CNWJLD Past News

The Committee would like to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who attended the Summer Spectacular Ball and to our sponsors The College of Law and Chadwick Nott. The Ball was a huge success and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the night (pictures will be on our website shortly).

EVENTS

We’re having a break in August but will be back with an exciting programme of events in September:

Thursday 16 September (6.15pm onwards) - Deans Court Chambers will be hosting a training session in Chester dealing with tips on how to handle yourselves in Court and agree fees with Barristers. Including tongue-in-cheek role plays and a special appearance by 'DJ Ice' this is one not to be missed!

The seminar offers 1 CPD point and will be followed by complimentary drinks courtesy of Deans Court Chambers. This is likely to be a very popular event so please make sure you secure your attendance by emailing social@cnwjld.org.uk as soon as possible

Friday 1 October - Join us for drinks and nibbles at Bar 1539 at the Chester Racecourse. This will be an excellent opportunity for you to meet other NQ's and trainees, share your stories and meet new contacts. Everyone is welcome! Thursday 14 October - Chadwick Nott will be hosting a talk on recruitment. Don't miss it!

Friday 29 October - Our last event at the Pitcher and Piano in Chester was such a success that we will be back again in October! Come along for some Friday night drinks - we recommend the cocktails!

Friday 26 November - Another year is almost over! At our November event, we will be announcing our new committee and launching the new JLD year. Please do let us know if you would like to get involved with the next committee.

NATIONAL JLD ISSUES
1. The national executive of the JLD is seeking information from members who have used professional careers and coaching services such as the following:

http://www.oxbridgetrainingcontracts.com/  http://getatrainingcontract.com/default.aspx  http://www.trainingcontractsuccess.co.uk/

If you have used these services or something similar, the JLD would like to hear what your experience has been like. Have these services assisted you in securing a contract ? If so, do you feel that the service represents value for money? Or are these organisations exploiting students?

Please complete the survey and return it to Nicole Baygan (NNB@heaneywatson.com). If you have any queries then please contact either Martin Boyle (martin_boyle84@hotmail.com) or Nicole Baygan (NNB@heaneywatson.com). 2) Solicitor Advocates - research on trainees' points of view The National JLD have been approached by an LLM student at The City Law School who is writing a research based Master dissertation on solicitor advocates.

At present she is interviewing law students and legal professionals about their views and experiences with that branch of the profession. However she would like to extend this to include trainees' point of view. If any trainee Solicitors are willing to help with this, please complete this form

JLD ELECTIONS

We will be inviting nominations for the new committee in September. We’ve all enjoyed being part of the committee this year and it looks great on your CV! If you are interested in a position on the new committee please visit our website to learn more about the positions that are available or email rachel@cnwjld.org.uk

The CNWJLD are gearing up for the summer and making arrangements for our ‘Summer Spectacular’ Gala Event. The events are a great opportunity for you to get involved in the JLD community and to meet fellow junior lawyers in the area. We would love to hear your feedback and suggestions so if you have anything to tell us, please email: social@cnwjld.org.uk.

The National Junior Lawyers Division (a part of the Law Society) has recently been made aware of instances in which Junior Lawyers (including paralegals, trainees and qualified solicitors) have been asked to work for free, perhaps on the basis of ‘proving themselves’ with a promise of a job if their work is satisfactory. The National Junior Lawyers Division have asked local groups (including CNWJLD) to collect (on a strictly confidential basis) information about members who have been asked to work for free with a view to trying to assess the scale of this problem and ultimately provide a resolution. If anybody has been asked to work for free, please email me our Chair at rachel@cnwjld.org.uk with brief details including:

1. Whether you are a student/trainee/paralegal or solicitor.

2. For how long were you expected to work for free?

3. Did the work lead to a job?

4. Did you feel exploited by working for free?

5. Did you feel pressured into working for free?

6. Any other information.

Rachel will be attending a meeting of the National Junior Lawyers Division Committee this weekend and so would appreciate receiving your replies by this Friday 22nd January.

We stress that all information collected will be strictly confidential and no names will be given to the National Junior Lawyers Division or anybody else.

Rachel Phillips Chair – Cheshire & North Wales Junior Lawyers Division rachel@cnwjld.org.uk

HAPPY NEW YEAR We hope that you have had a good Christmas and New Year.

The CNWJLD would like to invite you to New Years drinks on 29th January at the Pitcher and Piano in Chester. We will be there from 6.00pm onwards and look forward to seeing you there.

We are currently in the process of organising a number of professional seminars and are pleased to announce that North Wales HIPS will be providing a HIPS seminar in the coming weeks. Further details to follow shortly.

JLD NEWS The Law Commission, the independent body set up by Parliament to review and recommend reform of the law in England and Wales, is currently recruiting for 13 research assistants for one year fixed appointments commencing in September 2010. These positions are ideally suited for those interested in policy development, high quality research work and contributing to law reform. Closing date for applications is 31 January 2010. For further information visit http://www.lawcom.gov.uk/.

Training Contract Webinar The JLD webinar on the Training Contract is now available to view on demand. The online seminar provided an overview of the training contract from a regulatory, employer and trainee perspective, with answers to participants questions. Topics and speakers •The regulatory aspects of a training contract - Tim Pearce, Solicitors Regulation Authority •What firms expect from trainees - Paul Rose, Training Principal at Halliwells LLP •What trainees are looking for during their training contract - Mari Griffiths, trainee solicitor at Weightmans LLP •Chair: Simon Baker, JLD executive committee Accessing the webinar Click on the link below to view the session. Please note you need Internet Explorer to access the webinar player. View Training Contract webinar More JLD webinars

LAW SOCIETY NEWS VAT change: read the updated advice The Law Society has updated its practice notes with the return of the VAT rate to 17.5 per cent on 1 January 2010. They advise on charging the correct rate of VAT on the services you make both before or after 1 January 2010 and how to deal with those services that you started before but completed after the rate change.

