3 minute read
The President’s Foreword
The President’s Foreword
FEBRUARY 2024
The storms battering the UK will soon pass, and before we know it the snow drops will jolt out of the grown. New life will abound.
Exciting events are on the horizon for CHWLS 2024. At our recent officer meeting we started planning for the year ahead. This will include our summer garden party, a joint event with the Bureau of Investigative Journalists, a tour of a historical museum, and our autumn dinner which will take place in a prestigious venue in Westminster. Details to be confirmed in our next edition, and on our social media channels.
We want to make sure that we arrange events which engage and resonate with our members. Providing mentoring opportunities for our junior members is something that we are keen to develop. We are exploring the possibility of hosting our very first speed mentoring event for our junior members. It is hoped that this will give junior members the opportunity to seek advice and feedback in a safe and confidential environment. If any member firms would like to help, including a venue space, then please let us know.
I had the pleasure of representing CHWLS at the opening of the legal year in Paris, along with Professor Sara Chandler KC (Hon), which was a great opportunity for us to represent CHWLS on the international stage and to build our existing relationships and to develop new ones for the benefit of our members. I will also be attending the opening of the legal year in Milan shortly. If any of our member firms, or individual members, are keen to expand internationally, or if you have clients who
need assistance overseas, then please reach out and we will be happy to explore how we can help, such as making introductions.
I would also like to pay tribute to the sterling work of Stephen Denyer, who was director of strategic relationships at the Law Society of England and Wales, and a member of the management board of the International Bar Association (IBA). Stephen was a kind and generous person, who was committed to building relationships for the good of the legal profession, and to defending the rule of law. His passing is a great loss to the legal profession. Our thoughts are with Stephen’s family and his colleagues at the Law Society of England and Wales.
We always encourage feedback from our members for events and activities, so feel free to reach out if you have any ideas for events; or if you would like to host, or sponsor, an event. Thank you.
I look forward to seeing you at our events. Thank you for your continuing support of CHWLS.
Very best wishes.
Phil Henson
President
Westminster & Holborn Law Society
GUEST EDITOR
I am delighted to be the guest-editor of the winter edition of The Central London Lawyer.
Career management is an increasingly hot topic, and as the legal landscape undergoes shifts, navigating a successful career path now requires not only legal acumen but also a strategic and proactive approach to professional growth and direction.
In these pages, we bring you stories of resilience, innovation, and success. Showcasing a range of individuals, we hear from those who have practiced law, have converted to the Police force, are about to qualify, and have left law altogether. I hope you enjoy reading this edition!
Emma Webb
Guest Editor LLB Graduate
