Birmingham Law Society Bulletin August / September 2023

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CONTENTS

4. President’s Address.

6. Upcoming and Past Events.

8. Members’ News

18. What Are The Challenges In The Conveyancing Process And How Can It Be Improved?

20. Regulation Report: Comparison Websites –Do Your Services Measure Up?

22. 2023 Award Winners Celebrate Success: Part2.

24. 8 Tips For Managing Legal Cashiering During Peak Holiday Periods

CONTACT US

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2012-2018

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

of events that led to it. We were honoured to have two of Margaret Keane’s daughters at the event reminding us of the success of the ground-breaking Keane family case which Caroline and others undertook pro bono.

In Wellbeing Week we held a healthy breakfast meeting “Nourish Mind and Body” learning tips from the CEO of GuruYou on how to de-stress and be in the present.

My Vice President and I attended the Joint V meeting hosted by Liverpool Law Society on 14 June before I took up an invitation to attend the Cornwall Law Society Dinner at Truro Cathedral on Friday 16 June. It was particularly gratifying to hear their President Verona Cocks quote our former BLS President Bernard Shepherd in her speech. She said she had been inspired by his words at a BLS Dinner she had attended some years earlier. She quoted Bernard as follows “Remember we are a family of lawyers in this County and Society and we must stand up for each other”. I was 250 miles from home and it filled me with immense pride that the spirit and ethos of BLS is spreading far and wide.

I am happy to report that following swiftly on the heels of us setting up the BLS Immigration Committee that we have now resurrected the BLS Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence Committee chaired by Paul Nicholls (solicitor) assisted by Committee Secretary Alex Mellis (barrister). The committee is one of a number of committees that had lapsed post the covid lockdown and we are gradually working through the list and speaking with the committee chairs to ensure the committees have the necessary support and remain relevant and of value to our membership in the post covid era.

June and July have seen a continuation of activities in support of my presidential initiatives.

On 27 June we hosted a Retention of Women in Law event with Rebecca Mander (GuruYou) as moderator for the evening event which attracted 50+ female lawyers in person. Since then Rebecca, Catherine Edwards (Chair of EDI) and I have had a further meeting to discuss a forward plan to keep the conversation and actions going beyond my presidential year. As I said at my inaugural speech and several times since, I consider the retention of woman in law as one of

the most important challenges that the profession must overcome to ensure its continued success.

The previous evening (26 June 2023) I had the honour of chairing a Judicial Appointments seminar for solicitors at which HHJ Jane Ingram, Steven Jonas (JRB) and Laura Daly (Irwin Mitchell) talked about their journey to part time and full time judicial appointments. There is an under representation of solicitors taking up such appointments and we explored some of the obstacles and solutions to address the issues.

Earlier in the month on 5 June, we held an event to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. The event chaired by Caroline Brogan of Irwin Mitchell, included speakers Professor Colin Harvey (Professor of Human Rights Law and Director of the Human Rights Centre in the School of Law at Queen’s University Belfast) (attending online), Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC (Lead Counsel to the Keane family, & Special Rapporteur to the Irish Government on Child Protection) and Bez Martin (Margaret Keane’s Daughter & Human Rights Champion) who underlined the importance of the agreement analysing the history

Further evidence were it needed could be found at our event on the 4 July when we held an in person networking event for Ukrainian lawyers. This was as a result of a collaboration with Paul McConnell at the University of Birmingham, Mykola Bliashyn and myself as President. We attracted Ukrainian lawyers from the Birmingham area but also from Manchester, Stockport, Norfolk and other far flung places. It was humbling to see how appreciative the Ukrainians were for what was a small but important gesture to assist our colleagues in their time of need. It is our intention to put on further events and to help in any way we can. We intend that one day we will hold a BLS event in a free peaceful and once again prosperous Ukraine.

On 7 July on a gloriously sunny afternoon we held our BLS “It’s a Knockout” event at Bassetts Pole. I was a spectator rather than a team player this year having broken my shoulder on my last attempt to roll back the years! This year’s worthy winners were Hogan Lovells with Sytech coming in second. Regrettably the BLS cricket tournament which had attracted seven teams was cancelled due to

a waterlogged pitch only three days after the heat wave we had enjoyed or endured at the aforementioned event at Bassetts Pole.

Timely then that we were treated to an update from our friends and partners at Landmark Information on Climate Change. I personally find the topic fascinating and troubling and the insight from Landmark always gives food for thought coupled with advice on what we can do as individuals and organisations. We had 40+ sign up for the webinar and the plan is to hold an in-person event in the future with an expanded programme.

On 13 July we were visited by Simon Davis (DPP Caymans) looking for expressions of interest from Birmingham lawyers to take up secondments in the Caymans.

In mid July we celebrated the start of South Asian Heritage Month and on the 22 July we supported Birmingham Black Lawyers Annual Dinner at Edgbaston Cricket Ground.

We finished off the month of July with a BLS Summer Party on the 27 July at the iconic 103 Colmore Building.

Looking forward we have a very busy September including on the 22 September a Strictly Come Dancing event at the ICC. We are raising funds for the Midlands Air Ambulance and the Child Brain Injury Trust. Will Mellor will be the compère and Flavia Cacace and Pasha Kovalev as judges. For tables and tickets click here.

Have a great summer and as always if there is anything I and my fellow officers can do to support you please do ask.

Tony McDaid BLS President

Birmingham Law Society thanks our Gold Sponsors

MEMBER’S EVENTS

5-A-Side Football Tournament

13th September, 4.30pm – 8.30pm, Goals Star City

£200 +VAT for member team of 5 | £300 +VAT for non-member team of 5

SQE Insights: Making the move to the SQE work for your firm in association with The College of Legal Practice

18th September, 12pm – 1.30pm, No5 Barristers’ Chambers

FREE for members only

Golf Day sponsored by Access Managed Services and Quilter Cheviot Investment Management

19th September, 12.30pm – 9pm, Ladbrook Park Golf Club

£100 +VAT for individual member | £110 +VAT for individual non-member | £380 +VAT for member team of 4 | £420 +VAT for non-member team of 4

Birmingham Law Society COLP/COFA Forum

20th September, 8am – 9.30am, Anthony Collins Solicitors

FREE for members only

Networking Social for Lawyers sponsored by St Philips Chambers

20th September, 6pm – 8pm, St Philips Chambers

FREE for members | £10 +VAT for nonmembers

Strictly 9 to 5 Goes to the Musicals sponsored by Eminent Crisis Management, Intex Projects, Oakley Recruitment and Tula Medical Experts

22nd September, 6pm – 11.30pm, ICC

£1,600 +VAT for a table of 10

Managing and Senior Partners Lunch

26th September, 12.30pm – 2pm, Kangs Solicitors

FREE for Managing and Senior Partners

BLS Annual General Meeting 2023

27th September, 4.45pm – 7pm, No5 Barristers’ Chambers

FREE for members only

Birmingham In-House Lawyers Legal Conference in association with The Law Society and sponsored by Dixon Associates

28th September, 3pm – 7.30pm, No5

Barristers’ Chambers. FREE for all InHouse Lawyers to attend

BLS, BSG and BTSS Legal Eagles Quiz

25th October, 6pm – 9pm, Revolución de Cuba

To reserve your place and find out more, make sure that you visit www.birminghamlawsociety.co.uk

IT’S A KNOCKOUT

ATTORNEY GENERAL NETWORKING

COLP COFA FORUM

SUMMER

RETENTION OF WOMEN IN LAW EVENT JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS

UKRAINIAN LAWYERS NETWORKING

SOUTH ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH THE INSIGHT CENTRE EVENT

BIRMINGHAM LEGAL WALK

25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT

LOCAL SOLICITORS SHOW SUPPORT FOR WYRE FOREST HOSPICE CHARITY

The Kidderminster office of a West Midlands law firm is showing their support for Wyre Forest Charity KEMP Hospice. Talbots Law, based on Church Street in Kidderminster, have chosen to support KEMP Hospice through their ‘Charity Will Service’, donating 50% of the fee to the Wyre Forest charity for every Will made through the service.

