Law society breaks with centuries of tradition to welcome legal executives and overseas solicitors
Monday, 24th November 2008
Although full membership will remain exclusively for qualified solicitors, members of the Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) and foreign lawyers who are not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority can now become affiliate members.
Previously, only fully qualified solicitors were able to join the Society. In fact, a BLS document dating back to the 1800s specifically states: ''The Society is for the benefit of qualified solicitors and no other''
As affiliate members, barristers, legal executives, foreign lawyers, trainees, paralegals and students who join BLS will not have voting rights, but they will have access to the society's other services and membership benefits, including receiving the Bulletin magazine every month, which contains news about the legal profession in the West Midlands and invitations to networking events. They will also have access to training courses at reduced members' rates.
The national Law Society recently voted on similar changes to its membership criteria but its existing members rejected the proposal.
Caroline Coates, president of BLS, said: ''This marks a momentous change for the Society. The time has come to broaden our reach and opening up the membership will help the Society properly reflect and represent the legal profession.
''In this day and age it is surprising that legal executives, for example, could not become members and it is fitting that membership of Birmingham Law Society is now open to them.
''Enabling overseas solicitors to join BLS is also an important step, particularly as we are trying establish better links and relationships with the global legal community.''
Anybody interested in becoming a member of Birmingham Law Society should contact Johanna Sahi-Proto on 0121 633 6901.
