header-logo header-logo

02 May 2019
Categories: Movers & Shakers , Profession
printer mail-detail

Birmingham Law Society—Linden Thomas

Youngest ever president vows to put access to justice first

The Birmingham Law Society is celebrating the election of Linden Thomas as its youngest ever president.

Linden has taken on a year-long tenure as president from the end of April, at the age of 34. In addition to being the youngest recorded president of the society, she is also the sixth woman to lead it throughout its 200-year history. Originally practising as an employment lawyer, Linden now works as an in-house solicitor, lecturer and manager of the Centre for Professional Legal Education and Research at the University of Birmingham, and also supervises and coordinates Birmingham Law School’s pro bono programme.

In her role as president, Linden will lead the society’s members in supporting two local charities—Citizens Advice Birmingham and the Central England Law Centre—which facilitate access to justice, one of the key focuses of her tenure.

Linden commented: ‘While there is an active and thriving legal community here in Birmingham and the wider Midlands, many people in the region lack the resources to access it. This means that people can find themselves with nowhere to turn when they need professional advice and support.

‘Citizens Advice Birmingham and the Central England Law Centre both provide vital services to plug this gap, yet there is very little funding to support their work. By raising funds and providing a wider platform for these fantastic organisations, Birmingham Law Society can help ensure that people in the Midlands are able to access fair, affordable legal advice when they need it.’

 

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Maryam Syed KC, Church Court Chambers

NLJ Career Profile: Maryam Syed KC, Church Court Chambers

From childhood dreams of the Bar to some of the country's most challenging cases, Maryam Syed KC explains why she has never stopped standing up for others

DAC Beachcroft—Richard Breavington, Rachel Ford & Daniel Guilfoyle

DAC Beachcroft—Richard Breavington, Rachel Ford & Daniel Guilfoyle

DAC Beachcroft significantly expands Cyber team, hiring three Cyber partners

Browne Jacobson—Professor Clive Kay

Browne Jacobson—Professor Clive Kay

Browne Jacobson appoints senior healthcare leader Professor Clive Kay as strategic adviser

NEWS
As family justice moves further away from the courtroom, collaborative law is emerging as an increasingly important route to resolving separation disputes
A busy period for employment law is producing important lessons for employers, employees and tribunals alike
From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners

Jonathan Fisher KC highlights that it now accounts for around 40% of criminal offences, with roughly 70% involving technology, and argues that the UK cannot simply prosecute its way out of the problem. Detection, investigation and prosecution all require improvement, while different fraud types demand tailored responses.

How forcefully can a litigant criticise a public authority before robust advocacy crosses the line into unreasonable conduct? 
back-to-top-scroll