WHLS Events

Forum for International Lawyers in London

Forum for International Lawyers in London [FILL], has

been created in response to the increasing numbers of lawyers, who are qualified in jurisdictions, other than England and Wales, and decide to overcome all potential challenges and embark on the adventure of practicing law in another country. This Forum will provide lawyers from all jurisdictions, worldwide, with the space they need to find support and share their experiences. Perhaps you find yourself needing guidance on how to cross- qualify in England and Wales or want to discuss the market opportunities and discover what are realistic expectations for you?

This group provides the opportunity for lawyers qualified abroad and English qualified lawyers to connect, create a network of legal professionals with expertise in other jurisdictions, and to develop personal and professional relations between them. FILL launched on Tuesday 25 February 2020 with a drinks reception kindly hosted by Farrer & Co. We encouraged all international lawyers to join us and we had a very successful event with over 60 attendees. Carolina Marín Pedreño, the Chair of WHLS and Paula Piquer Ruz, a committee member responsible for this group, both dual qualified lawyers, gave a short speech about their initial experiences when relocating to London to practice English law as European lawyers and the progression in their careers, and recognised the value that international lawyers add to the legal profession in the UK. There was a very positive interaction between lawyers qualified in European jurisdictions and worldwide and a lot of interest shown in participating in future events. The Forum was aiming to meet regularly throughout the year, and we were already planning events for 2020. Sadly, as a consequence of the present circumstances with Covid-19 face to face events have had to be postponed. However, we remain available to assist remotely to continue facilitating support to our members. ■

EVENTS 2020 Booking is essential for all events due to restrictions of space

Due to Government advice all events are cancelled until further notice. However, if the situation changes, we will notify our members.

April/May SQE Update Breakfast Seminar The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) is a new system of exams that will be introduced in 2021, replacing the Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course. All solicitors will have to pass the SQE in order to qualify. Following the success of the session last year, this breakfast seminar will cover the latest updates in the roll out of the SQE following further developments from the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Legal Standards Board.

April/May Developing an International Strategy Our International Sub-Committee is hosting a seminar on how firms of all sizes can develop an international strategy. This session will draw on the Society’s international networks and experience twinning with large and small overseas bar associations.

May Spring Litigation Update The first of our annual litigation updates will start at 6.30pm and be following by a networking reception. Further details to follow.

May Meet your council members This is a great opportunity to hear about the work of The Law Society and ask questions of your local council members for Holborn (Jonathan Wright and Fraser Whitehead) and Westminster (Beth Forrester, Jeffrey Forrest and Edward MaceyDare). A reception with refreshments will follow.

May/June How to Session – Judicial Appointments Following the success of our session last year, we are hoping to host eminent panellists to lead another workshop on judicial appointments. Further details will follow.

June Summer Property Law Update The third of our annual property law updates is kindly hosted by Index Property Information, starts at 6pm and will be followed by a networking reception. Further details will follow.

June/July Summer Garden Party We are looking forward to bringing our members together for a summer gathering, with refreshments and entertainment. Further details will follow.

9-12 July Visit to Cluj-Napoco, Romania Members are invited to join a delegation visiting the Cluj-Napoco Bar Association in Romania. If you would like to get involved, please email Katjana.Cleasby@Farrer.co.uk

23 September Newly Qualifieds’ Celebration – House of Lords Reception (TBC) We are hoping to host our annual Newly Qualifieds Celebration in the House of Lords, where we will also present our Newly Qualified Rising Star Award. It will also be an opportunity to meet our visiting delegation for the UIA London Conference (more details below).

24-25 September UIA London Conference The Union Internationale des Avocats (International Lawyers Association) are hosting their conference in London jointly with the WHLS. There will be a series of seminars hosted by members during the conference and several networking opportunities to meet with delegates. Further details will follow and please get in touch if you would like to participate in the visit.

Tuesday 27 October AGM, Farrer & Co Our Annual General Meeting will be held at 6pm at the offices of Farrer & Co LLP. At the meeting the President will present her annual report and new Officers will be elected. Do come along to see familiar and new faces – refreshments will follow the meeting.

Annual Dinner

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our annual

President’s Dinner on 11 March 2020, which we organised together with the South London Law Society. We were delighted to welcome not only guests from a wide range of firms within the Westminster and Holborn and South London areas, but also our distinguished international guests from countries including Spain, Poland and Romania. Our guests included Aleksander Gut of the Krakow Bar Association, Kinga Konopka of the Krakow Law Society, Silvia Gimenez, President of FBE, Sergio Marco and Kataryzna Wasowicz of the Murcia Bar Association and Izaskun Azpitar and Aitzol Asla of the Bilbao Bar Association and Calin Iuga of the Cluj Bar. We were grateful that this event took place when it did. Only a week later the circumstances relating to COVID-19 had worsened and we would not have been able to welcome our overseas friends.

The event took place at the National Liberal Club, which occupies a beautiful French renaissance style building in the heart of Westminster, overlooking the Thames. This club was established for Liberal Party campaigners following the Third Reform Act in 1884 and has been a space for Liberal values ever since.

We were delighted to welcome our engaging key note speaker Stephanie Boyce. Stephanie talked to us about diversity in the legal profession and how taking into account the necessity of this can ensure that our profession goes from strength to strength. Stephanie’s words were inspiring we were so pleased that she could join us for the evening.

It was also a pleasure to hear our President, Carolina Marin Pedreño, present our prestigious lifetime achievement award. This was awarded to Michael Tomlinson, the chairman of the Islington Legal Advice Centre (ILAC) in London. Michael has worked tirelessly at the ILAC over his career, providing legal advice to countless people in their times of need. We wish Michael many congratulations on this award and for the contributions he has made over his career.

We would like to extend a massive thank you to our brilliant sponsors, Interpreting Direct translation services and Kutter Walters, legal costs draftsmen, for helping to make our annual President’s dinner possible. ■