It’s today (05/07/18) been revealed that Christina Blacklaws has taken office as the 174th president of the Law Society of England and Wales today in a ceremony at Chancery Lane, London.
“I’m delighted, honoured and humbled to take up the presidency at such a pivotal time for our profession and, indeed, our society,” Ms Blacklaws said.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to make positive change and I promise I will work tirelessly to achieve it.”
As the fifth woman to hold office as president, Ms Blacklaws has made empowering women in the legal profession one of her major priorities for the year. This year for the first time, women solicitors outnumber male solicitors.
She has committed to holding 100 roundtables which will focus on ways to achieve gender equality and further women’s representation in leadership roles in the profession.
Promoting the use of emerging technology will also be at the forefront this year, as she chairs a public policy commission examining the impact of technology and data on human rights and justice.
Ms Blacklaws has also committed to continuing the Law Society’s campaign for proper funding of the justice system, with the reintroduction of legal aid for early advice a priority.
The president holds office for a one-year term as the senior representative of the solicitors’ profession in England and Wales. The president also chairs the Law Society council, the governing body of the Society.
