PRESIDENT’S REPORT

by Gina Samuel-Richards

I want to ensure I leave a strong legacy not just for myself but for the Society and that’s why one of my main focuses this year is to encourage young people into law as a career. I’m hopeful to reach out to those communities who probably do not feel that the profession is for them inter alia, whether it’s due to underfunding in their education, whether it’s because they come from an economically deprived background or whether culturally girls are pushed towards careers that make it easier to meet the needs of their future family.

membership sub-board to see how we can translate this framework to benefit LLS and its members.

On 18th of October 2022 I became the first Black president of the Leicestershire Law Society. I have been a little slow expressing my personal take on this new post mainly because I’ve been overwhelmed with the support and well-wishes I have received on social media and in real life.

I take this role on with the knowledge of the weight it places upon my shoulders, not just because I’m representing the dynamic and powerful legal community of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, but also because I am representing the Black legal community. To be the first of anything carries its own challenges and rewards. I know I’ve worked hard throughout my career and I have honed my skill set to enable me to deliver in this role, and this is why I was chosen from among my peers to represent the Leicestershire Law Society. But I’m also minded of those who have come before me to breakdown barriers at great expense to themselves. But they have persevered in the knowledge that better shall come. I’m thankful to those who came before me and I’m thankful to my allies who have recognised and have respected me within the legal and business community.

I do not say this because of charity, but because of legacy planning. According to the 2021 census, Leicester has a significantly higher younger people population (up to the age of 35) than the national average. In the next 30 years, Gen Z are going to make up 1/3 of our workforce. This next generation are the most diverse generation so far. This means within the legal community we should have our pick of the best and brightest over the rest of the country. As a City with a vast variety of businesses and industries, we need to work on retaining such talent within the City, and therefore being of benefit to our firms. Leicester has a lot with which to entice, so let’s make our businesses welcoming and attractive by running schemes to keep the best and the brightest.

As a society, we are here to support our members. The Society is also exploring and developing different ways to be of value to its members, developing a members only area on the website and collaborations to bring training back to the heart of the society. I am keen to raise our membership and increase the involvement of our solicitor friends in the county. We can make our events more accessible and relevant to our friends in the county by holding meet and greet events in some of the Leicestershire areas. This may also encourage them to come into the City to network and celebrate the vibrancy our society has to offer. I also note the Law Society’s diversity framework delivered by I. Stephanie Boyce towards the end of her tenure. I will be working with our

My events this year will be aimed at bringing young people into the law. I will have some exciting news to be revealed in a later edition of the magazine. I held the end of year celebration on 20 December where attendees enjoyed a 4 course authentic Italian dinner. I will shortly be holding the Matrix event and other meet and greet soirees to enhance the opportunity of collaborative working between the legal and business sectors. We will be celebrating the LLS legal community at the awards in May, where firms will be encouraged to bring a student along to experience one of the dynamic ways we celebrate achievement.

My nominated charities this year are Focus, a young people’s charity empowering young, disenfranchised individuals; the Sickle Cell Society, raising awareness on how this disease affects the young and adult population; and the Zynithia Trust, an initiative to break the cycle of poverty for vulnerable women.

Last but not least, I would like to thank Matthew Olner, Immediate Past President for his steer of LLS in the previous 12 months as we emerged from the confines of various lockdowns. I would also like to thank our Patrons and Business Partners, those staying on with us for another year and those joining us for the first time. Our Patrons and Business partners are listed below. This year, they will be showcased in the Society’s magazine, promoted on the Society’s social media pages and website, attending our main committee meetings and our members will be able to meet our patrons at various events.

I look forward to an exciting year with the Leicestershire Law Society and to welcoming more members of the legal community.

Gina Samuel-Richards President, LLS