The Law Society’s deputy vice president: “I'm an unashamed geek – I do coding to relax!”
I am an unashamed geek – I do coding to relax! In my spare time, I beta test software for big companies and build computers at home. As my career has moved forward, I’ve gravitated to the areas where law and technology come together.
I’ve been involved with the building of digital justice systems and the Online Procedure Rule Committee. The latter was established under the Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 to improve access to justice through digital technology in the tribunals, civil and family courts and the pre-action space.
In the future, a good lawyer will be one who knows about artificial intelligence (AI) and understands its strengths and weaknesses. AI is like a very talented research assistant that allows lawyers to be more responsive. But for all AI’s virtues, checks and balances from a lawyer are essential to spot hallucinations. It can’t be fully trusted.
This year’s bicentenary is an opportunity to celebrate the profession, but it’s also a time to plan ahead. We're moving into an era where the digitisation of court systems is becoming the norm. We need to work hard as an organisation to make sure solicitors are at the heart of delivering access to justice within that system.
The Law Society needs to get the profession in a fit state for digitisation to maintain our pre-eminent position as part of the justice system. We need to make sure we influence how it is built and our role as solicitors is recognised in it.
Watch to find out why the “nuts and bolts” of tech are so fascinating:
I’ve spent my career working as a consultant in personal injury law. It’s great to help people who’ve experienced serious injury get better opportunities. It’s important to remember that being a solicitor is really about helping clients in need.
Consultancy can be fun because you have the freedom to pick the things you want to work on. But that can be dangerous, because the things you want to do don't always pay the bills!
To anyone contemplating the consultancy route – you have to be very honest with yourself. You must be prepared to look in the mirror and acknowledge when you’re not doing something well.
In a firm, you have colleagues to talk to, but when you’re a consultant you don’t have access to the same support. You need someone who can honestly tell you where you’re going wrong. Membership organisations are fantastic support system for consultants.
Watch to find out why it's important for lawyers to be “brave and challenging”:
Joining the Law Society’s Council was a natural progression for me. I’d previously been the president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers. I joined Council as the representative of personal injury lawyers.
Once I got into Council, it became apparent it's a really important place to be. Council members are a voice for the profession. But they also have a real opportunity – and a responsibility – to deliver on change that is actually progress, rather than change for change’s sake. When you are able to deliver change for the profession, or change for individuals who really need our help – the most vulnerable in society – it becomes apparent you’re doing something really worthwhile.
Now I’m an office holder, one of the honours is attending admission ceremonies. They’re a great opportunity to welcome new solicitors into our family and show our heritage and values.
The most interesting aspect for me is meeting the people who decided later on in their career to come to an admission ceremony. There’s always an opportunity for solicitors at any stage of their career to find out what the Law Society is about and what we do for solicitors.
During my time in office, I want to promote a subject that’s close to my heart: diversity, equality and inclusion. I am the proud father of a disabled daughter who is at university studying common law and politics. She's set on joining the profession so for me, it’s important that diversity continues to be part of our core goals and strategy.
Diversity conversations must cover all the points on the wheel rather than one or two ‘specialist subjects’. When you look at disability in law there has been progress – but there’s more to be done.
In 2015, there were 3% lawyers with disabilities in firms, and now that figure is around 6%. I’d love that percentage to rise to 16% in line with national figures. I want to support the Law Society's work in this space while I'm president.
Find out more about Council
As we look towards the future of our profession, your voice is more important than ever.
By putting yourself forward to stand for election to our Council, you could have the opportunity to champion the issues that matter most to you, at a national level.
You have until 12pm on Monday 14 May – stand for Council today.