
Law Society newsletter page

JLD sign-up page

Legal Aid Update
Law Society newsletter page

Professional Update
Law Society newsletter page

Regional Update
Contact your regional relationship management team

Risk & Compliance Update
Join the Risk and Compliance Service

Small Firms Focus
Contact the Small Firms Division

Solicitor Judges Update
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You can also register for the Gazette daily update here.
 
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Christina
 
Christina Blacklaws
President
The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London. WC2A 1PL

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