President perspectives: Michael Napier
During your presidency, what was your biggest highlight?
Holding (with kid gloves) the 200-year-old minute book which records the meeting in a Fleet Street pub on 2 June 1825, when seven attorneys founded the Law Society.
The celebrations to mark the 175th anniversary coincided with my year as president – and I wish the current president every success in celebrating the bicentenary.
The 200-year-old minute book which records the founding of the Law Society.
What was the biggest challenge you and the Law Society faced during the year?
In 2000, after a highly turbulent period internally and externally, the main challenge was to stabilise the Law Society, to re-engage with the profession at large, and strengthen relations with the government and other stakeholders.
What was the biggest success during your year?
The so-called ‘Napier Reforms’. These stabilised the internal governance of the Law Society, including the introduction of seats on the Council for lay members, specialist groups and trainees – and made sure future office holders would be appointed by an electoral college of Council members.
Also, we negotiated with the lord chancellor long-overdue increases in legal aid rates for crime and family law.
We promoted a Council motion of support for an aspirational number of annual hours to be spent by solicitors engaging in pro bono activity.
Michael Napier attending formal events.
What was the biggest surprise during the year?
A last-minute surprise request to stand in for Tony Blair on the stage of the Royal Albert Hall.
I informed the assembled conference of the American Bar Association that because the prime minister's car was delayed, it would be my pleasure instead, as president of the Law Society, to deliver the opening remarks welcoming the delegates to London.
What three words would you use to describe your time as president?
Pro bono publico.
As we celebrate our bicentenary, we look back at the experiences of some of the former presidents of the Law Society.
Presidents are elected office holders who have acted as our main ambassadors and represented the organisation at home and abroad.
Learn more about our past presidents.
Why the rule of law matters to us all
Around the world, the rules and laws that should protect everyone equally, no matter who they are, are being challenged and ignored.
Join us for an in-conversation event on 9 September, chaired by journalist and presenter Emily Maitlis. We’ll talk about how the UK protects these rules so everyone is treated fairly.
Book your free ticket to the in-conversation event
200 years of legal milestones
Discover the stories of solicitors, past and present, and the key moments in the development of the legal profession in England and Wales from the last two centuries with our digital exhibition.