CEO Report

CEO Report

SPRING 2024

Spring is upon us, and it has been a busy start to 2024 with the implementation of the Society’s new membership database, which dramatically improves the previously outdated system that had been in place for many years. Elouise has worked tirelessly to manually upload the most current and accurate data for our members, and you will hopefully have received by now the details of the information we hold for you and your firms. We hope that the new system will streamline our communications in the coming months so that you receive the information most relevant to you, with the ability to control your preferences and interests. We have also been busy with the preparation of the 2024/25 membership renewals and hope that members have received their invoice for next year’s subscription by now.

In March, the Society spearheaded the inaugural CSG Conference, a groundbreaking collaboration with esteemed counterparts from the local law societies of Cheshire & North Wales, Devon & Somerset, Kent, Leicestershire and Newcastle. The online conference focussed on conveyancing and examined Future Frontiers in Conveyancing – Unveiling Trends, Tackling Challenges, and Elevating Expertise in 2024. Members from all six societies came together to hear expert speakers talk on the Building Safety Act, Climate Change Reporting, the Digitisation of Conveyancing and Leasehold Reform, and we are grateful to Ian Quayle, Richard Snape, Alison Parsons and Sally Redman from Landmark Information and Andy Roddy from HM Land Registry for their excellent presentations.

The Society has also kicked off its traditional training programme and had a sell-out in-person course on the Bank of Mum & Dad delivered by John Bunker and James Lister, which was held at the incredible offices of Stevens & Bolton in Guildford. We have also hosted excellent webinars on The Family Procedure (Amendment No.2) Rules 2023 with Karen Barham and Charting the IHT Course with Helen Forster, which were available free to SLS members.

I am also delighted to announce the renewal of a great number of our partnerships with patrons as well as the introduction of some new partners. It is a privilege to collaborate with such fantastic companies and I would encourage all members to review the services they provide to see how they might support you. Our 2024 sponsors are:

• Evelyn Partners (www.evelyn.com)

• Landmark Information Group (www.landmark.co.uk)

• Finders International (www.findersinternational.co.uk)

• Chadwick Nott (www.chadwicknott.co.uk)

• Pro-Drive IT (www.prodriveit.co.uk)

• ReviewSolicitors (www.reviewsolicitors.co.uk)

• LawSure Insurance Brokers (www.lawsureinsurance.co.uk)

• Chris Cotterill of Konsileo (www.konsileo.com)

Looking to the future, we have a jampacked Spring ahead, kicking off with another in-person course on 18 April, our Private Client Update 2024 with Professor Lesley King, and then a number of online sessions, including a Family Law Update 2024, A Guide for Conveyancers and Litigators on Navigating Properties Let on

a AirBnB Basis, an insightful course on the 5 Key Principles to Highly Profitable Delegation for Law Firm Owners and Partners, and a webinar on Streamlining Probate. Perhaps the most exciting addition to the programme is, however, our Sailing for A Cure Legal Charity Event, which will take place on Friday 26th April. This promises to be a fantastic occasion, not only to get together with colleagues and peers, but also to raise important funds for Cancer Research UK. Most of us have been impacted either directly or indirectly by cancer and it would be so wonderful to raise as much money as possible to support the work being done by CRUK to improve survival rates. Plus, we have some incredible prizes that have been generously donated to our event raffle and auction.

We have recently been excited to announce the launch of our 2024 Supporting Surrey Programme on Financial Wellbeing, run in collaboration with SLS Premium Patron Evelyn Partners. The programme is a series of 3 webinars, free to SLS members and subscribers to the Surrey JLD mailing list and will provide attendees with valuable insights into financial planning at every stage of their careers.

Lastly, a gentle reminder to submit your nominations for the SLS Legal Awards, we want to hear from as many members as possible. This is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the achievements of fellow members. Details on categories and how to nominate can be found overleaf.

As we move forward, we remain committed to serving the membership and strengthening the legal community in Surrey and look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events and initiatives.

With best wishes,

Helen

Helen Opie

Helen Opie

Chief Executive & Magazine Editor

T. 0333 5773830

E. helen.opie@surreylawsociety.org.uk

@SurreyLawSoc

@surreylawsociety

Helen Opie (Chief Executive at Surrey Law Society)

Surrey Law Society