Controversy Strikes

In a controversial move the Law Commission has proposed giving unmarried couples who live together for two years or more automatic rights to half their partner's estate if they die.

Legal Challenge to Civil Partnerships

A hetrosexual couple has vowed to launch a legal challenge after their request to form a civil partnership was refused by Islington Council on 27 November 2009. To read more on this articles please visit the website.

2009-2010 Launch

The CNWJLD has a new look for 2009 – 2010. The launch night was a huge success and the new committee was revealed. The CNWJLD are pleased to welcome back some old faces and extend a warm welcome to the new committee members. If you would like to learn a little more about your committee, please visit http://www.cnwjld.org.uk/5  

The committee is committed to looking after the interests of its members and aims to provide assistance and support when needed.

The committee will be organising a variety of social events throughout the year, and we hope to extend the events we organise to include professional events, such as seminars and talks by local recruiters and business people.


December’s event will be held on 11 December at The Living Room, Chester from 6.00pm onwards.  Please check our events section for further details. 

The next event will be held on 29 January at the Pitcher and Piano, Chester, so make sure you Save the Date.

We would love to hear from you if you have any comments or suggestions for the committee, or would like to include anything in next month’s newsletter.

Each month we will be offering local businesses the opportunity to advertise in the monthly newsletter. If you know of anyone who may be interested please let them (and us) know.

You can contact the committee by clicking the link below

http://cnwjld.org.uk/tinc?key=Y89nyfXv&formname=Contact

2009-2010 Events

11.12.09—The Living Room, Chester, 6.00pm onwards
29.01.10— The Pitcher and Piano, Chester, 6.00pm onwards
Feb 2010— CNWJLD hosting Charity Pub Quiz to raise money for RP Fighting Blindness. Wrexham, venue and date to be confirmed
26.03.10— NQ Drinks, Bar 1539, Chester Racecourse from 6.00pm onwards
30.04.10— Mojito Madness, Havana's Chester from 6.00pm onwards
May 2010— Charity Event, date and venue to be confirmed

The CNWJLD will also be arranging seminars and talks for the next few months and details will be added soon.

To secure your attendance please email: social@cnwjld.org.uk

JLD and Law Society News

Junior Lawyers are facing the toughest conditions for years and have felt the brunt of the current economic downturn following cutbacks by employers. The JLD has found that this is largely due to early specialisation in their careers.

The JLD says that less specialisation and more general practice during the LPC, the training contract and the first year or so of practice would help to lessen the effects of an economic slump on the profession’s future generation.

For those junior lawyers affected by the recession, the JLD is providing support to the community through an active programme to help trainee and new members of the profession through these difficult times.

Law Society Brussels Office seeks trainee solicitors for 2010 secondments. The Law Society is offering a unique opportunity to undertake a six-month secondment in the Brussels Office. The secondments commence in March and September each year.

Nominations are now open for the Local Government Young Solicitor of the Year Award 2010. The award provides the only opportunity to recognise and celebrate the outstanding work and achievements of young solicitors working in local government.
The outstanding achievements of young lawyers throughout England and Wales were celebrated at the Junior Lawyers Division Pro Bono Awards on 12 November 2009. The awards were presented by Lord Phillips of Sudbury at a ceremony in London.

For more info on any of the above visit the Junior Lawyers section of http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/

The Society has hit back at inaccurate legal aid allegations.
Chief executive Desmond Hudson slammed a report by the National Audit Office which alleged solicitors over claimed on legal aid matters and which neglected to consult the Society with the findings. He said the allegations were unfounded as the report contained significant and very basic errors based on audits of untested quality.

The Law Society is planning a professional indemnity insurance (PII) shake up and will lobby the SRA following the Council’s decision to advocate for the abolition of a single renewal date. Desmond Hudson said variable renewal will not resolve all difficulties in the current solicitors PII market but this will be addressed as part of a wider review next year.

To read more on both these reports visit: www.lawsociety.org.uk/newsandevents/news

Fabulous February Drinks

Our next event is being held from 6.15pm on Friday 27 February 2009 at The Pitcher and Piano in Chester with our sponsors for the evening, The College of Law in Chester who provide a wide range of flexible professional development courses. Full details of the courses they offer will be available on the night so come and join us for a drink after work and kick start your weekend with the CNWJLD. The event is free for members and £4 for non-members. Just e-mail your name to social@cnwjld.org.uk to confirm your attendance and your FREE drinks!! Full details can be found on the flyer in the Events section.

Law Society President visit

The President of the Law Society, Paul Marsh will be in Chester on Friday, 27 February. He has expressed an interest in meeting members of the Cheshire and North Wales Junior Lawyers Division and would like to set up an informal lunch time meeting to discuss general issues which affect our membership. This will be held at Aaron and Partners offices in Chester at approximately 1pm (full details still to be confirmed). Lunch will be provided. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis. Please e-mail the Chair Tom Pelham at tom@cnwjld.org.uk as soon as possible if you would like to attend by no later than 5pm on Wednesday, 25 February.

Beat the New Year Blues

Our social calendar for 2009 kicked off with an event in St Asaph, North Wales at The Plough Inn.  The CNWJLD had access to the sophisticated Lounge upstairs where we enjoyed free drinks and a selection of hot nibbles.  Pictures of the event can be found in the gallery.

