-large.jpg)
Where did April disappear to?
Another month has flown by, and I find myself wondering—where is all the time going? Thankfully, the sunshine is here to lift our spirits and top up our vitamin D!
April was packed with highlights, including our incredible Annual Awards Dinner, where we proudly raised £11,591.75 for Lauren’s charity, Harmless and The Tomorrow Project. After the celebrations, it was straight into planning for the Annual General Meeting.
Before heading off on a well-deserved break to Rome, we had the pleasure of hosting the Hammond Cup Final at Nottingham Trent University. Four outstanding finalists showcased their advocacy talents in a challenging criminal case, judged by HHJ Coe KC, HHJ Coupland, and HHJ Owen. Thank you to everyone involved in the competition, great team-work!
The standard was incredibly high, and the competition was tight—but after careful deliberation, our distinguished judges named Claudia James from the Crown Prosecution Service as the Hammond Cup Winner for 2025!
A huge thank you to all our brilliant finalists:
- Amelia Trem – Castle Gate Chambers
- Cameron Byrne – Crown Prosecution Service
- Olivia Hopewell – Property Management Services Ltd
You were all truly superb, and we’re so proud of your performances!
-large.jpg)
On Friday, 9th May, I had the pleasure of attending the hybrid Townhall Conference at The Law Society in London. It was a fantastic opportunity to highlight the ways in which Nottinghamshire Law Society is supporting its members, while also connecting with fellow law societies and introducing them to the vibrant new legal community we’ve been building.
The day also offered a fascinating glimpse into legal history, with a guided tour of the Inner Temple, Middle Temple, and Outer Temple—all just a stone’s throw from Chancery Lane. A particular highlight was the insightful ‘fireside chat’ with Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC, which added to what was an inspiring day.
-large.jpg)
-large.jpg)
-large.jpg)
-large.jpg)
Next up was our AGM on Tuesday, 13th May, expertly chaired by President Lauren Crow. Lauren has led an inspiring year—passionately championing Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, and even taking on the challenge of a charity skydive in March. It’s been a true privilege to work alongside her on so many impactful projects and fundraising efforts.
The AGM was a full house, with not a single seat left empty. It’s always a special evening to reflect on the Society’s achievements over the past year—and when captured in photos, the scale of what we’ve accomplished is truly remarkable!
The evening featured presentations and celebrations of our legal competitions, followed by the official handover to our new President for 2025–2026, Marie Dancer. Marie has chosen The Wolfpack Project as her charity for the year—a fantastic local initiative supporting those experiencing loneliness. We look forward to learning more about this important cause in the months ahead.
So, what is happening next?…
As you may know, we’re proudly celebrating our 150th Anniversary this year, and the first official event to mark this milestone will be our Anniversary Dinner at Cleaver & Wake on Friday, 6th June.
We’re honoured to welcome Her Honour Judge Wendy Joseph KC as our guest speaker for the evening. Until March 2022, HHJ Wendy Joseph KC served as a judge at the Old Bailey, presiding over serious criminal cases including murder and other homicides. A Cambridge graduate in English and Law, she was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in 1975, took silk in 1998, and served as a full-time judge from 2007 to 2022. When she joined the Old Bailey in 2012, she was the only woman among sixteen judges—and only the third woman in history to hold a permanent position there.
This will be a bespoke and exclusive dinner with limited availability, so if you’d like to attend, please book early to secure your place.
Thank you to our event sponsors, Actons Solicitors, Gateley Legal, KCH Garden Square, Eversheds Sutherland, Ashton Bond Gigg, Browne Jacobson and Richard Nelson LLP, for supporting this milestone event.
The dinner also coincides with our international twinning weekend, where we’ll be joined by our legal colleagues from Karlsruhe and Ghent. A full programme of events will be shared soon, with festivities running from Thursday 5th June to Sunday 8th June—so stay tuned for more details and get ready to enjoy a fantastic few days in Nottingham!
-large.jpg)
Coming up this June, is the Nottingham Legal Community Walk, where we’ll be raising vital funds to support access to justice. This year, all proceeds will go directly to our local pro bono legal advice centre—Nottingham Law Centre.
The walk takes place on Wednesday, 18th June, and we’d love for you to get involved!
You can register your walking team here: Nottingham Legal Community Walk 2025
-large.jpg)
We’re gearing up for cricket season, and two exciting fixtures are already lined up!
- Thursday, 31st July – The NLS Cricket Team will go head-to-head with the NHS QMC Medics
- Thursday, 28th August – The much-anticipated Battle of the A52 returns in Attenborough, as we take on the Derby & District Law Society
Why not make the most of the summer evenings and come along to support the team? Whether you're a cricket fan or just fancy a relaxed evening with colleagues and friends, we’d love to see you there!
Keep an eye on our website over the coming months, as we’ll be adding even more events to the calendar. There’s plenty to get involved in, and we truly believe there’s something for everyone. Whether you're looking to connect, learn, or simply enjoy the experience—there’s so much to gain by taking part!
In the meantime, enjoy these sunny days,
Best wishes,
-large.jpg)
Michelle Foster
Head of Operations
Nottinghamshire Law Society