President's Newsletter - August
PRESIDENT'S NEWSLETTER - AUGUST 2025
As many of us head for our summer holidays we have had another busy month in July at Newcastle Law Society. Indeed I have taken part in a number of events as your President.
On the 3rd July I had the great pleasure of taking part in the Newcastle Legal Walk with nearly 100 others helping to raise essential funds for the Access to Justice Foundation Charity. It was lovely to have so many in our North East Legal community coming out to support the event and the Access to Justice Foundation. As we all know a lack of access to justice leads to issues of poverty, homelessness, ill health, unemployment, broken households, and many other social and personal difficulties. The Access to Justice Foundation is a fantastic national charity who are a key funder for access to justice and legal advice organisations in the North East and beyond, including North East Law Centre which does fantastic work across the region.
I must also provide a big thank you to Tess Depont Solicitor at Womble Bond Dickinson for helping to organise the Newcastle legal walk and to Womble Bond Dickinson for sponsoring the night.
On the 10th July we had the first in a series of seminars hosted in association with New Park Court Chambers the Family Private Law Children & Financial Orders Update Seminar which we held at the new Dakota Hotel was a great success. Thanks to our Vice President, Lesley Fairclough for welcoming all those that attended and Rob Wagg, Chief Executive of New Park Court Chambers for introducing our keynote speakers, Valerie Sterling, Head of New Park Court Chambers Family Team and Sally Terris, a very experienced complex financial remedies Barrister.
On Sunday 13th July I had the great privilege to attend the Legal Matins Service at Durham Cathedral for His Majesty’s Courts Of Justice to represent Newcastle Upon Tyne Law Society and my firm Burnetts Solicitors. The event celebrates all those who are involved with the administration of justice. A well attended Congregation was joined by representatives from Civic and Judicial professions, University and community leaders, together with elected members and representatives of many organisations in Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear and North Yorkshire. In particular attendees included many of The High Sheriffs of our Counties together with the Police, Courts and all those who share the common task of maintaining The Kings Peace through the administration of Justice in the North-East. I proudly joined the procession around the Palace Green together with many others working across the administration of justice.
We have lots of events and activities planned with some of those being listed on our website and your regular newsletters. Some highlights over the next few months include:
Thursday 9th October – Burnetts and Park Lane Plowden Chambers Quiz night at One Strawberry Place in aid of Child Brain Injury Trust. Playing for the Mike Stubbs memorial shield in memory of Mike Stubbs practice director at Park Lane Plowden. Book your teams via this link: https://childbraininjurytrust.org.uk/events/newcastle-quiz-night-2/
Friday 10th October – The Newcastle Law Society Dinner the most prestigious black tie event in the North East Legal calendar is taking place at The Grand Hotel, Gosforth Park. Tickets are selling fast so don’t delay in booking your tables of 6 – 12 or join a mixed table. We will be again celebrating our newly qualified solicitors and highest achieving trainees at the event and we will be having music and entertainment.
Please do get involved and encourage your firm or others to do likewise and join as members. There are corporate rates for larger firms also. Please also follow our page on LinkedIn.
If you would like any more information about any of the above or book any tickets, please contact Sanchia or our office via e-mail: