Kate Mahon explains how the Private Client Section is aiming to improve the diversity of its content, contributors and membership
Our annual conference, which took place virtually on 1 and 2 July, was a huge success. I want to thank all our speakers and the Private Client Section (PCS) committee members, who volunteer so much of their time to ensure an event like this is relevant and useful to you. In addition, none of it could happen without the enormous contribution from the Law Society’s events team, Jenny McClaren in particular, who has the patience of a saint and always remains calm in a crisis – thank you, Jenny!
If you are not sure what you missed, then the September special edition of PS will contain write-ups of the various workshops and plenary sessions from the day.
We still have a number of events coming up, including a webinar (included in your PCS membership) on the rights of the elder person by Cate Searle of Martin Searle Solicitors, due in September (please keep an eye on the PCS website for the confirmed date), as well as our virtual Older and vulnerable client care conference, which is due to take place on 20 and 21 October. You will receive a discount on the booking fee as a PCS member.
One of my goals as chair of the PCS is to increase diversity within our committee, our pool of contributors, and our membership. We are in discussions with the Law Society’s diversity and inclusion specialists to help us, and we will be engaging with the Law Society’s Ethnic and Minority Lawyers Division, Women Lawyers Division, Lawyers with Disabilities Division and the LGBT+ Division, to better understand how we can increase diversity.
As a committee, we are aware that we have limited scope in who we ask to contribute to the PCS offering, as this often relies on who committee members know or have engaged with. If you, or anyone you know, would be interested in contributing to the PCS, either by writing articles or speaking at our events, then please get in touch with Nicola Darfoor, business and content manager at the Law Society, at nicola.darfoor@lawsociety.org.uk.
Similarly, if there are any topics that you would like us to cover, whether as an article in this magazine, a webinar, or part of our annual conferences, please do let us know.
I hope you are all going to take some time away from your desks and offices over the summer for a well-earned break. Although many destinations in the UK will be busier than usual, with foreign travel still experiencing disruption with the ever-changing rules, at least we will be doing our bit to bolster our economy and help those businesses that have really struggled during the pandemic.
I wish you all safe travels, wherever you are off to, and that the weather is kind.
