An Introduction from the President
[This update is also available as a PDF download, and can be viewed as an embedded PDF, below]
I am very honoured to have been appointed President of the Dorset Law Society, one of the oldest local law societies in the country. I would also like to express my warm thanks to Simon Lacey, who, during the Covid-19 pandemic, has guided the Society through an extremely tough period.
I have practised as a solicitor in the Dorset region for many years and have, more recently, served as a Dorset Law Society Committee Member. I have lived in Dorset for decades and have a passion for the area.
During my tenure as President, I want to make it a priority to increase engagement with members and do as much as possible to support the legal profession within the area. One way I hope to do this is by the introduction of quarterly updates as to what the Society is doing – this being the first.
The world has seen significant recent change. It seems like we seamlessly transitioned from Brexit, into the Covid-19 pandemic, and now, after over 70 years, we have been faced with the death of a monarch. All of this brings new and different challenges to the legal profession and I am keen to hear from members as to how the Dorset Law Society can help support them.
James Braund – President, Dorset Law Society
Come and Join the Dorset Law Society Committee
The Dorset Law Society is on the look-out for new Committee members. If you or anyone you know are interested in joining the Committee, please get in touch.
Recent Highlights
Despite recent times being hampered by the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Society is proud that it:-
- Suspended membership fees, for the last 2 years.
- Provided various webinars on wellbeing, cyber security and getting your case heard during the pandemic, free of charge.
- Returned to face-to-face events earlier this year with a highly successful gin evening at the Shire Hall Museum in Dorchester.
What’s Coming up?
The Dorset Law Society is in the process of planning its annual calendar for the rest of 2022 and 2023.
Dates and further details will follow, with the Society currently planning to organise events including the following:-
Events
- Informal Autumn Networking Drinks.
- Annual Dinner.
- Quiz Evening.
- Society Walk and Talk.
- Gin and Mocktail Tasting.
Training
- Networking Training.
- Compliance Training.
- Working with Difficult Colleagues.
- Equality and Diversity Training.
Got an idea for something more that you would like the Society to do? Get in touch – we are always happy to discuss organising potential additional events.
A Window into the Legal Profession
During 2023, the Dorset Law Society intends to champion “A Window into the Legal Profession” initiative. Through social media and other articles, the Society hopes to give lawyers outside of the area an insight into working for Dorset law firms, as well as educating the public as to the pressures within the legal profession and the regulation in place to safeguard clients’ best interests.
We would like to invite all member law firms to participate in this initiative and to share their experiences.
2023 Membership Fees
To assist firms and members, the Society has taken the decision to freeze membership fees at 2019/2020 levels.
- Trainee Solicitors – Free of charge.
- Individual Members – £25.00.
- Firm Memberships:-
- 5 to 9 members – £21.00 per member.
- 10 to 19 members – £18.00 per member.
- 20 to 49 members – £16.00 per member.
- Over 50 members – £700.00 in total.
Website – Situations Vacant
The Dorset Law Society would like to remind all member firms about the “Situations Vacant” page of its website, where it is free for member firms to post an advert about a job – just email enquiries@dorsetlawsociety.co.uk.
Dorset Law Society Committee
James Braund – President
Lisa Pharaoh – Vice President
Owen Thomas – Deputy Vice President
Martin Varley – Secretary
Paul Dunlop – Treasurer
Peter Watson-Lee – The Law Society Council Member
Simon Lacey, David Ankcorn, Katherine Jones, David Ross, Hayley Stack, Marnie Thomas – Committee Members
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