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March Signals Start of Busy Conference Season for The Solicitors’ Charity
March marks the official start of the conference season for The Solicitors’ Charity. We’re excited to get out again and meet people after the winter hibernation and we kick off with The Law Society’s Risk & Compliance Conference in Bishopsgate in London.
Caroline Watson, Senior Fundraising Manager and Anita McCallum, Director of Impact & Development will be there representing The Solicitors’ Charity and are looking forward to seeing people we are already connected with like:
- Lucinda Soon, Policy & Research Consultant and LawCare Trustee – and the session on ethics and culture.
- Harry Clark, Associate Solicitor, Mishcon de Reya LLP and Chair of the National Junior Lawyers Division – and his views on AI and governance.
- Emma Willams, Director of Risk & Compliance MLRO, global head of AML, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and LawCare Trustee – and economic crime horizon scanning.
- And meeting many new contacts and friends from firms, suppliers and local law societies!
Why do we go to conferences and exhibit?
In an increasingly virtual world, It’s a personal way of meeting many solicitors in one space and reminding them that we’re here should they, or colleagues, need us for a range of wellbeing support from us and referral partners. We can also help with signposting to the right place.
How is risk and compliance connected to the charity?
Those attending the Risk & Compliance conference are likely to be interested in ways to minimise risk for organisations. One of these risk areas can be holding onto unclaimed balances (or RCBs) for too long. The Solicitors’ Charity offers a convenient route to donate these balances easily and with an indemnity issued, should clients subsequently be traced.
How does the charity help solicitors?
We call ourselves “The Vital Safety Net for Solicitors”. For over 167 years, the charity has been here for solicitors, retired solicitors, and their dependants in England and Wales, offering confidential wellbeing support through life’s ups and downs. Our support spans four pillars of wellbeing: emotional, physical, professional, and financial. These cover more areas than you might think, from career coaching to therapy, and from practical help when ill to lending a hand financially.
What’s unique about The Solicitors’ Charity and what do others do?
We are proud to be the only charity with solicitors as our sole focus and provide access to a full range of wellbeing support. There are also others that can help and provide support like:
- LawCare – direct emotional support (via phone, email and chat) and web resources.
- The Law Society’s Helplines (including the Practice Advice Service) – personal, financial, professional or employment support.
- Solicitors Assistance Scheme (SAS) – offers free confidential help, advice and guidance to all solicitors in England and Wales, their families and employees on any problems whether personal or professional.
Whether you need support yourself, want to refer our details to someone else, or are interested in how the profession can help sustain this vital safety net, we would love to connect.
And if you’re able to help others, there are simple ways to Play Your Part. From donating unclaimed client balances to getting your firm involved, your support helps ensure solicitors never have to face hardship alone.
Other ways to connect this year
If you’re not involved with this event in March in person or online, don’t worry, we will be at other Law Society events this year in May and September, and, of course, the London Legal Walk in June. And if you are a local law society or local JLD committee member – please do let us know about your programme so that we can support it. We’d love to come and visit you!
