June was a big month for the Nottinghamshire Law Society. On Friday 6th June, we gathered at Clever & Wake to mark a major milestone — the 150th anniversary of our Society. It was a nerve-racking but proud moment for me to host such a significant event in my very first month as President, and I sincerely hope I did the night justice.
We welcomed a wonderful gathering of guests, including many of the Society’s Past Presidents. A personal highlight of the evening was a video presentation featuring several of them reminiscing about their time in office; sharing what they had achieved, what they enjoyed most, and how the Society had evolved. It was a pleasure to thank them all for their leadership, service, and the lasting legacy that each of them helped shape. It was a true reminder that our Society is not just about the law, but it’s about people.
Following dinner, we were fortunate to hear from our guest speaker, HHJ Wendy Josephs KC, author of Rough Justice. She delivered an engaging and thought-provoking speech on the state of our criminal justice system and the vital importance of investing in crime prevention.
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We combined our 150th celebration with a twinning weekend and had the pleasure of hosting delegates from Karlsruhe and Ghent. A huge thank you to our brilliant International Committee for organising a packed and memorable programme. We kicked off on Thursday evening with a welcome dinner at Fothergills, perfectly positioned by Nottingham Castle. On Friday, our guests enjoyed a tour of Boots' archives, followed by a visit to Trent Bridge, where we made a valiant attempt to explain the rules of cricket! On Saturday, we met at Wollaton Hall for a private tour and a delicious picnic, which, thankfully, the rain did not interrupt.
I’d also like to thank our Vice-President, Drew Dennis, for representing the Society at the Leicestershire Law Society Annual Dinner on my behalf, due to a diary clash. I’m told he’s never shy of a photo opportunity — so here’s one from the evening!
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As I write, I’m looking ahead to my first Council meeting as President. We'll be meeting in person at Cooper; a step towards reigniting more face-to-face gatherings and giving us the chance to connect more informally.
Here’s to a fantastic year ahead for the Society and thank you all for being part of it.
Marie Dancer
President 2025-2026