President’s Address

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Firstly, may I take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. As I sit down to write my column on a cold December afternoon, the news is rather gloomy, another variant of Covid -19 more transmissible than before, talk of another circuit breaker, additional measures, a full lockdown? And then a well-known Oasis song comes on the radio, urging us not to “look back in anger,” so true, I think, we can’t change anything that has happened, but we can try to look forward to 2022 with hope of a brighter future.

And there is plenty to look forward to; the Lord Chancellor has announced that there will be a review of the Human Rights Act, by bringing in a “Bill of Rights” which will no doubt be hotly debated in the months to come; after 25 years of freezes and cuts it seems that criminal legal aid rates will finally be increased; and the Consultation is now open regarding the closure of the Solicitors Indemnity Fund and BLS will be responding to the Consultation on behalf of our members. We have a number of exciting events planned for 2022, including the Legal Awards on 31 March. With everything crossed, we hope to be able to present the awards in person to some of our most talented and worthy lawyers and this year we have two new awards, one for InHouse Counsel and the other for equality, diversity and inclusion. If you haven’t already completed your nominations then please hurry as the closing date is 10 January.

As well as the usual training and networking events, we are proposing a Wellbeing event for all members, looking at wellbeing from both an employer and employee perspective, something that is in my opinion long overdue. Plans are well underway for the Big Debate and the “Alternative Dinner” in June for junior members. Details of all of our events will be circulated soon.

You will be hearing much more about my chosen charities over the next few months: Walk the Walk and Sifa Fireside. I do hope that you find the article on the history of Walk the Walk, the brainchild of Nina Barough CBE interesting and informative. The Officers are ready to start training early in the new year to complete the marathon walks in London and Scotland to help raise vital funds for the charity - wish us luck! Sifa Fireside is a very different charity, which as well as needing funds and support, also needs donations of clothing, nonperishable food and toiletries. They are putting together a really exciting calendar of events that everyone can get involved with during 2022, and I am hopeful that by the time you read this, I will have spent time at the centre on 30 December.

And no update would be complete without a mention for the Commonwealth Games due to take place in Birmingham in July 2022. I am extremely proud that the games will be hosted in my home city and sincerely hope that as many of us as possible can get to be part of that experience. I will shortly be calling for volunteers to be part of a legal advice clinic to run throughout the games to assist athletes with any legal issues they may have whilst in Birmingham. To be part of that will, for many, be a once in a lifetime experience. Immediately before the games, Birmingham Law Society is welcoming a delegation of Commonwealth Lawyers, who have chosen to have their conference in Birmingham.

I do hope that you enjoy the articles and tips we have for you this month, in particular, the “Top Ten Compliance tips” from Jayne Willetts, the wonderful article from Jude Jennison on “Challenging Team Behaviour”, a very sobering article on the “Great Employee Resignation” as well as a fantastic insight from life coach, Rebecca Mander

So as you will see, there is a lot going on. It didn’t take much for me to focus on the positive and as we begin a new year, I would urge you to do the same.

Stephanie Perraton, President of Birmingham Law Society.

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