JLD Helpline - volunteers needed for 2009

The JLD is currently looking for volunteers to man the helpline between March 2009 to March 2010.  The deadline for applications is Monday, 26 January 2009 and as places are limited volunteers will be accepted on a first come first serve basis.  For further details please follow this link http://juniorlawyers.lawsociety.org.uk/helpline-volunteers

First Event of 2009 - Beat the New Year Blues

We will be kicking off the social calendar for 2009 by holding a drinks event at The Plough Inn, St Asaph from 6.15pm on Friday, 9th January 2009.  We do hope that you will be able to join us.  The event is free for members and £4 for non-members.  Please e-mail social@cnwjld.org.uk to confirm attendance at this event.  Full details can be found in the events section.

New Committee 08/09

The new committee are firmly in place for what looks to be a challenging year for our members.  Thank you to everybody who stood for a position and to everybody who took part by voting in the new committee.   The results of the elections can be found on the committee page.  Pictures of this event can be found in the gallery.

Launch Night 08/09

Come and join the CNWJLD as we announce the new committee for 2008/2009 following the campagin battle for hotly contested positions.  You are invited to Bollicini in Chester for a few drinks and some fantastic hot Italian samplers including pizza and foccacia from 6.15pm on Friday, 28 November.  The event is free for members and £2 for non-members.  E-mail social@cnwjld.org.uk to confirm attendance.  Full details can be found in the events section. 

Spook Yourself Silly

Photos of the evening can be found in the gallery.  Unfortunately some of the group haven't been seen since 31st October and many inexplicable things have happened to CNWJLD members since the walk.  If you enjoyed the walk and want to go on a historical tour of Chester or a tour of Chester Zoo with Tom Jones, our fantastic ghost walker please visit his website at http://www.chesterguidedtours.com where you can find full information. 

Elections 08/09

Nominations for Elections 2008/2009 have now closed and contested nominations (i.e where there has been more than one nomination for a position) have been put forward for an electronic vote which will open between 9am on Monday, 3rd November - 5pm on Friday, 14 November.  If you are interested in voting please see the Elections 08/09 page for more details.

Trainee Solicitors sought for secondment

The Law Society's Brussels Office offers trainee solicitors an opportunity to undertake a six-month secondment in Brussels, beginning in March and September of each year.  Applications are now open for seats commencing in 2009.

You will assist the Brussels team in tasks ranging from preparing and writing the Brussels Agenda and European Court of Justice case reports to attending European Parliament committee conferences.

Trainees interested in applying must provide a letter from their employer confirming that it consents to the secondment and that it will continue to pay your salary whilst on secondment.

To apply, send your CV along with a covering letter and confirmation letter from your employer to:

Julie Bateman, Head of the Brussels Office,

Boîte 10,

Avenue des Nerviens 85, 1040,

Brussels

Belgium

National Pro Bono Week 2008

This year the 7th Pro Bono Week is taking place between Monday, 10th - Friday, 14th November 2008.  It celebrates the ever growing scale and impact of pro bono work by lawyers, law students and other professionals and provides opportunities for even more people to get involved.  There are a variety of events taking place accross England and Wales.  To get involved visit http://www.probonouk.net/index.php?id=events to see the calendar of events.  If your firm/organisation is holding an event which is not on the calendar then e-mail your event to kate.walmsley@lawsociety.org.uk

Spook Yourself Silly

This year our October social event falls on Halloween and we are holding a very special event for our members.  We will start in The Pied  Bull, Chester for drinks and some hot nibbles before joining a Ghost Walk which will last for 90 minutes and will take us on a spine-chilling night time journey through Chester's eerie and forgotten parts.  The night ends at 10pm when you will be dropped back at a chilling location.  The price for this event is £2.50 for members and £5 for non-members.  Tickets are strictly limited for this event so be sure to book soon.  Full details can be found in the events section. 

Elections 08/09

Elections for the 2008/2009 Committee will commence between 9am on Monday, 13th October - 5pm on Friday, 31st October.  If you are interested in taking an active role in the CNWJLD then see the Elections 08/09 page for more details.

September Social

Chadwick Nott kindly sponsored the September Social.  Claire Venables and Georgina Duff were on hand to speak to all who attended about current opportunities and the latest salary trends while the drinks flowed freely.  Pictures of the event can be found in the gallery.  If you were unable to attend but would like to speak to Claire or Georgina about your career then please do not hesitate to contact them whatever your level of experience, area of practice or personal ambitions.  Claire and Georgina can be contacted on 0161 618 1002 or by e-mail at ClaireVenables@chadwicknott.co.uk or georginaduff@chadwicknott.co.uk  If you wish to find out more information about the services that Chadwick Nott offer go to their website at www.chadwicknott.co.uk

Trainee minimum salary for 2008/09

As of 1 August, the minimum salary for trainees working in England and Wales (excluding Central London) is £16,500 per annum.  The recommended salary is £16,790 per annum.

Please specify whether you prefer the March or September start.  The deadline for applications to both start dates is 21 November 2008.  If you require an information notice or would like to discuss the secondment then contact julia.bateman@lawsociety.org.uk

River Rendezvous

If you attended the River Rendezvous on Friday, 25th July or if you missed out be sure to check out the pictures in the gallery.  The CNWJLD were fortunate enough to have beautiful weather despite reports of possible rain during the week and the four hour cruise along the River Dee on the Lady Diana showboat was very enjoyable.  The CNWJLD wishes to thank our sponsor Taylor Root who made this wonderful event possible and in particular Emma Chisolm and Sharan Kokri who attended.  If you were unable to speak to Emma or Sharan and wish to talk to them about career opportunities then they would be more than happy to speak to you.  Please contact them on 0161 638 9335 or e-mail via emmachisolm@taylorroot.com or sharankokri@taylorroot.com  

Pro Bono Awards

Nominations are now open for the 10th annual pro bono awards.  The awards are open to LPC students, trainee solicitors and solicitors with up to 5 years post qualification experience.

