Update from our Consultant, Andrew Caplen, President of the Law Society of England and Wales.

It has been another busy few weeks for Andrew. He travelled to Berlin in March and spoke on the subject of access to justice at a conference comprising senior German lawyers and Government officials. He also attended the Commonwealth Law Conference in Glasgow from 12th to 16th April where he gave a major speech on “Defending the Defenders” – that is protecting those lawyers who speak out in less democratic regimes. The other speakers at his session were the Presidents of the law societies of Zimbabwe, Malawi and Scotland.

Events closer to home have included presentations/speeches at the International Womens’ Day conference at Chancery Lane, the Junior Lawyers’ Division weekend and a discussion on the continued importance of the Human Rights Act (where Dominic Grieve MP (the Attorney General until 2014) was the principal speaker). This week he is speaking to local Solicitors in Cardiff and to the Business Council for Africa in London. He will also be introducing the Master of the Rolls, Lord Dyson, who will be delivering a lecture on the Magna Carta.

There has also been a flurry of media activity recently. Andrew was quoted in “The Times” on 13th April and “The Financial Times” on 17th April, both relating to justice issues. He has also been interviewed on the radio twice during the last week – “You and Yours” (Radio 4) on 13th April and by BBC Radio Essex (a long, in-depth interview) on 19th April.