The Law Society has inaugurated Mark Evans as the 181st president with Brett Dixon, vice president and Dana Denis-Smith, deputy vice president. Evans has spent the last 12 months as vice-president to incumbent Richard Atkinson.
A proud Welshman, Evans is the third Law Society president to come from Wales and through his tenure said he intends to support the next generation of solicitors at the start of their careers, regardless of their background.
Commenting on his appointment, Mark Evans said:
“I am honoured to serve as Law Society president as we round out our bicentennial year. During my presidential year I look forward to championing the profession in England and Wales and demonstrating to the next generation that there is a place for them in the legal sector. I will also encourage our members to look to the future with aspiration, confidence and optimism.
“As president, I will raise awareness of ‘legal deserts’ across England and Wales, where solicitor numbers are declining and communities are struggling to access legal advice and justice. To help address this, I want to highlight non-traditional routes into the profession and help to equip small and medium-sized law firms with the tools they need to ensure access to justice.”
A property lawyer by trade and having spent 28 years in practice, Evans moved into lecturing at the University of Law. He has been involved with regional and national Law Societies since 2010, leading the Cheshire and North Wales Law Society as president in 2014 and serving as chair of the Wales Committee. In 2015, he joined the Law Society of England and Wales as the council member for North Wales.
According to the Law Society’s Annual Statistics Report 2023, 33,000 solicitors are expected to be admitted to the profession by 2027 with Evans keen to inspire the next generation by enhancing the quality and standards of legal education and training. “There are still significant challenges for prospective solicitors, particularly for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.” he said adding he wanted to raise awareness of the myriad routes into the profession in 2025 and create better pathways for those who aspire to be solicitors.
“It is critical that aspiring solicitors in Wales have access to the same opportunities as those in England. This year, I will continue to urge the Welsh government to match the offer available to young people in England and fund the level 7 apprenticeship so students can stay and train in Wales, therefore reducing legal deserts.
“The focus on legal services in the UK government’s Industrial Strategy is also welcome. We now need to hold the government accountable on its commitment to technology, so firms of all sizes can access the skilled workforce they need to thrive as the sector continues to move forward.”
Having hosted last year’s Special General Meeting, convened after the furore surrounding the release of an updated fifth edition of the TA6 property information protocol form, Evans is well aware of the importance of having an active membership, keen to shape ‘decisions that affect their day-to-day practice.’ To that end he will champion the Law Society’s ‘Get Involved’ strategy which will be launched later this year and encourage members to participate in the Member Advisory Forum to share their opinions and expertise with the Law Society and gain recognition at local and national levels for their contributions to the profession.
“Solicitors are part of a diverse community, with many volunteering their time to strengthen the profession locally and nationally. As president I want to recognise those contributions and to inspire more solicitors to raise their voices and help shape the future of the profession.”
Evans, an active and keen runner, last year launched LegalRunner, a LinkedIn group encouraging people to run as part of efforts to improve mental health and wellbeing; a cause close to his heart and an active part of his work as president. He will work with sector partners to speak out on mental health and wellbeing and to support solicitors in managing their own welfare. The most recent Life in the Law survey published last week by charity LawCare suggested more than half of lawyers said they anticipated leaving their role within the next five years, and a third said they anticipated leaving the legal sector completely.
Adding his own thoughts Evans said
“Long hours, high workloads and client care can have an impact on solicitors. It is critical that we continue the conversation about mental health and wellbeing and ensure that it is not stigmatised.
“This year, I aim to support solicitors by holding crucial discussions on wellbeing across the legal sector and by engaging with local law societies, communities and networks to ensure we are united in prioritising our members’ welfare.
“I will champion solicitor wellbeing, encourage the profession to become more inclusive and to provide the support that solicitors need to thrive.”
