A Lord Kitchener rallying cry from me this month.
I have not one, but two appeals to make to you. The first on behalf of the Leeds Law Society as a whole and the second, a related appeal regarding the Society's Annual Dinner being held at the Queens Hotel, Leeds, on Thursday, 8 March 2012.
During my term as President of the Society, it has often been said to me that I represent the second largest Law Society in England. Presumably, the largest being London. Now, I know not whether such a statement is accurate or not, as I have no idea as to the measure used or the scope of the survey made, but I do know that the number of members of the Leeds Law Society has remained fairly constant for some years now, and it would be wonderful if we could now improve on that. The Society has undergone substantial and rapid reorganisation in the last year or so and offers a vibrant, modern and informed service to its members. There are a host of new benefits in place and pending, and the new website is a major step forward.
Our catchment area for the Society is a large one and there are many lawyers working or living in the area but a large number choose not to join their local Law Society. Apathy? I have written previously on that topic in this column and I think that this curse is being slowly defeated. On my travels as President, I am regularly challenged as to Society policy and social maters so this evidences a clear interest in what is happening, and this month I received my first "anonymous" letter in response to one of my articles in this publication. Progress. Image? Many have an image of old libraries and lengthy discussions relating to areas of law that they have perhaps no connection to, such as personal injury law. The image is changing quickly, and I for one as a previous member of the apathy group and yet one quick to criticise but not willing to try and change, am delighted to have become more involved with my local Law Society. Please join and take part!!
Now to the Dinner. All is set for a terrific evening of good food, excellent wines and lots of fun on 8 March, 2012 at the Queens Hotel. The after-dinner speaker is very amusing and I promise it will not be a "stuffy legal night". Trust me, I'm a lawyer. Every booking helps to raise money which can then be put back into the Society to offer more events, more benefits and more information for its members. Please book a place, or two, or take a table!!