Gillian Guest, Chartered Legal Executive & Associate at Talbots Law, Kidderminster said “Supporting local charities is incredibly important to us at Talbots Law.

We know the vital services KEMP Hospice provide free of charge to many people across the Wyre Forest, so we’re very proud to show our support. Conversations around making a Will can be difficult and challenging, but our team of experts will offer guidance, and through the Charity Will Service, by simply making their Will, individuals can make an immediate difference to KEMP Hospice charity.”

The Talbots Law Charity Will Service is open to anyone who would like to make a Will, not just those who have accessed KEMP

Hospice services. To enable the charity to receive the donation, all you need to do is quote ‘KEMP Hospice’ when arranging an appointment.

Jayne Sargeant, Head of Fundraising & Communications said, “We are incredibly grateful to Talbots Law for choosing to support KEMP Hospice through their Charity Will Service. They’ve been keen supporters of KEMP over the years and have also chosen to sponsor our annual Santa Fun Run for the second year running. It’s simply wonderful to have such a prominent local organisation offer their support to our charity.

At KEMP Hospice we never charge for our care or support services, so we rely on the generosity of local business, fundraisers and individuals to help ensure our work can continue and we can be there when people need us.”

If you’d like to find out more, you can contact Jayne Sargeant at KEMP Hospice on jayne.sargeant@kemphospice.org.uk or visit www.kemphospice.org.uk/gifts-in-wills

JMG PROFESSIONAL RISKS LATEST BLS SPONSOR

JM Glendinning (JMG) Professional Risks is pleased to be able to sponsor the Birmingham Law Society.

Having been established in Birmingham since 2021, this is a great opportunity to increase the JM Glendinning profile and brand awareness in the regional legal

TRIPLE-QUALIFIED

Leading full-service law firm Shakespeare Martineau has welcomed new partner Julia Rosenbloom to its Birmingham private client team, specialising in tax.

With more than 20 years’ post-qualified experience, Julia has joined Shakespeare Martineau after a decade at Evelyn Partners (formerly Smith & Williamson), where she was most recently a private client tax partner focused on ownermanaged businesses, real estate, international and complex high networth individuals.

During her career, Julia – who is also a qualified chartered tax adviser, and trust and estate practitioner – has worked in both law and accountancy firms, and has been named a top trust and tax adviser in The Spear’s 500 private client guide for the past four years.

Julia said: “I am really excited to be joining such a well-respected law firm in order to help grow and develop its tax function. I am triple qualified as a solicitor, chartered tax adviser, and trust and estate practitioner. As such, I am wellplaced to offer support to colleagues across the firm and their clients, as well as offering tax advice to new clients of the firm.

With a deep knowledge of business exits, succession planning and corporate reconstructions, in her new role, Julia will be helping to grow and develop Shakespeare Martineau’s tax team, while also providing tax support to existing and new clients.

sector, as well as affirm our commitment to grow in the City, and we could think of no better way of doing this than partnering with such a well-respected and established society.

As an Insurance Broker that specialises in providing Insurance and Risk Management solutions specifically to law firms, we look forward to working closely with the BLS and its membership to provide valuable advice and guidance.

Julia, who will primarily be based at the firm’s Birmingham hub but will be working with clients nationally, said: “Tax was not part of the plan when I started my legal training contract. However, ultimately, I found myself attracted to the technical and problem-solving aspects of the subject. It requires a good understanding of various commercial and legal matters and when everything comes together, it is incredibly satisfying.”

TAX PARTNER JOINS FIRM

in conjunction with birmingham law society

FORRESTERS ANNOUNCE NEW COO

part in strengthening collaboration across the firm and promoting greater synergy in all areas of the business, spearheading progress towards greater expansion and growth as Forresters continues to provide exemplary service to clients.

Forresters are pleased to welcome their new Chief Operating Officer, Yolanda Zollinger.

Yolanda has over 20 years of experience in the legal industry including experience as a lawyer in private practice, in-house and in the provision of off-shore legal services, experience in business development and law firm management.

In her new role as COO, Yolanda will play a key

"I am excited to be joining Forresters' dynamic team as their new COO," said Yolanda. "I have spent the last decade working in law firm management, and I am confident that I can put that experience to good use here. I look forward to meeting colleagues across our offices and rapidly getting up to speed with the business."

Managing Partner Matt Shaw also commented: "We are delighted to welcome Yolanda to the team at Forresters. Her extensive experience will be immensely helpful as we continue to strive for excellence and future success."

FIRM DELIVERS TEN YEARS OF GROWTH

Bevan Brittan has announced its financial results for 2022/23 with revenue exceeding £67m and both revenue and profit once again increasing year on year.

Income rose by 12% to £67.3m in the year ending 30 April, up from £60m in the previous 12 months. This is the tenth consecutive year of growth, during which time revenue has more than doubled, rising by 105%. Growth was achieved across a wide range of markets, most notably Higher Education (up by 81%), Central and Local government (25%) and Insurance & Financial Services (20%).

Profit was up 7.7% to £17m in 22/23 and has risen 179% during the last ten years.

The business attracted a number of significant new clients and 31 senior lateral hires, including three partners, during the financial year. It also invested in a Birmingham office relocation to equal its operations in Bristol, Leeds and London.

Bevan Brittan’s Managing Partner Duncan Weir said: “This is another strong performance that demonstrates the benefit of our investment in our existing markets and people; our new markets and people and the increasing strength and depth of our business.”

INSPIRE, ENGAGE & EMPOWER

The Access Project have been enabling young people from underrepresented backgrounds to realise their potential, and access top Universities for the last 15 years

Inequalities in the education system have only been exasperated since the Covid pandemic. With the additional strains of the cost of living crisis schools, charities and parents are frank about the risk of talented young people from under-represented backgrounds being failed by the system.

As experts in this field, we know our programme works to address this risk and inequality. The young people on our programme are almost twice as likely to access top Universities as their comparable peers. That is almost twice as likely to gain from the unique insights, education and opportunities that accessing a top University provides.

You can tutor a young person aged between 14-18 years, online, for 1 hour a week; starting from September 2023. You will be a core component in a unique programme helping to tackle education inequality, and inspire the next generation of young people.

You will help them reach their potential, grow in confidence and raise their academic attainment. All in aid of helping them access the University their potential deserves.

Your time will be focused on helping your tutee reinforce what they have learnt in school, problem solve the areas they find challenging, grow inconfidence and take ownership of their learning.

All tutoring is delivered online, through a purpose built platform. Tutors have access to our extensive resource library and professional support from our staff, as well as a comprehensive training programme.

No prior teaching experience is necessary, as you are provided with everything you need to get started as a volunteer tutor. This includes guidance on lesson planning, topics and resources from The Access Project.

To find out more and get involved: www.theaccessproject.org.uk/volunteer

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SHOOSMITHS TAKES PRIDE OF PLACE AT 103 COLMORE ROW

Shoosmiths ribbon sculpture, which runs through to the 20th floor. At the heart of the design concept is agility, collaboration and a drive to innovate – offering a choice of work settings to inspire creativity, connections and togetherness.

