New Presidential and Chief Executive Team

During my year as President I am committed to communicating more effectively with you as members on issues of importance and on the work of the Council. We have begun the process by making Council meeting minutes available to members on our website. We also plan to deliver a new website next year ensuring greater online engagement with you. I want to build collegiality with all of our members to make us stronger together as a group than as individual solicitors. Putting “Members First” is high up on my Agenda, evidenced by the recent appointment by the Society to a newly created post of Head of Member Services. Alison Grundle and I look forward to engaging with you and hearing your views during the course of the year. I would also welcome Jamie Warnock, newly appointed Head of Policy and Engagement and Darren Patterson, Head of Professional Development to the Society. You will read more about their profiles in this edition of the Writ.

In its’ Centenary year the Society has an exciting range of projects and activities aimed at celebrating the role of solicitor in society generally and in the legal profession as a whole. More details about these events will follow in due course.

I am conscious of the enormous contribution made in the past 99 years by so many previous Presidents of the Society. As this year’s President, I am extremely proud to be following in the footsteps of my grandfather, James Napier, and my great uncle. Michael Bready. However, I am equally proud to be the 10th female President of the Law Society, particularly in its centenary year. The redoubtable Thomasena McKinney was the first female President in 1978, demonstrating that the Society was well ahead of its time in appointing female solicitors to the office of President. Indeed, in order to demonstrate how progressive the Law Society of Northern Ireland has been in appointing female figureheads, research has shown that the Law Society of England and Wales (membership of 195,679) has had 6 female Presidents; the Law Society of Scotland (membership of 12,000) has had 5 female Presidents and the Law Society of Ireland (membership of 13,196) has also had 5 female Presidents. The membership of the Law Society of Northern Ireland is currently 6,000.

During my time as President I will continue the work of the Society in promoting the excellence of the solicitors’ profession at home and abroad, emphasising the value of independent legal advice and access to justice for the entire community.

I have had the unique experience of being your Junior Vice President for two years, seeing at first-hand the diversity and demands of the role of President. I conclude by assuring you that I will represent all of your interests to the best of my ability.