Atkinson takes up the reins at Chancery Lane

Atkinson (pictured), a criminal defence solicitor and higher court advocate, said: ‘As president, I will be using my experience as a criminal lawyer to speak out on behalf of those who are less able to do so.

‘Access to justice is key to a functioning democracy and it is currently under threat, as legal aid continues to decline. I will hold the government to account by campaigning for a sustainable future for criminal legal aid, working collaboratively with politicians to ease the current prison overcrowding and tackling the courts backlogs.’

Atkinson promised to engage with in-house solicitors, including those working in government, military legal services and large businesses, providing relevant support. He will be supported by Mark Evans, vice president, a University of Law lecturer, and Brett Dixon, deputy vice president, a litigation solicitor at Scott Moncrieff & Co and former president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.