Ex-Liverpool Law Soc president champions the region’s lawyers once more

2009 Liverpool Law Society President and Weightmans Partner Charlie Jones has jumped straight into a new role...

...this time to champion the region’s legal community as one of the two Merseyside and District representatives on the Law Society Council.

Charlie put himself forward for the role after the region’s long-standing representative Andrew Holroyd CBE announced his retirement in December.

Charlie said of his predecessor: “Andrew is an impossible act to follow - he has served both the national and regional legal communities extremely well and so this appointment is really a double-edged sword for me. Nonetheless I’ll endeavour to carry on Andrew’s great work as I take on the role until the end of the term in July 2012. I should also like to thank Andrew for nominating me.”

Charlie will represent the region’s firms and law societies at national council meetings. “If I only achieve one thing in this role, it should be to strengthen the link between the national Law Society and Merseyside’s regional societies. Historically, this has been somewhat of a challenge and, although great improvements have already been made, I would like to see a more cohesive approach.”

It will be no easy ride, with significant upheaval expected in the wake of the Legal Services Act reform implementation: “The Legal Services Acts comes fully into force during my term and will no doubt bring a whole range of new challenges for the region’s firms to grapple with – not least the introduction of alternative business structures.

“These reforms will throw up all kinds of issues for law firms on a national and regional level; questions such as how a body like the Law Society will regulate firms where non-lawyers are an integral part of the management structure will need to be considered and answered.”