The past few weeks have been incredibly busy, with some activities kept under wraps until April - how thrilling!
I attended the NJLD's Wind Down Wednesday event at Browne Jacobson on February 21st, and it was a fantastic gathering with engaging conversations among the members. It was there that I had the pleasure of meeting Bethany Mallet, the HR representative from Nelsons Solicitors. Bethany has been motivating the trainees and paralegals to participate in the upcoming Hammond Cup competition scheduled for March. Having HR's support for our legal competitions is crucial as it motivates trainees to participate, knowing they have the backing and encouragement from their firm.
The weekly Wind Down Wednesday evenings provide a great opportunity to interact with their expanding membership of the NJLD, and I am grateful to Browne Jacobson for their support in hosting this popular and regular event.
We are extremely lucky to have the ongoing backing of Nottingham Law School for our legal contests. Towards the end of February, we conducted two advocacy training sessions, to assist our Hammond Cup candidates in preparing for their initial round submissions. This year, we were thrilled to receive a remarkable number of entries for both Civil and Criminal applications, which has truly impressed us all. Advocacy, a legal field that often goes unnoticed in training, has garnered significant interest this year.
The initial stage of the Hammond Cup drew a large crowd and showcased some outstanding demonstrations of advocacy skills. We extend our gratitude to the judges of the first round for their valuable time, Jim Buckley from VHS Fletchers, Andrew Fitch-Holland from 1 High Pavement, Christine Doughty, past President (2002), Alwyn Jones, Fliss Campbell, Jane Ching and Jane Jarman from Nottingham Law School. Congratulations to the four finalists, who will go head-to-head at the Hammond Cup Final on Thursday 18th April.
On the 28th of February, a highly educational webinar was held featuring Dr. Wong from The Law Society. This online event attracted more than 30 participants from various parts of the East Midlands, delving into the fast-evolving use of artificial intelligence in the legal field.
The Society's close ties with The Law Society continue to strengthen as collaboration with various local law societies throughout England and Wales expands. In a virtual meeting on 1st March, 15 local law societies convened to exchange ideas, leading to individual consultations with the Incorporated Law Society of Preston and Newcastle Law Society. These sessions are aimed at enhancing the services provided to their respective members and supporting their officers in their own role development.
On Thursday 11th April, Nottinghamshire Law Society is organising a luncheon in Birmingham, with over 20 local law societies from across England and Wales meeting to enjoy an afternoon of conversation.
Locally, the organisers of Nottinghamshire, Derby & District, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Law Societies, are meeting regularly to begin planning cross county events. The meetings with Julia Saunders (Derby), Carolyn Coles (Northamptonshire) and Charlotte Anderson (Leicestershire) are excellent soundboards of creativity, sharing of ideas and showing support to each other, in what is a unique role.
On Sunday, March 3rd, I had the privilege of attending the Legal Service at St. Mary's Church, nestled in the historic Lace Market. This annual ceremony of thanksgiving, presided over by the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, never fails to stir emotions and provides an excellent occasion to mingle with old friends and associates from the legal field.
In the first week of March, numerous meetings took place involving Owen Davies from Severn Trent Water Searches, Helen Fanning, MJC Law, and Sally Denton from Nottingham Law Centre.
It was my first visit to the Nottingham Law Centre, where I gained insight into the extensive work, they carry out for the residents of Nottingham. Sally explained the Centre's funding sources and appealed for the Society and its members' assistance to navigate through a financial setback stemming from recent actions by the local authority. The March bulletin focuses on the Centre's activities and seeks your support to help them overcome their current financial challenges.
Sporting events are starting to populate the schedule, kicking off with the Francis Reeson Squash Tournament on Friday, March 8th. The tournament showcased some impressive squash matches, making the final particularly exciting to watch. It was also a pleasure to meet Francis Reeson in person.
In addition to the squash tournament, the Society calendar is also filling up with various cricket matches scheduled for June and July.
To keep our members active, we have the Nottingham Legal Walk planned for Wednesday, June 19th. The event is currently in the works, and we will provide registration links once they are available.
We concluded the last week with our Networking Lunch in the elegant surroundings of the Cosy Club in Nottingham. It was encouraging to see such a robust attendance, including some who were joining us for the first time. These networking lunches that we organise throughout the county, aim to give all our members a platform to engage and form connections. Don't overlook the opportunity to be a part of our next gathering!
So, what's on the horizon?
Upcoming is the John Pearce Quiz on Wednesday 20th March, with an impressive turnout of over 40 teams. The questions for the event will be prepared by the 2023 Champions, VHS Fletchers, promising an exciting evening dedicated to raising funds for Emmanuel House.
The Nottinghamshire Law Society is highly active, and our members can expect an even better calendar of events as we progress to celebrating 150 years in 2025. If you have any suggestions for future events, please don't hesitate to reach out as we value your input.
Best wishes,
Michelle Foster
Head of Operations
Nottinghamshire Law Society