Ben Holt, BLS President, Legal Life May Update

Posted on28 April 2020

We are now a month into lockdown and after the initial focus by firms on re-adjusting to the whole workforce remote working, the focus is firmly back on business and how we operate effectively within the confines of the lockdown rules.

BLS have been liaising on a weekly basis with other large law societies and the national Law Society, ensuring that updates across the legal profession are disseminated to members and that member issues are being raised and addressed where possible on a regional and national platform.

Whilst our events have taken a back seat this last month, we are looking at new ways to engage with our members and in our representative capacity we have met with local Managing Partners to discuss the impact of the crisis and plan more virtual roundtables with HR and IT teams amongst others.

Our work on Community Engagement continues with a cross firm meeting held last week and a discussion about how firms can continue their work and collaborations in the current climate when the need is perhaps never greater.

I also hosted a very useful and well attended meeting organised by BLS with HHJs Cotter, Russen and Matthews for local litigators earlier this month ago to encourage a two-way discussion of court practices and procedures during this difficult time. You can read the salient points here

In the meantime if there are any issues that members wish to raise with us please do not hesitate to contact us via President@bristollawsociety.com or via our Head of Operations, Helen Read at helen.read@bristollawsociety.com

Best wishes Ben Holt, President, BLS

Burges Salmon has been an enthusiastic supporter of BLS for many years. BLS provides a valuable role in uniting and promoting the whole of the legal sector across Bristol to benefit both its members and the city. It facilitates collaboration across the sector to ensure that we can all make a difference. Whether that is driving important initiatives in, for example, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and the use of new technologies, liaising with stakeholders and charities in our wider community or providing training to generations of lawyers, the service and support provided by BLS is invaluable. More recently BLS has taken a lead on promoting Bristol’s legal brand, encouraging legal and business services talent to come to the city, which in turn attracts clients and inward investment to our thriving and vibrant commercial community. BLS breaks down barriers and brings those in the profession together for the greater good. We are proud of our long-standing association with BLS.
Roger Bull - Managing Partner, Burges Salmon
Three things to say about my experience of working with Bristol Law Society. Their central team, council members and general hangers-on are just about the nicest, most generous group of people working in the legal sector today. The numerous events, awards, socials and conferences I’ve had the pleasure to attend over the years have been, without exception, top quality and supremely organised. And, thirdly, they consistently exceed and challenge the boundaries of what lawyers might assume a regional Law Society will restrict activities to – from a hugely successful charitable school meals drive to corporate social responsibility and diversity campaigns to being joint architects and coordinators of the region’s unique Bristol+BathLegalTech group, which it has been my privilege to co-chair for the last five years.
Chris Bull - Principal, Edge International
As one of the leading Insurance brokers for law firms in the UK and with a large presence in Bristol it seemed only natural for us to support the Bristol Law Society. Bristol Law Society is one of the oldest and most vibrant of the Law Societies in England and Wales. We are pleased to be working with them on important matters relating to law firms’ liability insurances and Risk Management. From Sole Practitioner to Top 20 law firms we are sure our two organisations can provide excellent support and assistance for the challenges faced by the legal profession.
Matthew Baker - Financial Lines Group, Howden Insurance Brokers Ltd
Joining BLS in 2013 and becoming President in 2018/19 has created many longstanding friendships and business relationships, whilst also unlocking doors to other opportunities in the City. BLS enabled a perfect balance of professional development and also opportunities to give back to the legal and wider community. I am pleased that my Firm has supported BLS in many capacities since 2013 and continues to do so.
Nicholas Lee- Managing Director of Paragon Costs Solutions and Past President of BLS