Nominations will be judged in the following categories:

• Solicitor - local projects (projects undertaken by a solicitor assisting individuals or groups based in the UK)
• Solicitor - international projects (projects undertaken by a solicitor assisting individuals or groups outside the UK)
• Solicitor - team (projects undertaken by a group of solicitors assisting individuals or groups whether based in the UK or abroad)
• Trainee (projects undertaken by an individual trainee or group of trainees, whether the project is based in the UK or abroad)
• Student (projects undertaken by an individual student or group of students, whether the project is based in the UK or abroad)

Discretionary cash prizes of up to £1,000 are available to support the pro bono projects of the winners and the JLD encourages award nominations from anyone who knows of a student, trainee or solicitor contributing through pro bono work to help the most disadvantaged members in their community.

The closing date for nominations is 19 September 2008.  The application form can be downloaded through the following link: http://juniorlawyers.lawsociety.org.uk/files/JLD%20pro%20bono%20awards%20nomination%20form.pdf

The award ceremony will take place on 13 November during National Pro Bono Week.

River Rendezvous

The countdown has now officially started for River Rendezvous which is our annual black tie gala event.  This year we are heading down to the River Dee in Chester on 25th July in association with our sponsor Taylor Root for a cruise on the Lady Diana, a three decked luxurious showboat.  The evening starts between 7.15pm - 7.45pm with a champagne reception being provided by our kind sponsor Taylor Root so that we are ready for an 8pm departure.

As we cruise along the River Dee taking in the sights of the historic City of Chester the drinks will flow and a sumptuous finger buffet will be provided while the DJ plays some of the coolest beats so that we can dance the night away.  Before you know it will be midnight and we will be back at the docks where carriages will await!!!!

The price of tickets is £20 per person for members and £25 per person for non-members and includes the champagne reception, cruise, buffet and drinks vouchers.  Husbands, wives, lovers, partners and friends and welcome to attend with you.

Limited tickets remain so WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?????  Return the booking form which can be found at http://www.cnwjld.org.uk/15.html with a cheque made payable to 'Cheshire and North Wales Junior Lawyers Division'.  If you need any further information please contact Rachel at rachel@cnwjld.org.uk or on 01270 611 106 or Caroline at caroline@cnwjld.org.uk or on 01244 405 538.

Tickets will be issued one week prior to the event and drinks vouchers will be issued on the evening.

Did you 'Get Fruity'?

The CNWJLD were in Wrexham on 27th June at The Fat Cat.  The bar staff created some cocktails exclusively for us using our sponsors premium fruit juices including a delightfully infusion of strawberries and cream called 'Summertime' and a refreshingly fruity cocktail called 'Can you dig it?'.  For those who were driving there was an equally amazing choice of non-alcoholic cocktails.  Doreen McGaw  from Careers Wales / Gyrfa Cymru was available during the evening to provide the latest advice on training and skills.  If you missed this evening and would like information on the services offered by Careers Wales/ Gyrfa Cymru then visit the website at www.careerswales.com / www.gyrfacymru.com or freephone 0800 919 520 to speak to Doreen.  Photos of 'Get Fruity' can be found in the gallery.

NQ Survival Success

Our NQ Survival Guide Drinks Night in association with Michael Page Legal was an evening not to be missed.  Craig Wilson and his colleagues provided invaluable advice about NQ opportunities and gave away copies of their NQ Survival Guide.  If you were unable to attend the event and wish to receive a copy of the guide or speak to Craig Wilson or Danielle Strachan then e-mail legal.liverpool@michaelpage.com or telephone 0151 236 1242.  Photos of the evening can be viewed in the gallery.

The Times Student Advocacy Competition

The competition is being run by The Times and Herbert Smith and is open to all students, full or part-time, registered with UK universities or colleges.  The challenge for this year's competition is the question 'Diversity in the legal profession: cause for concern or trendy bandwagon?'  In the first round entrants are invited to develop an outline argument of no more than 400 words that highlights the key issues you wish to address.  Judges are looking for originality of thought, clarity of expression and logicality of presentation and students are strongly encouraged to submit a video overview of their outline argument (no longer than 90 seconds) to give judges a flavour of their advocacy skills.  Six candidates will then be short-listed to make a 10 minute presentation at a half-day finalists event to be held on Tuesday, 16th September in the offices of Herbert Smith in London.  Those selected will have the opportunity to attend an advocacy workshop with one of the firm's experienced advocacy trainers.  Prizes will be awarded at a winner's reception on the evening of the finalists event and are £3,000 for the winner, £2000 for the second prize and £1000 for the third prize wih £500 each for the runners up.  All those short-listed will be invited for interview for a vacation scheme placement at Herbert Smith and the winning entries will be published on Times Law online.  Full details of the competition can be found on: www.timesonline.co.uk/studentlaw or on the competition helpline 020 7466 3893.  The closing date is midnight on Friday, 27th June.  Entries, including a link to your video presentation should be sent by e-mail to advocacy.competition@herbertsmith.com or by post to: Herbert Smith Advocacy Competition, c/o Carolyn Lee, Herbert Smith LLP, Exchange House, Primrose Street, London EC2A 2HS. 

Cocktail Evening - 27 June

Come and join the CNWJLD from 6pm on 27 June at The Fat Cat, Lord Street, Wrexham as we get 'fruity' with our sponsors Granini, who are inviting you to discover the fascination of fruit with their premium range of fruit juices which are made from specially selected fruit varieties, harvested at the peak of perfection. The orange, strawberry and multi-fruit juices will be blended into a selection of luscious cocktails while the mango and orange fruit juices will be available to sample.  The juices and free from artificial colours, preservatives and sweeteners and can be enjoyed as part of your five a day.  Careers Wales / Gyrfa Cymru are our joint sponsors and Doreen McGaw will be available through the evening to provide you with the latest careers advice.  If you can't wait for advice then visit the website at www.careerswales.com / www.gyrfacymru.com or freephone 0800 919 520 to speak to Doreen.  The event is free for members and £2 for non-members.  Confirm attendance by e-mailing your name to social@cnwjld.org.uk  Full details can be found on the flyer.

