One Profession One Region One Voice Birmingham Law Society's New Leadership

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Guy Barnett has been sworn in as the 134th President of Birmingham Law Society, pledging to strengthen Council, connect Birmingham’s legal community and ensure the Society provides a strong voice for the profession across the region.

Barnett formally took office at the Society’s AGM on Thursday 24 September, becoming the latest custodian of a Presidency stretching back more than two centuries to 1818.

Barnett brings a wealth of legal experience and an unusually detailed understanding of BLS, having served on both its Board and Council and, most recently, as Interim Chief Executive. With Calum Nisbet now appointed Chief Executive, Barnett said his Presidential focus will be on representing members, and ensuring BLS speaks up on the issues that matter to Birmingham’s legal community.

Guy Barnett, new President of Birmingham Law Society, said:

“Birmingham Law Society must be a voice for the legal community it represents. That means being prepared to stand up and speak when it is needed, but it also means listening. We need to understand what our members are experiencing, the pressures and opportunities facing the profession and where their Society can make a difference."

“I bring decades of experience to the Presidency and hope that can provide a steady hand as we enter this next chapter. I want to strengthen Council and our committees, and ensure Birmingham Law Society is in an even stronger position when I hand over the Presidential chain next year to Sabina Kauser – the new Vice President."

“This isn't about one person or one Presidential year. It is about building on more than two centuries of history while ensuring the Society continues to evolve for the profession it represents today and tomorrow. My ambition is simple: one profession, one region, one voice.”

Four priorities for the Presidential year

Barnett has set out four pillars for his 2026–27 Presidency: Advance, Connect, Engage and Make a Difference. His approach will be to concentrate on fewer priorities capable of delivering lasting value.

Council

The first priority will be strengthening BLS Council and its relationship with the Society's Professional Committees and wider membership. Interest in joining Council has risen sharply. Last year's election attracted one applicant for four vacant seats; this year, 28 people initially applied for six vacancies.

Following the AGM, six newly elected members and four Presidential co-options will see 10 new people join Council, bringing additional experience and perspectives.

Barnett wants Council to focus on the questions that directly affect members: what does the profession need, what challenges does it face and where should BLS use its collective voice? Deputy Vice President Sam Ingram will lead work to strengthen relationships with the Society's Professional Committees.

Connecting Birmingham's legal community

A second priority will be making greater use of BLS's extensive professional network, spanning managing partners, CEOs and general counsel through to barristers, academics, solicitors and the next generation entering the profession.

Plans include developing greater engagement with managing partners and business leaders, exploring a proposed Geneva Conference and considering whether there is an appetite to revive Advised in Birmingham.

Barnett also wants stronger links between generations within the profession, including the continued development of the Birmingham Law Society Junior Lawyers Division and greater use of mentoring, introductions and shared events to connect established leaders with emerging legal talent.

Making membership matter

The third strand will focus on making BLS membership matter, providing greater value through representation, connections, professional development and a stronger sense of belonging to Birmingham's legal community.

Among the initiatives planned is LAWSTOCK, a proposed informal and inclusive family friendly event with an outdoor festival feel bringing together solicitors, barristers, junior lawyers, senior leaders and the wider professional community.

The proposed Golden Paper Clip Challenge will use friendly competition to encourage entrepreneurship, mentoring and new relationships across the profession.

Barnett summarised his approach simply: “Do fewer things, but do them well.”

Making a difference beyond the profession

Barnett's fourth pillar will focus on the Society's wider contribution to Birmingham, with Carter the Brave, supporting Birmingham Children's Hospital, chosen as his Presidential cause.

In January, he will exchange the Presidential chain for walking boots to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, using the challenge as the catalyst for a wider fundraising campaign involving firms, chambers, business leaders, committees, junior lawyers, sponsors and members.

Throughout his year, Barnett intends to visit firms and organisations across the region, meeting members at every stage of their careers and listening to what they need from their Society.

He added:

“I want people to talk to us. Tell us what BLS does well and where we could be better. Tell us about the issues affecting your firm, your organisation, your career or your part of the profession."

“Birmingham Law Society has extraordinary experience, expertise and energy within its membership. Our job is to listen to it, connect it and, when necessary, give it a voice."

“If Council is stronger, our committees are better connected, junior lawyers have a meaningful voice and new relationships have been created across the profession when I hand over the Presidential chain, we will have made genuine progress.”

Guy Barnett was sworn in as the 134th President of Birmingham Law Society on Thursday 24 September and will serve until September 2027.

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Jul 2

2 min read

Access School, based at Holbrook Villa Farm, Harmer Hill, Shrewsbury, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Midlands Region ARC Alex Timpson Award in recognition of its work with in helping pupils adapt and learn to their educational setting, particularly those children who may have suffered trauma earlier in their life.

The school, part of the Family Care Group, which provides fostering, educational and care services for young people across Shropshire, specialises in meeting Special Needs Educational requirements for young people aged from 6 years to 16 years.

The school site has been converted from a working farm to provide a rural setting which is calming and therapeutic for pupils, particularly those who may have struggled in a mainstream school setting previously.

The ARC (Attachment Research Community) award is given to one school in each region of the country, which in the view of the judges has made the most significant steps forward in improving the learning experience for its pupils and improving practice for trauma awareness amongst its staff.

Among the measures put in place by Access School are:

Specialised training for all staff in Secure Base and trauma informed working, delivered by an experienced team of therapists on site
The introduction of Fabulous Spaces which provides areas of interaction for staff with the pupils ensuring they are surrounded by trusting adults in a safe space
Animal care and land-based studying which allows pupils to develop empathy through caring for living things.

Access school is also currently working to transform itself into an officially recognised ARC training hub, which will enable it to provide training to local sites to deliver Trauma Informed Practice.

The regional award nomination follows success for the school last year when it was awarded Gold status by ARC for its outstanding work with children with special educational needs.

Sarah Earing, Head Teacher at Access School, said:

“Understanding past trauma and the way it can have an impact on a young person in school is so important. So for us at Access it has become a fundamental part of our approach to teaching here."

“If we can make a positive impact with the way we teach and work with pupils, help to develop their confidence more and allow them to reach their full potential then we are definitely succeeding.”

Sarah adds:

“For this reason we are now also working to be become recognised as an official training hub for trauma linked teaching. This will hopefully enable to us to transfer our knowledge and experience to other local schools in the Shropshire area.”

For more details on the Arc Alex Timpson regional awards click here: Learn more about how to become a foster carer here:

Photo Captions:

Photo 1: Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator Sumer Jones and Therapeutic Practitioner Laura Watton from Access School

Photo 2: Sarah Earing, Head Teacher at Access School