SUB-COMMITTEES
A new reality brings new opportunities for lawyers I
t was a beautiful evening, as I sauntered through the Legal Charities Garden party in Lincoln’s Inn and met a very cheerful crew from Westminster and Holborn Law Society. I signed up there and then little knowing I would soon find myself Chair of Membership Committee, making many new friends and hosting my first ever virtual webinar. Friendly and welcoming is the essence of Westminster and Holborn Law Society. Being a member of WHLS provides many opportunities. If starting off in your legal career as a newly qualified solicitor, you have opportunity to apply for the Rising Star Award. Last year our newly- qualified celebration was held at the House of Commons which was a wonderful opportunity to meet fellow professionals. Our other awards include the Gamlen essay prize and the Lifetime achievement award to celebrate and promote our members‘ achievements. In March just before life in “lockdown” arrived, we held our Annual Dinner at the National Liberal club entertaining guests from throughout Europe including the Cluj Napoco Bar Association. Last year, we hosted the Milan Bar choir who performed a superb concert in Temple Church. The opportunity to meet fellow legal professionals with widely differing specialities and backgrounds both in the UK and internationally is unique to our “local” law society, we have a truly international focus including membership of the Fédération des Barreaux d’Europe. We are twinned with Berliner Rechtsanwaltskammer and L’Il.lustre Col.legi de l’Advocacia de Barcelona (ICAB).
WHLS on LinkedIn. This started with simply posting our events to our group page, to then transitioning away from the group page to our new company page. I was then asked by Gillian to lead the new Ambassadors Project, and I accepted this opportunity because it is in line with my vision of the WHLS: to bring in new talent.” If you are interested to learn more about becoming an Ambassador please get in touch through cwhlawsoc@gmail.com. Membership brings the opportunity to join one or two sub committees and develop leadership skills which build strengths for CVs. The Committees cover many specialities and we are always open to new ideas. Our current committees are: Litigation, Law Reform, Conveyancing, Equalities, Diversity &Inclusion; CSR and Pro Bono; International and Membership. With several Law Society Council Members we have a good voice on the National Law Society Council too. WHLS members have a free subscription to the Society's magazine, Central London Lawyer can contribute articles to showcase your legal expertise. We can also celebrate your and your firm’s achievements and through our social media. Now, in the “new normal” we are thinking of new ways to connect with members and to increase our numbers. Aside from convivial networking events we regularly run professional development and education seminars, forum discussions and updates on important legal and practice developments. Our Westminster and Holborn constituency stretches from the south side of Oxford Street across the old Metropolitan Borough of Holborn to the City of London boundary. Whilst we may not for the time being be ambling across Lincoln Inn Fields, you are very welcome to join us, even if you are based in another geographical – which is perhaps rather more likely in this time of remote working! We will return to our office-based routine at some point but in the meantime, it is worthwhile engaging with WHLS without the commute! Do sign up on our website we would love to hear from you. ■
Gillian Fielden
Chair, Membership Committee Westminster & Holborn Law Society Sundev Panesar An exciting new initiative is our Ambassadors Project which is open to all and we particularly encourage junior members to take up this role as champions of our Society. Currently this is led by Sundev Panesar, I caught up with him recently to ask him about his involvement with WHLS: “When I first joined the Membership Committee, I was in the middle of my LPC and had just met Coral Hill for the first time at her inauguration as President. I was told that the Westminster and Holborn Law Society needed new talent, so I took on the project of expanding the influence of the CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 19