CNWJLD 'Gala Event'

Details of our summer black tie gala event have just been released.  The CNWJLD are set to enjoy a fabulous cruise along the River Dee on 25th July 2008 from 7.15pm - midnight.  The event is £20 for members and £25 for non-members and includes a champagne reception, finger food buffet and drinks vouchers.  For further details and the booking form go to events.

NQ Drinks Night at Revolution, Chester - 30 May 2008

The summer’s here and the time is right…. for a party at Revolution!

‘Let your hair down with Michael Page Legal and the CNWJLD.  Whether you just want to let off steam or if you want some advice, we will be here to answer your questions, supply you with contacts or offer any insight to assist you in your career.’

Michael Page Legal has developed an NQ website to provide you with information as you embark on your qualified career. For more comprehensive information and advice please request a copy of our NQ Survival Guide. These will be available on the night and can also be downloaded from the website www.michaelpage.co.uk/nqlawyer

However, for one to one tailored advice we would recommend contacting one of our specialist consultants directly for a confidential chat.  You can contact either Craig Wilson or Danielle Strachan on 0151 236 1242, or via email at legal.liverpool@michaelpage.com

The event will be held on the Friday 30th May 2008 at ‘Revolution’, 110 Foregate Street, Chester from 6pm.  Book it in your diary today!

Please see the flyer for details.  The event is free for members and £2 for non-members.  Don't forget to confirm your atendance by e-mailing social@cnwjld.org.uk  

JLD Pro Bono Awards 2008

The JLD Pro Bono Awards 2008 will be launched at an event on Wednesday 4 June in London.  This is a change from the date previously notified.  The launch event marks the opening of nominations and this year it is the 10th anniversary of the awards (previously known as the YSH pro bono awards).

The event will be held in association with BPP Professional Development at Waterloo in London as part of an evening called In Conversation with Lord Bingham.  For further information about the event and booking details please click on the following link:  http://juniorlawyers.lawsociety.org.uk/files/lord_bingham_event.pdf

Anglo-Dutch Young Lawyers Exchange 2008

The biennial exchange is to take place in Holland between 20th - 23rd May 2008.  It is set to be an enjoyable and rewarding event with an extensive programme of events including visits to a number of Dutch law firms; visits to Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague; a visit to the International Criminal Court and other sites of interest.  CPD accreditation is being sought for the lectures.  The Dutch hosts will provide accomodation in their homes for their guests.  The programme of events can be found in our events section.

The cost of registration is £128.00 per person.  The trip is open to trainee solicitors, assistant and associate solicitors up to 5 years PQE.  Places will be allocated on a first come first serve basis.  Registration forms can be printed from our events section and sent to Teresa Sillars (details at the bottom of the registration form) or obtained from Teresa Sillars of Sillars & Jones Event Management Ltd by calling 01425 489 513 or 07834 597 260 or by e-mailing teresa@sillarsandjones.com 

CNWJLD goes Mojito Mad

The CNWJLD hosted Mojito Madness in association with BCL Legal at Fiesta Havana on Friday, 25 April 2008.  The Mojitos were divine - a perfect blend of mint, gomme syrup, fresh lime and Havana Club (3 years old) served over crushed ice.  The committee will certainly be going back for Mojitos after our next committee meeting!!!  Gareth McGhee, Matthew Porter and Paul Ellis updated all who attended with the latest careers guidance and are more than happy to speak to anybody who was unable to attend.  Please visit the website at www.bcllegal.com or call 0161 209 3300 for information on the services offered.  As always, visit the gallery to see pictures of the event.

Law Society in Parliament - 20th May

• Do you work in a legal aid practice?
• Are you available on 20th May?
• Would you be interested in speaking in Parliament on your experiences of a legal aid practice?

  The Law Society is organising a meeting in Parliament on 20th May on Legal Aid and would very much like a member of the Junior Lawyers Division to speak for 3-5 minutes on their experiences of a Legal Aid practice.  You will be sharing a platform with Lord Hunt, Legal Aid Minister at the Ministry of Justice and Julie Beer, Chair of the Young Barrister Committee at the Bar.

  The meeting will be attended by a group of 20 or so MPs and Peers, and is part of an official cross party group of politicians which the Law Society jointly organises alongside the Bar Council.

  If you are interested please contact Richard Messingham, Public Affairs Advisor on richard.messingham@lawsociety.org.uk or 020 7320 5858.

Mojito Madness - 25th April

This month we are hosting 'Mojito Madness' in association with BCL Legal on 25th April from 6pm at Fiesta Havana in Chester.  Join us as we enjoy cocktails including the signature Mojito, wine, beer, non-alcoholic cocktails and sodas and a selection of Cuban snacks.  We will be joined by Gareth McGhee and Matthew Porter of BCL Legal who are ready to provide advice and career guidance to all that attend.  BCL is a niche recruitment consultancy offering a highly consultative and bespoke recruitment service.  If you are unable to wait until the 25th to find out about the services offered by BCL then visit their website at www.bcllegal.com.  The event is free for members and £2 for non-members.  To attend the event please e-mail your name/names to social@cnwjld.org.uk  Full details of the event can be found on the flyer.

Llandudno Event

The CNWJLD rolled into Llandudno on Friday 28th March with the assistance of the kind people at Taylor Root who provided us with an array of colourful cocktails, wine, sodas and tasty nibbles from The Fat Cat.  Emma Chisholm was ready to answer recruitment related questions and provided everybody with a very useful Taylor Root pack.  If you were unable to attend the event and would like to obtain a pack please contact Emma Chisholm via e-mail or via telephone on 0161 638 9335.  Photo's of the event can be found in the gallery.   