Supporting Shoosmiths’ ambition to be carbon net zero by 2025, sustainability is a key feature of the design. Planting features prominently across the space, with sunset and sunrise gardens on the uppermost floors that take inspiration from the Botanical Gardens and offer panoramic views of Birmingham’s skyline.

Shoosmiths has opened the doors to its new home in the heart of Birmingham’s business district at 103 Colmore Row, 20 years after the firm first established a presence in the city.

Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, and more than 140 stakeholders attended Shoosmiths’ opening in the city’s highest office space on Thursday, 8 June, to celebrate the firm’s new home, which has reimagined old ways of working and ensures accessibility and inclusion are at its heart.

Working together with local design consultancy Office Principles, office heads Alex Bishop and Beth McArdle have transformed the 32,900 sq ft of BREEAM 'Excellent' Grade A space into the ideal, hybrid ‘workplace destination’ for more than 350 Shoosmiths’ colleagues and clients across its 11th, 12th and 20th floors.

Storytelling, purpose and meaning are at the heart of the law firm’s design

ANTHONY

concept. The space pays homage to the region’s rich history and incorporates details that represent Birmingham’s position as a city of a thousand trades, having more miles of canal than Venice, the most parks in Europe, and being a global centre for jewellery manufacture.

The floors are divided to offer a range of workspace options across The Retreat (11th Floor) – a zone for concentrated work; The Co-Lab (12th Floor) a collaborative, social space; and The View (20th Floor) a cuttingedge client suite with unparalleled views of the city.

The hospitality-led design offers flexible client hosting areas and event spaces including The Lounge, The Gallery, ‘Spaghetti Function’ and The Raging Bull Bar.

The 11th and 12th floors are also seamlessly connected by a grand staircase and the entire space is tied together with the symbolic

Shoosmiths has incorporated a host of innovative features, many of which support the diversity, inclusion and wellbeing of the firm’s people and are designed to be visible and non-visible disability friendly. These include a wellbeing room, a multifaith contemplation pod and washing facilities, a platform lift between floors to provide disabled access, brail signage for those with impaired vision, sit and stand desks, dressing rooms and a mindful colour palate.

Alex Bishop, co-head of the Birmingham office and head of Shoosmiths’ national dispute resolution and litigation practice, said:

“This year marks Shoosmiths’ 20th anniversary in Birmingham. Creating a space like this is not only a homage to our amazing people, but also a toast to our future. We have a new space, a new brand, and a clear vision: to be the law firm that clients turn to for what matters.”

COLLINS ANNOUNCES NEW SENIOR PARTNER APPOINTMENT

company's journey to becoming a leading social purpose law firm.

In his new role, Matt will continue to support AC's work as a sector specialist national law firm and the first firm with a Midlands head office to become B Corp accredited, recognising the social purpose and environmental values of the company.

Matt Wort said: ""Since joining AC in 2005, I've seen first-hand the fantastic teamwork and commitment of all the staff and partners here to social purpose which has been essential in our success. As we continue to grow as a firm, we are focused on becoming the firm that people aspire to work for because of the great work that we do for our clients and the way that we do it.

Anthony Collins (AC) has announced the appointment of Matt Wort to senior partner, following nearly two decades at the company.

Since joining AC in 2005, Matt has specialised in employment law for the firm's health and social care clients and has played an integral role in the

Matt's appointment follows the promotion of four senior associates, four associates and one legal director across AC's specialist sectors of local government, housing, health and social care, charities and social business, in the May promotions round.

Peter Hubbard, who has served as senior partner since 2014, has moved to take on the role of managing partner for the firm.

“In my new role, I am focused on continuing to build on AC's goals of putting social purpose at the forefront of everything we do, and supporting our clients in their work across our key sectors including the private client team, social business, health and social care, charities, social housing and local government."

NETWORKING BREAKFAST WITH PANEL DISCUSSION TO MARK THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT

An overwhelming majority voted for the Good Friday Agreement on 22 May 1998. It is not only a legally binding international peace treaty registered at the United Nations, guaranteed by both the British and Irish governments, but it also underpins the political framework in Ireland.

The Good Friday Agreement guarantees human rights protections and equality. At the heart of the Agreement are principles of mutual respect for identity and parity of esteem.

The 2021 landmark successful discrimination appeal brought by the family of Margaret Keane, to overturn a decision to refuse an Irish-only inscription of love on a gravestone in Coventry made submissions on the Good Friday Agreement and the importance of respect for identity and equality.

The Birmingham Law Society was pleased to host a networking breakfast and panel discussion at No5 Chambers to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement (also known as the Belfast Agreement), and to discuss the successful landmark, pro bono, discrimination case of Margaret Keane writes Caroline Brogan, Senior Associate Solicitor, Irwin Mitchell LLP.

The Panel was chaired by Caroline Brogan, Senior Associate at Irwin Mitchell LLP and Solicitor to the Keane family. Caroline said: “The Good Friday Agreement was one of the greatest achievements of our lifetime. We are the generation that must make sure that it is fully protected and implemented”.

Guest speakers on the Panel included Professor Colin Harvey (Professor of Human Rights Law and Director of the Human Rights Centre in the School of Law at Queen’s University Belfast), Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC (Lead Counsel to the Keane family, & Special Rapporteur to the Irish Government on Child Protection), and Bez Martin (Margaret Keane’s daughter & Human Rights Champion).

The family were represented by barristers, Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC and Mary-Rachel McCabe, of Doughty St Chambers, and solicitor, Caroline Brogan, of Irwin Mitchell, on a free of charge basis. The Arches Court of Canterbury at St Mary-le-Bow, London, held that the original decision of the Chancellor of Coventry was unreasonable under the common law, and in breach of the family’s right not to be discriminated against under the Human Rights Act and Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The case was supported in Seanad Éireann and the House of Commons. It continues to receive widespread, significant, global support and has been back in the news recently after Fontaines D.C won International Group of the Year at this year’s Brit Awards, with the first track on their album, “Inár gcroíthe go deo”, a tribute to the case. Bez Martin spoke about the importance of the Judgment, not just for her family, but for the wider community and said to those attending, “People like you, give people like us a voice”, reminding all of us of the important values of our profession.

NEW BUSINESS AMBASSADORS FOR MIDLANDS AIR AMBULANCE

Anne-Marie Eden has over 30 years of experience in people-centric roles having worked across property, construction, accountancy, legal , recruitment and a number of different services businesses and until last year as CEO of Solihull Moors FC, accumulating an impressive network of business contacts.

Anne-Marie is now working as “Chief Relationship Officer” within several property related companies, primarily to add value to existing clients’ businesses and to support them beyond just the day to day work and deepen long-term relationships, built on transparency. She is expertly connected to facilitate introductions and is on hand as an

additional point of contact to support as much or as little is required depending on clients business needs.

Outside of work, Anne-Marie has been playing orchestral flute for over 40 years, currently a member of The Peoples Orchestra in Birmingham. Anne-Marie has worked as a volunteer for 14 years for a Birmingham homeless charity , Birmingham Christmas Shelter. Recently Anne-Marie has been accepted to join the Organising Committee for the Midlands PROPS Awards, an annual awards event in Birmingham celebrating the successes within the property industry supporting “Variety the Childrens Charity”.

