Introduction
The President’s Foreword May 2020
I
t is clear that the disruption created by COVID-19 is unlike anything we could have imagined or prepared for. Our lives, our families, our work, plans, hopes; everything feels different. It is daunting, but with perseverance and innovation we will come out the other side. The Society continues to operate remotely under the limitations of the lockdown, but effectively. It has been especially challenging for the editorial team to put this work together and we are all grateful for their effort. I hope you enjoy reading about the activities and events that we have held in recent months. One event I recall fondly was our annual dinner when I had the privilege to hand out the Society’s first Lifetime Achievement Award to Mike Tomlinson at the National Liberal Club. Paula Piquer has also written about the successful launch of the Forum for International lawyers. This part of our community needed their space and visibility and we hope we can assist with this and will continue to work for them in this direction. We also recall fondly our twinning ceremony with the Krakow Bar Association, signed at the beautiful Resident House of the President of The Law Society on 11 March 2020. Unfortunately the second leg of the signing, due for 18 April 2020 in Krakow, has been postponed, but the aims and objectives of the twinning are in motion. I want to share my special gratitude to William Longrigg, former President of the International Academy of family Lawyers, for his talk on European Law and Brexit to the representatives of other European Bar Associations, and the President of the Federation of the Bar Association of Europe, Silvia Gimenez-Salinas, who travelled to join us on this occasion.
This edition of our magazine however is dominated by the effects of the pandemic on our profession and working lives. You might agree that the word ‘Brexit’ has been replaced at the top of the podium of most used words by ‘furlough’. Phillip Henson, Chair of the Law Reform Committee, has written a helpful piece on the Government Employment Retention Scheme and more information will be shared on our website. Following the new trend we have an interesting interview with David Morgan which you should not miss together with other articles covering topics such as the experience of working from home for junior solicitors and investigations conducted on behalf of solicitors. We have also included the SRA consultation on Compensation Funds submitted by our Professional Matters Committee. I hope you all stay well and connected. I look forward to us being together soon. ■
Carolina Marín Pedreño President
SPONSORS
CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER 5