Free Legal Services Commission Workshop - 9th April

The LSC are running a free workshop between 10am - 4pm on Wednesday, 9th April 2008 at the Thistle Hotel, Portland Street, Manchester.  A buffet lunch will be provided.  The workshop aims to provide delegates with an understanding of the LSCs operational structures and procedures.  The event is aimed at trainees to PQE 5 years.  For full details please see the flyer. 

Llandudno Event - 28th March

The CNWJLD are proud to invite you to our next drinks evening at The Fat Cat in Llandudno in association with our sponsors for the night, Taylor Root who will be ready to provide you with constructive advice and information and organise a confidential one to one discussion.  The event is free for members and £2 for non-members.  Check out the flyer for full details. 

£185.00 raised for Shelter

The CNWJLD held a 'Trial by Trivia' Quiz night at The Cross Keys in Chester on 28th February.  Proceeds from the night benefited the charity Shelter whose vision is that everybody should have a home.  The evening kicked off at 7pm with 7 quiz rounds.  Questions included Name the three films that Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks have appeared in together? How many moons does Mars have? What does PVC stand for? and What is the name of Jordan and Peter Andre's latest baby?  The teams battled it out all evening with Hells Bells being crowned winners closely followed by Illegal Eagles.

National Education and Training Committee Vacancy - DEADLINE - Tuesday, 4th March

The Law Society conducts a series of focus groups through Committees which consider, research and reflect upon issues affecting solicitors in England and Wales.  One such Committee is the Education and Training Committee.  As the name suggests, the Committee focuses on issues of education and training affecting the profession, and more particuarly the members of the Junior Lawyers Divsion.  A position has become available on the Education and Training Committee and we consider it a great opportunity for one of our members to get involved to help influence decisions made about training new entrants to the profession.  We would like to encourage our members to apply.

For examples of the work which the Education and Training Committee has carried out please see the following link: www.lawsociety.org.uk/search/view=query.law

The Committee holds six meetings a year and the dates of the meeting for 2008 are:

• 3 April
• 7 May
• 20 June
• 4 September
• 22 October
• 27 November

The meetings are held in the afternoon at The Law Society, Chancery Lane, London and last approximately 2.5 hours.  This position would require time away from the office and it is important that a prospective candidate obtains the permission of their firm before applying for the position.  For information about the application process please see the link www.lawsociety.org.uk/newsandevents/news/view=newsarticle.law?NEWSID=314002

Please note that although the application pack states applications must be made by Friday, 29th February we have secured an extension until close of business on Tuesday. 4th March 2008.

President of the Law Society to meet CNWJLD

The President of the Law Society, Andrew Holroyd, will be in Chester next Friday, 29th February 2008.  He has expressed an interest in meeting members of the CNWJLD and would like to set up an informal lunch time meeting with us to discuss general issues which affect our membership.

The event will be held on Friday at Walker Smith Way's office in Chester at approximately 12.30pm (full details still to be confirmed).  Lunch will be provided.  Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first serve basis.  Please e-mail rachel@cnwjld.org.uk as soon as possible if you would like to attend and in any event by 5pm on Tuesday 26th February 2008.

Trial by Trivia in aid of Shelter - 28th February 2008

Join the CNWJLD at the Shelter 'Trial by Trivia' quiz night being held at Cross Keys, Chester from 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start.  The quiz night has been running since 1996 and we are hoping that this year will be the most successful !  The night is open to anybody within your firm/organisation/company as the aim is to raise as much money as possible for Shelter.  Shelter's vision is that everybody should have a home - somewhere decent, safe, affordable and permanent.  Shelter helps more than 170,000 people a year fight for their rights, get back on their feet, and find and keep a home.  Entry to this event is just £2.50 per person with a maximum of 6 people in a team.  A charity raffle will also be held on the night and we already have a number of prizes waiting to be given away.  Confirm attendance by e-mailing the names of the members in your team to social@cnwjld.org.uk  For full details see the flyer. 

CNWJLD Launch Event Success!!!

The Dairy Farmers of Britain and BCL Legal hosted our official launch held at Revolution in Chester on 1st February 2008.  While the wine flowed the CNWJLD sampled a choice of strengths of Cadog Welsh cheddar which is made using traditional methods and the finest ingredients; Capricorn goats cheese which is a mild creamy soft cheese and Somerset Brie which is rich and full of flavour.  If you want to find out more information about the cheeses sampled visit the Dairy Farmers of Britain website at www.dfob.co.uk where you can also find details of their other products.  Gareth McGhee and Matthew Porter from BCL Legal were on hand to answer questions and provide career guidance.  For further information on the recruitment services offered by BCL Legal visit their website at www.bcllegal.com  To view the photos please visit the link to the gallery.

Change of venue for national launch in Manchester

The National Junior Lawyers Launch is now taking place at All Bar One, 73 King Street, Manchester M2 4NU.  For full details see the flyer.

National JLD Launch Event - 7th February 2008

The Junior Lawyers Division of the Law Society officially takes over representation from the TSG and YSG on Friday, 10th January 2008 and to celebrate it is running a series of launch events across England and Wales. The closest event for CNWJLD is in Manchester on 7th February 2008 at Bacchanalia, 15-17 Chapel Walks, Manchester M2 1HN from 6.30pm. The event is free. To R.S.V.P please e-mail juniorlawyers@lawsociety.org.uk with your name and contact number and put manchester event as the subject.