Omar Jones-Lewis is a solicitor in the Court of Protection team at Irwin Mitchell Solicitors. He specialises in areas of mental capacity and Court of Protection work including, supporting a range of

clients who do not have the capacity or ability to manage their assets and financial affairs, providing necessary support for adults and children who have suffered serious physical injuries or brain injuries.

Omar says, “The idea of helping people has always played a key role in my decision to get into law. The service provided by MAAC is imperative to the local community, a non-government funded charity that thrives on saving lives! I find myself in a privileged position where I can use my platform and connections to spread awareness of the great work done by the charity.”

L-R Back Row: Pat O’Neill (Chair of Birmingham Irish Association), Caroline Brogan (Solicitor), Professor Colin Harvey, Trudy McGroarty (Birmingham Irish Association) & Tony McDaid (Birmingham Law Society President). Front Row: Bez Martin (Margaret Keane’s daughter) & Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC (Barrister & Special Rapporteur to the Irish Government on Child Protection).

STATE OF THE SOLICITORS PII MARKET

improved this year than in recent years, be that with your existing Insurer or an alternative. During the recent hard market conditions the majority of law firms, quite rightly, stayed with their existing Insurer and whilst we are great advocates of continuity of Insurer, we also believe that it is prudent to periodically test the market. Therefore, this year is likely to be a good time to make that market check.

It is when the market starts to improve that the potential for leaving money on the table is greater, therefore, ensure that any market exercise undertaken by your Broker is transparent so you know which Insurers have been approached and what their response is, so you know that when you sign up for another renewal, you are signing up for the very best deal that is available. Ask your Broker whether they are tied to an exclusive deal with your Insurer or whether they are giving you a truly independent, balanced view of the market.

It is fair to say that over the past few years, almost all law firms have encountered significant increases in their Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) premiums writeJason Butcher and Blake Hynds of JMG Insurance.

As a law firm, we fully appreciate that the cost of PII sits certainly in your Top 5, if not Top 3 business expenses and any increase in the premium flows straight through to your bottom line. Therefore, controlling this cost is key.

However, for the first time for a number of years we have some better news in relation to PII. Whilst there remains a little uncertainty from the volatile wider economic conditions, it does seem that the tougher measures imposed by Insurers over the past few years, whilst unpalatable when paying the bill, have had the desired effect in stabilising the market.

The recent 1st April mini renewal season, where approximately 30% of law firms have their PII due for renewal, saw the majority of Insurers prepared to offer a flat rate, with any premium increases being purely in line with any increase in fee income.

Where Insurers have applied rate increases, these have been low single digit increases and have been applied to firms that predominantly practice in higher risk areas such as conveyancing.

As you would expect, the exception to the above are firms that have a

poor claims record where Insurers are still likely to seek above average rate increases.

As we approach the 1st October renewal season, we are expecting more of the same of what we saw in April. We are also seeing an increase in Insurers appetite for new business which will serve to create more competition which in turn naturally regulates premium.

There is also likely to be at least one new Participating Insurer in the Solicitors PII market by October. It is anticipated that at very least one of these Insurers will be in a position to underwrite business for 1st October renewals but as yet it remains to seen what their appetite will be in relation to law firms. Like any sensible new entrant to the market, we expect their initial approach to be ‘easy does it’ to ensure their sustainability in the market, so whilst new capacity is always very welcome, it is likely to be 2024 before the full effect of this will start to be felt.

So if your firm has it’s PII renewal due on 1st October, how should you approach this, given the market changes? Firstly, we must make clear that the softening in market conditions are very much in their infancy and so the chances of cutting great swathes of premium off last year’s bill is unlikely.

However, the chances of striking a better deal for your firm are much

We are also seeing that some Insurers are prepared to consider 18 month deals on a selective basis. Therefore, if you are interested in having an extended period, ask your Broker if this is available and what the terms of that extended deal would be.

As always, the quality of risk information is key so when submitting your proposal ensure that you include as much positive information about your firm’s processes and attitude to risk as possible, which will not only reinforce this message with your existing Insurers but also appeal to any potential Insurers.

If your PII renewal is indeed upcoming or if you would like advice or guidance on your PII placement, then please do not hesitate to contact us at JMG Professional Risks. Our team has been looking after the PII arrangements for law firms for decades and we ensure that our clients receive competitive premiums based on a balanced, independent view of the market. We are more than happy to advise on any issue that you may have. Our contact details are as follows;

Jason Butcher 07842 314297. Jason.butcher@jmginsurance.co.uk or Blake Hynds 07706 358603. Blake.hynds@jmginsurance.co.uk

Birmingham In-House Lawyers Legal Conference

Thursday 28th September | 3pm - 7.30pm | No5 Barristers’ Chambers | FREE for all In-House Lawyers

Gathering together all In-House Lawyers in an informative and resourceful environment to hear and learn from relevant experts and shared experiences that are specifically related to the work, challenges, behaviours and ethics of In-House Lawyers.

NEW HEAD OF CONTENTIOUS PROBATE ANNOUNCED

Mitra Mann, Head of Contentious Probate, commented: “I am delighted to join Sydney Mitchell which has a great reputation in the marketplace and a trusted firm with over 260 years in the legal arena.

What drew me to Sydney Mitchell is the firm’s focus on providing an excellent service to clients, career progression, maintaining a healthy work-life balance and ensuring that each and every employee feels they are a vital part of the business, all of which are key elements for a healthy and successful workplace.

Midlands Top Tier Award Winning law firm Sydney Mitchell LLP is delighted to announce that Mitra Mann has joined the firm as Head of Contentious Probate. Mitra joins the firm from Wright Hassall.

Mitra has over 17 years’ experience in dealing with litigation matters, including a wide range of contentious probate cases involving Will Disputes, Inheritance Act 1975 claims and disputed trusts and estates. She has also dealt with property disputes and professional negligence matters. In addition, she has extensive experience in Court of Protection matters and has assisted clients with a range of applications dealing with deputyship disputes, statutory Wills, financial abuse, restoring estates as well as health and welfare decisions.

Dean Parnell, Head of Litigation at Sydney Mitchell, commented: “We are delighted that Mitra has joined our excellent Contentious Probate team and there can be no doubt that with the addition of Mitra’s considerable legal expertise, enthusiasm and leadership we will continue to be seen as one of the best Contentious Probate teams within the region; this is such an exciting time for us.”

I very much look forward to working with my colleagues and contributing to the firm’s growing Contentious Probate and Court of Protection departments.”

Mitra is a recognised specialist author and has written several articles and is currently writing a book on “Gifting in the Court of Protection” which is due to be published by Law Brief Publishing Ltd by the end of 2023.

Mitra is also a trained Dementia Friends Champion dedicated to raising awareness on mental capacity issues locally and nationally. She has completed the ACTAPS (Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists) training course and is a Member of the STEP Mental Capacity Special Interest Groups (SIGs).

With her wealth of experience, Mitra has delivered presentations to local care homes, has appeared as a guest speaker at the Care Show (NEC, Birmingham) and has delivered legal training courses organised by Certainty (The National Will Register) and MBL (Management, Business, Law) Seminars.

IMMIGRATION TEAM EXPANSION AT SYDNEY MITCHELL

community (both within and outside the UK). Rajvinder is fluent in Punjabi and can understand Hindi.

Rajvinder has a particular interest in business immigration assisting clients with Innovator visa, Skilled Worker visas, Health and Care Worker visa, Graduate visa, Youth Mobility Scheme and India Young Professional Scheme, Global Talent visa, to name a few.

