The President Writes

Welcome to this edition of the Bulletin...

It is a pleasure to be able to present to you the first edition of the Bulletin for 2022.

It has been a busy start to the year and the discussions I have had with members and fellow colleagues have been very positive. I for one can say it has been full steam ahead.

Activity in all areas of law seems to be buoyant and the general consensus has been positive with many firms looking to recruit which has allayed fears of what might be to come after the Pandemic.

The NLS have continued to meet virtually and had managed to get together for a belated AGM Dinner at the Star of India allowing Council Members to engage and share their experiences. We welcome Pathfinder Legal as a new corporate member which has bolstered our membership numbers and the Society continues to grow and I plan to meet with Managing Partner’s soon re-introducing the Manging Partners lunch in a bid to increase membership and participation. We are also currently looking at introducing a form of student membership and expanding the website to include details of Locums and Training Contract availability.

The Patrons continue to support the Society and their invaluable contribution to the Society does not go a miss.

It has been a busy start to the year and it was a pleasure to be invited by Stephanie Perraton the President of Birmingham Law Society to participate in the judging of their Legal Awards due to take place on 31st March 2022 and to judge the awards at St Phillips Chambers and I look forward to their Dinner and Dinners at Derby and Nottingham in the coming months.

It is with pleasure I announce that the NLS will be holding our Annual Dinner and Awards on Friday 23rd September 2022 at the Marriott Hotel, Northampton. Please do save the date and look out for the both the reservation forms and nomination forms coming soon and we look forward to seeing as many people there as possible given we have not had a dinner for over 2 years due to the Pandemic.

As always the Dinner supports a Charity and I have this year chosen Kids Aid a local charity providing therapeutic support for children and young people who have suffered trauma. It would be greatly appreciated if we could start raising funds in readiness and undertaking fundraising activities to support the same and a fundraising page will be launched soon. Further details about the charity can be found at: www.kidsaid.org.uk and I must thank our Patron; Joy Pinkham of Chartlands Chambers for introducing the charity to me and I look forward to meeting with Joy and Rebecca CaswellFox the Charity Director soon.

I was also able to attend the Leicester City Football Club Hospitality Event with the National Law Society President; I. Stephanie Boyce and it was an honour to attend once again and be able to meet the President and other local Law Society President and guests. I had the opportunity to share our experiences with the President and have invited the President to our dinner and do hope she will attend subject to her availability and we wait to hear if she can visit us on her national tour.

It was also a pleasure to be invited to attend the “Employability Boot Camp” event at the University of Northampton advising students on a career in law and I do feel this is a relationship the NLS can build upon and of great benefit to future of the profession and I am always willing to volunteer and assist as a former student too.

I do thank our Vice President; Maurice Muchinda for attending a community event and representing the NLS and presenting a prize at the Northampton Bangladeshi Association Annual Awards. I do feel the NLS can play a pivotal role in local communities and would be pleased to assist any local groups / organisations where members feel we can assist.

The NLS has responded to the SIF closure consultation and Linda Lee our Constituency Member has fought hard to ensure our views were expressed and we now look to the future and ask members if there are any concerns or training needs they do get in touch so we can consider the same.

The NLS continue to provide courses virtually and we are planning the next series and hopefully these will be in person and if anyone has any ideas please do get in touch.

I am still keen to engage new members and local non-member firms and I would be pleased to hear from such with any suggestions or an invitation to meet.

I take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy Easter and hope to hold a networking event soon so we can meet in person.

I can be contacted at jm@shepherdandco.com

Best Regards

Northamptonshire Law Society Officers & Council Members 2021 President

Jabeer Miah

Deputy President

Maurice Muchinda

Immediate-Past President

Sharine Burgess

Honorary Secretary

Ika Castka

Honorary Treasurer

Afua Adane

Constituency Member & Past President

Linda Lee

Council Members:

David Browne Laura Carter Michael Orton Jones Euan Temple - Past President Edward St John Smyth - Past President Afua Adane Lynsey Ward Sarah Franklin

Society Manager

Carolyn Coles Northamptonshire Law Society The Gatehouse, Stable Lane Pitsford Northampton NN6 9NG Tel: 01604 881154 Email: Sec.nls@outlook.com All Council members should in the first instance be contacted through the Society Manager.