CNWJLD Launch - 1st February 2008

The CNWJLD has the pleasure to invite you to our Launch Night with a cheese and wine reception hosted by The Dairy Farmers of Britain who will showcase several regional cheeses wih a glass of wine.  To find out information about The Dairy Farmers of Britain and the range of products that they make visit www.dfob.co.uk.  This is the last opportunity for non-members to attend a non chargable event and is a great chance for all to learn about the benefits of becoming a member of the CNWJLD, join the CNWJLD, meet Committee members and find out about upcoming events.  For full details see the flyer.

Volunteers needed for JLD helpline

The national JLD helpline is looking for volunteers for the helpline which is a confidential freephone advisory service to support members on a variety of issues including training contracts and problems at work.  It provides general guidance to callers and provides references to other bodies such as ACAS, publications and websites.  The helpline is available from Monday - Friday 9.00am to 9.00pm on 08000 856 131.

For March 2008 the JLD is looking to recruit new helpline volunteers from its membership.  To qualify as a helpline volunteer you must:

• Fall within the JLD membership - enrolled student, trainee, solicitors 0-5 years PQE
• Have previous volunteering experience (preferable)
• Be prepared to give one years commitment to the helpline (March to March)
• Be committed to the helpline and agree to deal with calls as required and complete case sheets on a regular basis
• Have prior permission from your firm to become a helpline volunteer, especially if you will be receiving calls during work hours.
• Be available to attend the compulsory training course scheduled to take place Saturday 23 to Sunday 24 February in Birmingham.

To register your interest in becoming a volunteer e-mail juniorlawyers@lawsociety.org.uk by Friday 25 January 2008.  Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

UKAEL Essay Competition 2008

The United Kingdom Association for European Law is a forum for the study and development of the European law and is the UK member of FIDE.  The XXIII Fide Congress is being helf in Linz, Austria between 28 -31 May 2008 and is the leading European law conference involving over 500 lawyers, judges, academics and civil servants.  The UKEAL essay competition title for 2008 is:

Is the Reform Treaty sufficiently reforming?

The prize for the winner is enrolment in the XXIII FIDE Congress and a travel and accomodation bursary of £600.

The competition is open to all law students, trainee solicitors, pupil barristers and all solicitors and barristers with up to three years of admission/call at the closing date in or from the United Kingdom.  Entries must be original work with a maximum of 2,000 words in length including footnotes.  Entries must be received by UKAEL by 6pm on 21 January 2008, together with proof of eligibility.  Entries should be marked for the attention of : Eva Evans MBE, UKEAL, King's College, Strand, London WC2R 2LS; Tel/Fax 0207 722 9746; eva.evans@kcl.ac.uk

Meet the Committee' drinks 16.11.2007

Thanks to everybody who attended our first event held at Revolution in Chester on 16th November 2007.  It was an excellent opportunity for members and non-members to meet the Committee and have a few drinks.  If you were unable to attend then don't worry you can still become a member.  Please see the membership section.  We have big plans for the forthcoming year and our 'Official Launch Night' in January 2008 is marked to be a huge success. 

Election 09/10

When the leaves start turning a burnt orange colour and the air has a nip to it the CNWJLD committee know that this means only one thing - they are coming close to the end of their elected year and elections 2009/2010 must be just around the corner.  You can nominate yourself for a position on the committee between 9am on Monday, 12th October and 5pm on Friday, 30th October.  If you are interest in being on the CNWJLD committee for 2009/2010 please go to the elections 09/10 section. 

October Event Announced

The CNWJLD will be heading down to Ten Pin Bowling in Chester for a spooky 'Heads Will Roll' Bowling evening on Friday, 30 October 2009.  The night starts at 7pm and includes two bowling games.  Tickets are limited and cost £11 for members and £15 for non members.  For the booking form and full details please go to the events section.

JLD Northwest Launch Evening

The Junior Lawyers North West is launching from 6pm on Thursday, 15 October 2009 at The College of Law, Piccadilly, Manchester.  Free wine and nibbles will be provided.  Come and meet other groups in the North West, Council Members and members of the Executive Committee.  To attend please e-mail nothwest@lawsociety.org.uk by 9th October 2009.  For full details please view the flyer. 

Junior Lawyers pilot expedition with Raleigh

Junior Lawyers will be running its first international public service project in association with Raleigh, a UK based charity that exists to help people gain greater understanding of global issues and learn more about themselves.  The 10 day pilot project will work in a remote part of Borneo to build a gravity water feed system and engage with local lawyers.  It will also promote the work of the JLD and raise its profile nationally and internationally and establish a relationship with local junior lawyers by instigating a dialogue on legal development issues.  The project starts on 22nd October 2009 and will need 12 - 15 volunteers.  If you are interested in the project please visit http://juniorlawyers.lawsociety.org.uk/node/681 for further information or e-mail juniorlawyers@lawsociety.org.uk

Jazz Cat Cruise was a Hit!!

If you were unable to join us for the Jazz Cat Cruise on 7 August you missed a great night.  The weather was glorious following a couple of rainy weeks in the lead up to the event and the jazz band played the entire evening.  James Jones and Louisa Hill, representatives from Re: Legal, our sponsors for the night had a great time too.  If you were unable to speak to James or Louisa about the current job market and would like to discuss your career prospects call 0161 638 9244.  Alternatively you can find lots of useful information on the website www.relegal.co.uk  Pictures of the event can be found in the gallery.   

JLD Pro-Bono Awards 2009

The 11th Pro-Bono Awards to give recognition to the pro-bono work of the JLD community and celebrate the work undertaken by LPC students, trainee solicitors, newly qualified solicitors and solicitors with up to 5 years qualification.  The Awards will recognise individual activities and participation on team projects.

Nominations are open for projects undertaken by individuals and as teams between September '08 and September '09.  The closing date for applications is 11 September 2009.