PRO BONO APPOINTMENT FOR CITY LAWYER

A lawyer from Bevan Brittan’s Birmingham office has been invited to join a prestigious national committee.

Senior Associate and clinical negligence expert Elena Goodfellow has joined the Attorney General’s Pro Bono Committee of England and Wales as part of her role as Chair of Birmingham Law Society’s Pro Bono Committee.

The Attorney General’s Pro Bono Committee meets twice a year in Parliament and encourages effective, collaborative, and coordinated legal pro bono work in England and Wales. Pro bono work is free legal advice provided in the public interest to individuals, charities or community groups who cannot afford to pay for legal help and cannot get legal aid or any other means of funding.

Elena’s invitation to join the national committee came from Solicitor General, Michael Tomlinson KC MP, who chairs the group. It also follows Elena’s recent shortlisting in the Pro Bono category of the Birmingham Law Society 2023 Legal Awards.

Bevan Brittan actively encourages its employees to undertake voluntary and pro bono work, while it also runs mentoring schemes with local schools and universities. In 2022/23 its lawyers undertook 350 hours of pro bono work, as well as 111 hours volunteering with law centres.

Sydney Mitchell LLP is pleased to announce that the team has expanded with the recruitment of Rajvinder Kaur, as an Associate Solicitor and Business Immigration Specialist. Rajvinder joins the firm from Axiom DWFM.

Rajvinder is a highly skilled solicitor with over 11 years’ experience in providing

expert immigration advice. Rajvinder can advise on both personal and business immigration matters.

Having previously worked for a boutique Chinese law firm in Central Birmingham and London, Rajvinder has successfully assisted clients from a range of backgrounds with different circumstances in the Indian

Rajvinder has also been instrumental in making immigration advice easily accessible by holding a number of immigration clinics in many inner-city communities across the Midlands. She is adept at providing a safe space for people worried about their legal status to talk and follow the correct legal channels to help their case.

Commenting on her appointment, Elena said: “Pro bono work is something I really care about and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to represent Birmingham Law Society on this national group.

“As a lawyer I have gained the knowledge and skills to handle problems that may occur in day to day life and pro bono work allows me to share that experience with others who may not be able to afford to pay for legal help. I’m lucky to work for a law firm like Bevan Brittan that is so supportive and encourages us to give back to the community.”

ROLE- Birmingham Law Society Board of Directors vacancies

We currently have vacancies for directors on the Board of BLS, and further vacancies will arise at the AGM in September.

Key responsibilities:

The Board is collectively responsible for the success of the Company. The Board’s role is to:

1. provide leadership of the Company within a framework of prudent and effective controls which enable risk to be assessed and managed;

2. set the Company’s strategic aims, ensure that the necessary financial and human resources are in place for the

ROLE- Birmingham Law Society Joint Honorary Secretary – two voluntary positions

Joint Honorary Secretary positions –two voluntary positions available from September 2023 – 1 year term followed by possible re-election

The role of the Honorary Secretaries is to:

• Be responsible for ensuring support for the President and Council;

• Undertake and assist the office of the Society in making arrangements for the Society’s Annual General Meeting, and Extraordinary General Meetings and Council meetings;

• Assist the President, Vice-President and Deputy Vice-President at the meetings of the Officers and Council.

Company to meet its objectives, and review management performance; and

3. set the Company’s values and standards and ensure that its obligations to its members, customers, suppliers, lenders, creditors, and other stakeholders are understood and met.

The term is initially 3 years, subject to renewal, and involves appointment as a statutory director. There are no specific director roles (other than the finance director and chair) and all the directors work together to deal with the executive business of the society. As you may well know, this is a different role to that of being a member of council, which as a result of structural changes last year now exists as a committee of the board headed by the president.

We welcome expressions of interest from members of the society, or external candidates who have skills to offer.

Please let Ben Henry or Andrew Beedham know if you would be interested in a director role or would like to discuss it further.

Contact details: If interested in the positions, please contact Chair@ birminghamlawsociety.co.uk and CEO@ birminghamlawsociety.co.uk

Closing date: 31st August 2023

The Honorary Secretaries’ key tasks are to:

• Provide secretarial support for Council meetings, ensuring the agenda and minutes are produced on time;

• Provide support for the Annual General Meeting for the Society and any Extraordinary General Meetings;

• Provide secretarial and administrative support for the Officers’ meetings;

• Liaise with the Society’s staff, where appropriate;

• Actively contribute in Council and Officers’ meetings to assist with the aims and objectives of the Society;

• Attend other associated meetings, where possible, for example, Joint V meetings;

• Actively be involved in the Society’s initiatives;

• Plan the annual cycle of Council and Officers’ meetings with the President, Vice-President and Deputy VicePresident;

• Work co-operatively with the other Honorary Secretary, to share the workload, and to ensure that cover is provided for these tasks and duties where necessary; and

• Provide any written reports as requested by the President.

Closing date: Close of business on 31st August 2023

If interested in the position, please email becky@birminghamlawsociety.co.uk

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES IN THE CONVEYANCING PROCESS AND HOW CAN IT BE IMPROVED?

At a glance planning due diligence

In an era defined by soaring consumer expectations and rapid technological advancements, the home buying and selling process finds itself struggling to keep pace. Landmark data reveals that the average time from instruction to completion takes 80% longer than it did in 2007, leaving buyers and sellers mired in frustration. But what is causing these delays, and how can the industry find a way forward asks Rob Gurney, Managing Director of Ochresoft, a Landmark Information Group company.

One area bearing the brunt of the challenges is conveyancing—the intricate legal process that ensures the smooth transfer of property ownership. So, what is it about conveyancing that causes delays?

Increasing responsibilities

contracts with the other side, creating a frustrating game of back-and-forth. This approach merely delays the inevitable, as conveyancers are left with no choice but to raise additional queries, elongating an already complex process. To put it into perspective, Landmark data shows the enquires process is now taking 115% longer when compared to 2007 (26 days in 2007 vs 56 days in 2022).

However, this intensified interaction between lawyers and clients, driven by an eagerness to progress the transaction, does precisely the opposite. Lawyers find themselves inundated with inquiries, leaving less time to devote to their caseloads. Each phone call or complaint chips away at the already stretched resources, further impeding progress.

The Solution

However, amidst these challenges there are solutions that will untangle conveyancing and transform it into a seamless process. The key lies in embracing change and harnessing technology. By involving property lawyers earlier when a property is listed, more upfront information can be collated earlier, allowing them to proactively prepare and complete contract packs. If complexities become apparent earlier in the process they can be addressed more readily and completely. This would put an end to today’s overly laborious back-and-forth exchanges and lay the groundwork for a truly efficient system. In fact, we have found from volume trials that it’s already possible to save four to six weeks simply by ordering the searches at the point of listing alone.

Over the years, the roles and responsibilities of conveyancers has dramatically increased in scope and conveyancers now find themselves shouldering an array of added responsibilities, from combating fraud to tackling issues like cladding and the now infamous Japanese knotweed. These mounting obligations have effectively doubled the number of checks they must undertake compared to 2007. However, despite the increased workload, conveyancing fees have failed to keep pace, resulting in a struggle to attract and retain top-tier talent in the field.

This is contrary to common belief that it’s the search requests which cause blockages in the transaction pipeline. According to Landmark's data, over the past 15 years the time it takes to receive search results has remained remarkably consistent. In 2022, the average turnaround time was 15 days, three days faster than in 2007. The intricate dance between lenders and conveyancers also contributes to the complexity. Each lender has their own set of requirements, creating a minefield for conveyancers. The stakes are high, as any misstep carries significant risks.

