Opportunities for solicitors in Yorkshire to apply judicial positions will be the topic of discussion at a free event in Leeds this Thursday.
A symposium to encourage solicitors in Yorkshire to apply for judicial appointment has been organised by the Law Society with the active support of local firm Addleshaw Goddard, in association with the Bar Council and the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx).
The event, to be hosted by law firm Addleshaw Goddard is aimed at lawyers who are interested in a career in the judiciary and is relevant to junior members of the profession and those with a number of years post qualification experience. The symposium is part of a wider drive to encourage candidates from under-represented groups to apply for judicial appointments.
As part of its commitment to promoting greater diversity in the judiciary, the Law Society is running a series of targeted events to raise awareness of opportunities in the judiciary. In addition to practical advice on the application and recruitment process, the session will provide encouragement from judges who have been through the process.
A pair of high profile speakers will lead the discussion at the event. Geraldine Clement from the Judicial Appointments Commission will lead the seminar and provide step by step guidance of how to make an effective application. She will be joined by a deputy district judge, Kamlesh Chahal, who will share her personal story, and offer practical advice.
Hosts Addleshaw Goddard, have already signed up to a Law Society campaign encouraging more senior solicitors to apply for judicial office. The initiative is part of an sector-wide drive to bring more solicitors into the judiciary. The campaign, launched by the Law Society with the support of the Solicitors Regulation Authority, invites firms to sign up to a 'declaration of commitment' to the promotion of judicial appointments.
Monica Burch, senior partner at Addleshaw Goddard said: 'Yorkshire's diverse legal community is one of its strengths, and as a key UK legal centre it delivers a wide talent pool of potential judges. We are committed to encouraging lawyers to join the judiciary, as a more diverse judicial system will better reflect the communities it serves.'
The free event offers 1.5 CPD hours and will take place on Thursday 15 November, from 18:30 to 20:00 with a reception from 20:00 to 20:30 at Addleshaw Goddard, Sovereign Street, Leeds, LS1 1HQ.
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Notes to editors:
The Law Society represents solicitors in England and Wales. The Bar Council represents barristers in England and Wales, and the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx), represents chartered legal executives in England and Wales.
Kamlesh Chahal was the senior solicitor at the Leeds Law Centre. In 2002 she was appointed as a fee paid legal member of the Mental Health Review Tribunal and also served as a chair of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal. In 2008 she was appointed as a deputy district judge. Since 2008 she has served as a salaried part-time judge of the First Tier Tribunal of the Health, Education and Social Care Chamber - Northern Region mental health jurisdiction.
Further information is available from the Law Society Press Office on 020 7320 5764, Bar Council Press Office on 020 7222 2525 or the CILEX Press Office on 01234 845 710.