The nomination form and further details can be found at http://juniorlawyers.lawsociety.org.uk/files/JLD-ProBono-Entry-Form-09.pdf   

Free CPD with NCCBA

The Northerrn Circuit Commercial Bar Association (NCCBA) was formed in 2006 to promote the practice of commercial work for the Bar on the Northern Circuit. The new committee has revived the NCCBA with a full programme of events and CPD seminars for solicitors to attend. The seminars are free of charge and are a great way to pick up CPD points throughout the year.  To view the programme for 2009 please see the events section. 

JUNE DATES
11 June – Magical Mystery Tasting evening – Olio and Farina, Chester

 Olio and Farina will be providing us with the chance to sample some of their excellent cuisine and wine. They have promised to provide us with exciting new tastes in a fun packed evening. There is a charge of £10 for this event per person. Payment for this event will be required in advance and booking forms will follow shortly. Places are strictly limited, so make sure you return your booking form as soon as you can.

25 June – Fat Cats, Llandudno. Join us for a few cheeky cocktails in sunny North Wales and take advantage of the ‘buy one get one free’ offer that Fat Cats will be running.

July Dates
15 July – Seminar The Professional Indemnity Company will be hosting a seminar on career and business development in Chester (venue tbc). To book your place, please complete the booking form (which can accessed via the link) and email to us: social@cnwjld.org.uk

30 July – SUMMER SPECTACULAR
This year’s Gala event is not to be missed! Its all change for CNWJLD with a new venue. Full details and ticket prices will be available shortly, so please put the date in your diary and get ready to celebrate Summer in style!

JLD News
Represent your Peers on the Law Society Council Elections are taking place for constituencies which fall vacant on the expiry of terms of office of the current Council members in July. Junior Lawyers with up to five years post-qualification experience are invited to stand for all available places. For more information visit http://juniorlawyers.lawsociety.org.uk

Law Society News
The Law Society has launched its new CPD Centre – a free online system helping you with your CPD solutions CNWJLD News

The CNWJLD Committee have been working hard to come up with some exciting new events for your summer calendar!

Chester Half Marathon

Committee Members Tom Pelham and Laurie Carruthers will be taking part in the Chester Half Marathon on 16 May to raise money for RP Fighting Blindness. The CNWJLD hosted a charity quiz night to raise funds for the organisation and Tom and Laurie hope to raise even more by pounding the streets of Chester. If you would like to support Tom and Laurie and donate to the charity you can do so by visiting their Just Giving Page : www.justgiving.co.uk/Laurie-Carruthers  

The CNWJLD Committee have been working hard to come up with some exciting new events for your summer calendar!

Join us on Friday 30th April for our annual Mojito Madness event at Fiesta Havana, Chester and enjoy some FREE mouthwatering 'Mojitos' from 6.15pm onwards

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
Friday 21 May - Ice Skating Evening - Disco on Ice - at Deeside Ice Rink from 7.30pm onwards.

Friday 11 June - Magical Mystery Food Tasting at Olio and Farina, Chester. This event will include tantalising foods to get your tastebuds tingling. Pre-booking will be required for this event, further details to follow. Book early to avoid disappointment!!

Friday 25 June - Join us at Fat Cats Cafe Bar, Llandudno for Summer drinks (hopefully in the sun!)

Thursday 15 July - Business/Career Development Seminar in Chester hosted by the Managing Director of the Professional Indemnity Company.

Friday 30 July - Annual Black Tie Gala Event. The committee have got their thinking caps on and are arranging a spectacular new Gala Event for this summer.

Further details and venue information will follow shortly for each event.

CNWJLD NEWS
Thanks to all who attended our New Years Drinks and helped to make the evening a great success. We’d also like to thank Wesleyan for Lawyers for supporting the event and providing the superb raffle prizes.

If you have not yet done so, please join CNWJLD to benefit from free entry to the majority of our events. Membership is currently £5 for membership until November this year. Please visit the Join section of our website to obtain a membership application form.

We have two exciting events in the coming weeks at which we will look forward to seeing you. Please also see the Events section of our website for full details of all of our forthcoming events.

The CNWJLD will be hosting a charity quiz night on Thursday 18 February at Revolution in Chester to raise money for RP Fighting Blindness. To learn more about the cause please visit http://www.brps.org.uk/. To reserve your team’s place, please email social@cnwjld.org.uk. If you don’t have a full team – email us to let us know and we will try to match you up with others!

Seminar
In conjunction with North Wales HIPS we have arranged for Peter Claybrook to host a FREE seminar on the History, Procedure and the Future of HIPS. This will be a great opportunity for members to ensure that they are up to speed with the latest developments and to obtain 1 CPD point.
The event will be held in Chester (Venue to be confirmed) on Tuesday 9th March from 6.30pm for a strict 7pm start. This event is free to members and places are strictly limited. If you would like to attend this seminar please ensure you book in advance by completing the booking form and returning it to Carina Pennant-Williams or by emailing carina@cnwjld.org.uk.

TM Lewin Discount Voucher
So you’ve finished off the leftover Turkey and eaten the last mince pie, it’s a New Year and perhaps it’s time for a new you!

This time of year, as always, sees all our stores in Sale mode and while this means that prices are at their lowest there are still savings to be made by using our exclusive January discount vouchers.

Remember to take your voucher with you to get any shirt (Men’s or Women’s excluding Silk Shirts originally priced at £99.00) for £22.50 instead of the store price of £25.00.

In addition our stores will have great value offers on End of Range items as well as unparalleled customer service but this voucher will guarantee that you get the best possible price on all other shirts.

Don’t forget that our discount scheme is working for you, so please let us know if there is more we can do to help you reach your target for the month. If you have any comments, feel free to send them to us at corporate@tmlewin.co.uk.