Our unique polygon data provides an accurate representation of a development’s potential impact for easy analysis and communication. Landmark products now incorporate daily updates to planning data providing the most current view of planning across Great Britain.

Of course, forthcoming changes to the Material Information requirements imposed by National Trading Standards could mean that lawyer interaction at the point of property listing soon becomes the new norm for conveyancing practices, so it is worth getting ahead of the curve and being one step ahead of the competition.

Consumer expectations

RiskView Residential is Landmark’s gold standard, all-in-one environmental search report, used by property lawyers to assess a wide range of potential hazards on behalf of prospective purchasers. These include flooding, ground stability, contaminated land, energy and infrastructure and now includes daily planning application updates and constraints data.

Counterproductive processes

Yet it is not just the scale of responsibility that is bogging down the conveyancing process. Interactions with other property professionals, and the pressure to advance transactions have given rise to counterproductive systems. In a bid to meet tight deadlines, sellers' lawyers often share incomplete

Compounding the challenges is the undeniable influence of the digital age. The rise of the click-and-buy culture has instilled a desire for immediacy, even when it comes to purchasing a home. Unfortunately, legal services have not been able to keep up with these heightened expectations. The task of keeping clients happy during a 5-month home buying and selling process becomes increasingly difficult as they anxiously seek updates and express their frustrations. The modern expectation for immediate information and constant communication adds pressure to conveyancers, emphasising the importance of streamlined and transparent processes.

Landmark Planning allows you to understand any nearby residential planning applications which might impact the property transaction. All the data within the report is supported by easy-to-understand guidance and next steps.

To find out more contact your Landmark Account Manager or search provider.

At Landmark, we believe it is time for the property sector to evolve, and the latest technology for data gathering and connecting transaction participants represents a future-proof approach to navigating the increasing complexities of the conveyancing process. We need to empower conveyancers and property professionals to navigate t the process efficiently and securely. By streamlining a property transaction through facilitating the sharing of the right information at the optimum time with all the right people, can all provide far improved speed and certainty to our industry and consumers alike.

Why you don’t just

need a

Climate Change Report, but the Landmark Climate Change Report?

You will not only find physical risks included, flood risk, subsidence, heat stress and coastal erosion but also transitional risks such as EPCs.

A report that helps commercial real estate lawyers and residential conveyancers deliver extra value. It’s intuitive and keeps your clients up to speed on the short, medium and long term physical and transitional climate-based risks with advice and recommendations for a specific property.

For more information, please get in touch at www.landmark.co.uk/products/climate-change

COMPARISON WEBSITES – DO YOUR SERVICES MEASURE UP?

providing independent reviews on legal services that consumers can access. At the moment, however, very few member of the public use DCTs to help them find a suitable law firm. Back in 2015, the LSB conducted a survey which found that just 1% of consumers buying legal services used a comparison site such as Trustpilot or Google.

To take a closer look at the use of DCTs and their potential usefulness, the SRA, the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, and CILEx Regulation ran a pilot scheme for a year between 2021 & 2022 looking at how comparison sites could potentially make improvements to encourage greater use by the public. Those who took part were 6000+ consumers, 264 law firms and a number of participating DCTs, the largest being Trustpilot but the majority being small specialist legal DCTs. A voluntary code of conduct was agreed with the DCTs for the trial period to give confidence to participating firms.

The key findings were these.

For many years, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and the Legal Services Board’s Consumer Panel have been pushing for consumers to have more publicly available information when they are choosing legal services writes

Jayne Willetts Solicitor Advocate and Bronwen Still Solicitor Consultant both of Jayne Willetts & Co Solicitors Limited.

In addition to costs information and an overview of the services available, they consider that an indicator of quality and service standards should also be included. It is becoming clear that Digital Comparison Tools, (DCTs), are seen by the CMA and the legal services regulators as the most obvious way to give clients the information they need when looking to instruct a firm. Many firms will have had no, or limited experience of DCTs, but this is changing and those who remain unaware of them and their impact may lose business as a consequence

The LSB and the approved legal regulators such as the SRA have to abide by the regulatory objectives set out in Part 1 of Legal Services Act 2007 and those relevant here are:.

1(c) improving access to justice;

(d) protecting and promoting the interests of consumers; and

(e) promoting competition (in legal services).

Evidence gathered over the years has shown that individuals and SMEs are reluctant to instruct law firms and, when they do, they have often been prejudiced because of the delay in doing so. This reluctance has largely been seen as a fear of the law and the legal system generally but, in particular, anxiety about costs and what to expect from lawyers.

The first major step by the SRA towards meeting these objectives was the Transparency Rules which came into force in 2018. These require firms to publish certain information on their websites. This includes details on prices for some common services, such as conveyancing and immigration work, what a service involves, likely timescales and the legal experience of those who do the work. Some firms also publish other information about the quality of their service, such as customer reviews. These rules do not, however, give consumers much help in gauging quality or making comparisons between firms other than in relation to costs. DCTs, it is believed, could be instrumental in bridging this information gap by

The public still rarely use DCTs to shop for legal services. Whilst 88% of those surveyed used them to shop for new services or products, only 22% used them for legal services. This is mainly due to lack of awareness that comparison sites for legal services exist.

In terms of price comparison sites, 24% said they were aware of them for legal services but only 12% had actually used them for this purpose.

Of firms who responded to the survey:

• 44% confirmed that they actively encouraged existing clients to post reviews about them – most commonly directing them to Google Reviews, ReviewSolicitors or Trustpilot.

• Of these, two-thirds use content on review sites to help attract new clients.

• Just under half of respondents routinely monitor the internet for reviews of their firm.

• 66% of the respondents that direct their clients to submit reviews confirm they use review websites.

• 50% take account of comments made in reviews as part of their employee reward and recognition approach.

Law firms were wary of price comparison sites because of the belief that this just encouraged a “race to the bottom”, especially without qualitative information, and that firms’ own websites were the place for this information to be provided.

RETENTION OF WOMEN IN LAW EVENT

The conclusion of this survey was that there are clear benefits for firms and consumers concerning the use of DCTs. However, it is early days and four main barriers were identified to their use. These were:

• a lack of public awareness

• the limited number of firms engaging with such sites

• the complex nature of legal services

• how infrequently individuals actually need to shop around for legal support.

There is also the issue of anonymity. Most clients would wish to remain anonymous because of the confidential nature of legal work making it more difficult to know whether the reviews are genuine. Damaging or even malicious reviews by dissatisfied clients engaged in complaints to the firm and/or the Legal Ombudsman would also be a challenge.

Finally, the elephant in the room –commerciality. DCTs are not charities. They exist to make a profit. Adverts, payments to appear as a preferred supplier on the comparison website and commissions secret or otherwise could muddy the waters of the trusted relationship between solicitor and client and possibly interest the SRA.

In conclusion, it is clear that the SRA and other regulators involved believe that the pilot scheme was a useful starting point. They intend to carry this research forward drawing other bodies such as the Legal Ombudsman, HM Land Registry and HM Courts and Tribunal Services into the picture. The desire is to see what information is already publicly available about firms and how it could be used. For those interested, the report of this pilot scheme is available on the SRA’s website.The SRA have also published other information on comparison sites, some of it aimed at the public in an effort to raise awareness of them.

In the meantime, firms might want to consider whether they could use DCTs in conjunction with their clients to promote the quality of their services. DCTs will not suit everyone. To take the insurance market as an example, some insurers such as Direct Line and NFU refuse to appear on comparison sites and plough their own marketing furrow in terms of their commercial offering and reputation and are very successful as a result. It will depend upon the nature of your business but it is worth thinking about as the regulators have it on their radar for the future. Forewarned is forearmed!

June saw some exciting developments in regard to the work we are doing within Birmingham to support the retention of women in the legal sector. Following the article that I wrote for our bulletin in Apr/May, an incredible panel gathered at No5 Barristers Chambers to discuss the issue in greater depth and share some best practices writes Rebecca Mander.

Tony McDaid and I were joined by Dipika Mistry (Shakespeare Martineau), Ian Jones (Spencer Shaw), Yetunde Dania (Trowers and Hamlins), Alex Bishop (Shoosmiths) and Emma Rush (Irwin Mitchell) for an evening of fascinating conversation and debate.

An overriding theme was intersectionality and how much greater the struggle is for women of an ethnic minority or those from less affluent socio-economic backgrounds, where there is surprisingly little data and more discussion to be had. It was so wonderful to see all the firms collaborating rather than competing on the playing field of gender parity and we are excited about the wider conversations that have ensued as a result of the evening.

So many of the audience were more junior lawyers who were grateful for the evening timings, as they would not have had the ability to leave the business during working hours. Feedback was of empowerment and inspiration listening to the panel and hearing from lawyers who were further ahead on their journey. Afterwards there were many powerful and insightful conversations, with many sharing experiences and advice with

each other. We have now achieved the start of a wider network and would welcome others to join us at future discussions.

Recently, I met with Catherine Edwards and Tony McDaid so we could ensure the conversation continues. We are planning another panel discussion later in the year and would love to reignite the Birmingham Law Society gender sub-committee with events and projects to promote the retention of women in the legal sector. The sub-committee is currently encouraging members and nonmembers to deliver copies of Judge Brenda - Equal to Everything (a children’s book about Lady Hale) to all primary schools within Birmingham. Deliveries will start again when term starts in September - feel free to join us as we still have 100 of the 259 to go!

Would you be interested in getting involved with either book deliveries or the gender sub-committee? If so, please register your interest using this QR code!

2023 BLS AWARD WINNERS CELEBRATE SUCCESS: PART2

LIBERTY GREEN

PARALEGAL OF THE YEAR

How have you celebrated your win? I would like to say a huge thank you to BLS as I still cannot quite believe that I have won this award. I celebrated the moment with some colleagues and later that week had dinner with close friends. It was a lovely opportunity to reflect on this achievement and express my gratitude to those who have supported me along the way.

Is there anyone that you would like to thank who has been instrumental in your success? I am sincerely grateful for the incredible support which has been provided by Andrew Forrest and my fantastic colleagues within the EPI and HR Rely teams at Weightmans. I would like to especially thank Ashley Powis whose mentorship, feedback and patience has been invaluable in helping me grow and succeed in my work.

If you had to make an elevator/twitter pitch about your day to day role what would it be? Being a Paralegal at Weightmans is an incredibly varied role as I work on a mixture of contentious and non-contentious matters. My job primarily includes providing advice directly to clients concerning the full spectrum of HR issues. Alongside this, I support and complete case management of Employment Tribunal claims, which includes but is not limited to, liaising with Tribunals, drafting of applications/witness statements, making telephone calls or holding virtual and/or in person client meetings, and requesting and reviewing evidence and providing advice. I also conduct my own advocacy at Employment Tribunal Hearings. Within my role I have some incredible opportunities, such as to provide secondment cover for clients acting as their in-house employment lawyer. I produced and presenting HR training directly to various clients both in person and virtually and I have also internally presented legal update presentations and worked with a team who pitch the firm’s products to clients. In summary - no two days are alike.

What has the pandemic taught you? As a Paralegal my biggest take away from the pandemic has been the importance of adaptability. Whether this be adapting to new working conditions, such as remote working and virtual Tribunal proceedings, to learning how to use new technology and platforms to communicate with colleagues and clients.

If you could create one new law what would it be? The Fair Remote Working Employment Act – This act would be aimed at promoting fair practices and providing additional protection for remote employees. I would ensure that the act includes provisions for 1) Equal treatment of remote employees: specifically, this would include equal pay, access to training and development opportunities, and the ability to participate in company cultural events. 2) Transparency: a key focus being on employers ensuring that remote employees have clear role expectations, performance tracking and access to career development opportunities. 3) The right to disconnect: this right would allow employees to disconnect outside of their working hours and outline that employers must respect and not penalise remote employees for not being available outside of their working hours.

What one thing do you think lawyers need to do to be better?

I believe lawyers should always be striving for better regarding corporate social responsibility (CSR). As a starting point I feel it is important to ensure that the following is continually under review: 1) The incorporation of CSR into the firm culture and ensuring the values have a core emphasis within the business strategies. 2) Adopting sustainable business practices to reduce a firm’s environmental footprint and advocating for environmental causes. 3) Supporting varied charitable causes though fundraising, providing access to resources and volunteering time which is invaluable.

FIONA FARREL SOLICTOR OF THE YEAR

How have you celebrated your win? In being nominated for Solicitor of the Year and undertaking the application process, it allowed me to self-reflect on why I am a lawyer, what drives me and how I can best serve the profession and community in which I practice. Ahead of my win, I therefore applied for a new role at Birmingham City University within their Law Clinic which combines a passion for legal practice, vocational training for the next generation of lawyers to enable much needed access to the profession and pro bono/ community work. My win was, therefore, followed by a change in roles which was cause for celebration but possible, in part, because of the fantastic support I had from my previous employer, Irwin Mitchell and the opportunity provided by Birmingham City University.

Is there anyone that you would like to thank who has been instrumental in your success? My family have played an essential role. Professionally, I have been lucky to be mentored by so many people throughout my career but a special mention to Nigel Mears who took a chance on a very green trainee, Mary Kaye who set an example in terms of pro bono/ community work, Zahra Pabani who was instrumental in mentoring me throughout my career (for which I am so thankful) and lastly (but by no means least) the Family Team at Irwin Mitchell- I am privileged to have worked with the best!

If you had to make an elevator/twitter pitch about your day to day role what would it be?

My new role involves supporting the students during their clinical education, enhancing their knowledge, skills and professional development through ‘doing’, growing the clinical offering, teaching, providing opportunities/ access to the legal profession, careers insight and developing our pro-bono/ community offering. I work closely with the Central England Law Centre and Support Through Court and we are looking to launch further pro bono clinics in the near future so watch this space!

What has the pandemic taught you? I need people! The pandemic taught me that as a lawyer you are only as good as your team and that colleagues, their wisdom, shared knowledge, sense of humour and care is a compelling reason to go to work.

If you could create one new law what would it be? I would create a law which would properly fund Legal Aid or an equivalent to assist reduce the staggering level of unmet legal need. Whilst we, as lawyers, often talk about the importance of providing access to justice and upholding the rule of law this often feels like an abstract concept.

In reality what it looks like is far more human, far more fundamental ; the right to liberty, the right to advocate for habitable housing, access to turning on your heating, fair benefits if you are unwell or disabled, recourse in terms of employment if you are treated unfairly, immigration status and access of children to parents, to name just a few. These are essentials and yet in times of crisis, when these fundamentals are at risk, millions of people have to face the complexities of the legal system alone. The CAB statistics are bleak and demonstrate the widening chasm between those who have and those who do not; those who feel that the justice system is for them as opposed to something they are subject to.

What one thing do you think lawyers need to do to be better? Managing expectation from the first meeting- there is no magic fix and Court rarely is the best outcome- find solutions and compromise where possible. Always consider ADR.

LSSA WHITE PAPER ON CONTINUING INVESTMENT HELPS LEGAL SOFTWARE BRING THE MAXIMUM BENEFITS TO LAW FIRMS

• Common pitfalls after purchase

• What to look out for when purchasing software

• An asset register for software and hardware

• A programme for regular training

• Risk and security

LSSA CEO Kevin Horlock comments: “Many law firms have been slow or reluctant to invest in technology which can reduce their costs, improve their efficiency and enhance the experience for their clients. Today’s clients want fast, responsive and attentive service - all at a lower price. Client loyalty is fragile and law firms which do not - or cannot - deliver speedy, high quality and cost-effective services to their clients will swiftly see their clients and their money move elsewhere. For that reason, a strategy to invest in legal technology is vital for all law firms.”

The Legal Software Suppliers Association (LSSA) has published a white paper for law firms which sets out what they should consider in order to gain the maximum benefits from their continuing investment in legal technology.

When law firms commit to a long-term investment in legal technology, they must regularly consider and review their infrastructure, physical and virtual assets and continued support and deployment. The LSSA white paper helps law firms understand how they can best mitigate risk, exploit business opportunities and ensure a return on their expenditure.

It focuses on six key areas:

In addition, as part of the LSSA’s ongoing collaboration with For Media Group, the Association has a pre-recorded, online seminar to accompany this white paper, which provides more detailed information and guidance. The online seminar is hosted by Tim Smith, former LSSA Chair, who is in discussion with expert panel members Elwyn Morgan of Timeslice Ltd, Angela Hesketh of Smoove and Bishu Solomon Girma of Access Legal. The panel discusses the six key areas to consider and actions to take to ensure the maximum ROI when investing in legal technology.

To download the white paper click here . The webinar is available to watch back here.

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY BUT A CALL TO ACTION TOO

We have been active as a committee with several events from our wonderful sub-committees from Pride in June to celebrating South Asian Heritage Month, but we are also trudging the streets of Birmingham to hand deliver copies of Judge Brenda, Equal To Everything. We pledged in 2021 to deliver a copy to every primary School in Birmingham and are over half way there. However, we still have 100 schools yet to receive their copy. PLEASE HELP!

Will you pledge to deliver a book to a primary school in Birmingham? There are full instructions available, just email me c.edwards@keele.ac.uk or follow this link Judge Brenda Primary School Book Project.xlsx or QR code to choose your school. I have added postcodes to make it easier to find the school locations closest to you. However, please be daring and go somewhere else too! Many of us now live in nice areas and so many of them have received books, but we want to help children in ALL areas of Birmingham to understand that your background does not define where you will go and that the legal profession is becoming more diverse. We also offer talks to schools on a range of topics so do choose to deliver a book somewhere new by the end of September!

We also held a wonderful event to discuss retention of women in the legal profession run by the talented Rebecca Mander. Everyone with an interest and commitment is welcome to join us in the gender sub-committee, just email me for details. We are also holding an online event with a new panel of speakers featuring junior lawyers on 21 September at 5.30pm. We are going to ask everyone to join us for a fun interactive session which will mean cameras on and be ready to talk whether by mic or chat functionality.

I hope to see you online on 21st and to see every school receive one of our Judge Brenda books by the end of September.

Catherine Edwards, Chair of the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Committee C.edwards@keele.ac.uk

8 TIPS FOR MANAGING LEGAL CASHIERING DURING

PEAK HOLIDAY PERIODS

For employees, holidays provide an opportunity to relax and recharge their batteries. But busy periods such as school breaks, Christmas, Easter and other holidays can also increase the workloads of law professionals and their staff.

One pivotal role that can leave law firms in such a lurch is the legal cashier. Keeping up with the increased volume of transactions while ensuring accuracy can be a daunting task.

To help you manage this busy period, Quill’s compiled eight essential tips to ensure your legal cashiering runs smoothly during peak holiday periods. From prioritising transactions to streamlining processes, these tips will help you stay on top of your workload and ensure your clients receive the best possible service. Don’t let the holiday rush overwhelm you – follow these tips and make the most of the upcoming summer season.

What is a legal cashier?

A legal cashier is a specialised type of bookkeeper for law firms responsible for the accounting and finance functions of a solicitor’s practice, including client and office accounts.

Legal cashiering plays a critical function within the law firm, ensuring the accurate and compliant handling of financial transactions, safeguarding client funds, and maintaining the financial integrity of the law firm or legal organisation.

What are the risks of losing your legal cashier?

When this skilled employee is on annual leave, sick leave or has left the position, law firms are at risk of service disruptions,

accounting errors or delays.

Read on to discover our top tips on how to manage staff holidays during busy periods, avoid stress and anxiety and, importantly, keep your legal practice running without disruption:

1. Plan in advance: Start planning for the holiday season well in advance to avoid the last-minute rush. Assess your staffing needs, estimate your expected volume of postings per month, evaluate workload patterns from previous years and determine the duration for which you’ll need outsourced support.

2. Identify a reliable outsourcing partner: Look for a reputable outsourcing company that specialises in legal cashiering support, like Quill. Evaluate their experience, expertise and track record in providing temporary staffing solutions. Assess how easily they can work with your existing legal accounts system and ask how they keep abreast of the latest financial regulation rules. Consider their ability to handle peak periods and ensure smooth cash management processes.

3. Establish clear communication channels: Effective communication is crucial when working with an outsourced team handling your money. Clearly define your expectations, standard operating procedures, service level agreements (SLAs) and reporting mechanisms. Provide detailed instructions regarding your electronic chits, reconciliation processes and any specific requirements unique to your business.

4. Handover, training and onboarding: Collaborate with the outsourcing partner to develop a comprehensive handover and plan. Ensure that you’ve communicated key details to your

temporary legal cashier and you feel confident that they understand your protocols, security measures and customer service standards. Conduct regular check-ins and provide ongoing support to address any questions or concerns.

5. Data security and confidentiality: Protecting sensitive financial information is vital. Ensure that the outsourcing partner has robust data security measures in place such as secure data transmission protocols, multi-factor authentication (MFA), encryption and access controls. Sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to safeguard your business and customers.

6. Regular performance monitoring: Implement a system to monitor the performance of the outsourced team. Define key performance indicators (KPIs) and establish reporting mechanisms to track their progress. Regularly review the team’s performance, provide feedback and address any issues promptly.

7. Contingency planning: Despite careful planning, unexpected situations can arise at any time of the year. Ensure your outsourcing provider has robust backup plans, redundancy measures and SLAs in place to ensure uninterrupted support, even during peak holiday periods. Better yet, see whether your outsourcing partner can let you purchase extra support days so you have a ‘bank’ of credit available to use when emergencies crop up.

8. Seamless integration: Integrate the outsourced cashiering team seamlessly into your existing operations. Provide them with the necessary access rights, systems and resources required to carry out their duties effectively. Foster a collaborative environment and encourage communication between your in-house and outsourced teams.

Remember, preparation is key to a successful holiday season. By leveraging temporary outsourced legal cashiering support, you can better manage increased demand, provide excellent customer service and ensure smooth operations during peak periods.

Further reading

Want to learn more about outsourced legal cashiering services? Read Quill’s ‘The ultimate guide to legal cashiering’ here . As the first legal cashiering provider to be a proud affiliate partner of the Law Society, discover Quill’s service here

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