Activities

JUSTICE SERVICE FOR KENT

Each October, members of the Kent Law Society attend the High Sheriff's Justice Service at one of Kent's Cathedral churches. Robed KLS members with their President lead the procession of solicitors, barristers, recorders, coroners, district judges, circuit judges and judges of the high and supreme courts down the aisle of the cathedral for a fully choral service. Traditionally the service was held on the first day of each assize to pray that God give His blessing and guidance to the visiting High Court Judges in their work.

Our image shows 2015 President Victoria Ansell with Law Society President Jonathan Smithers and other KLS members.

WEBSITE NEWSLETTER & TWITTER

This site provides a range of resources for the practitioner.  Find a Kent Lawyer enables the public to search for specialists in a wide range of legal subject areas and can become an integral part of the marketing of your services. Our vacancies page provides an inexpensive forum for seeking new staff, or finding a new role. Our news pages cover specialist areas such as legal aid, court users, Chancery Lane communications and general notices and announcements. Our professional practice pages give useful guidance on complaints, marketing, personal problems and PII. The email newsletter, LinkedIn and Twitter feeds will alert you to new items that may be of interest and Facebook keeps you up to date with our recent social events.

DINNER DANCE

The annual Dinner Dance takes place on the evening of the Annual General Meeting of the Society.  This is an opportunity to mix with colleagues and the distinguished guests, to enjoy a good meal and to dance the night away. We acknowledge the best of our profession through the Kent Law Society awards, presented at the Dinner. The event also provides an opportunity for charitable donation.

The 2018 event celebrated the Society's Bicentenary and took place at Eastwell Manor, Ashford on Friday 18th May.  The guest speaker was Sir Brian Leveson and the event featured a drinks reception on the beautiful hotel terrace, a fine dinner, and a casino and dancing to finish.  The event brought together 26 past presidents of the Society, seen below.

NETWORKING & JUNIOR  LAWYER EVENTS

The Society runs a series of networking events for solicitors around the County of Kent.  These take place after work from about 6.00 to 7.30 pm. In recent years we have met in Hythe, Tunbridge Wells, Canterbury, Rochester, Broadstairs, Tenterden, Sevenoaks, Gravesend, Maidstone, Ashford, Tonbridge, Herne Bay, Dartford, Westerham, Chatham, Deal, Faversham, Folkestone, Orpington and Ramsgate.

Regular Junior Lawyer events are also held.  

PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT

Kent Law Society has been active in supporting the fight against cuts to criminal legal aid and court closures.  Letters to and meetings with MPs, responses to consultations, bringing interested parties together, are part of the Society's commitment to Access to Justice for all. The Society also meets twice a year with the Chief Constable to raise issues and discuss ways in which we can work more effectively together.  We are energetic in promoting the profession in schools and universities and in supporting junior and aspiring lawyers.  The Society liaises with other Local Law Societies and makes use of the support provided by the Law Society (including its annual Presidents and Secretaries Conference - 2016-17 President Vanda James and Hon. Secretary Emma Palmer seen here at the Conference).

TRAINING COURSES AND LECTURES

Our accredited and economically priced training courses are located conveniently in Kent and are open to members and non members.  A substantial discount on course fees adds value to the Kent Law Society membership subscription.

The annual Tucker Millward Memorial Lecture provides insight and erudition on topical issues in the legal world. This is a public lecture and free to attend.

PRESIDENT'S SOCIAL EVENTS

Each year the Society organises a social event for its members, usually within the County. In recent years venues have included the Shepherd Neame brewery, the Kent & East Sussex railway, the paddle steamer 'Kingswear Castle', the races at Lingfield, a Ghost Walk in Canterbury, open air theatre at Mt Ephraim, Faversham, curling in Tunbridge Wells, a jazz evening at Wrotham, carol singing at Chatham Maritime, a Magna Carta Moot at Sutton Valence and a gin tasting also in Tunbridge Wells.

TWINNING

Cordial connections with the Barreau de Lille are enjoyed by KLS members.  There are frequent cross-visits at annual dinners and social events and occasionally a more bespoke coming together is arranged.

Members of the Kent Law Society joined the Lille Bar for a Comparative Law Conference in Lille on 29th March 2018. The event, entitled La Nuit du Brexit, recognised one year to the date the UK was due to leave the European Union, and examined all the areas of legal practice that would be affected by this action. The event was held in the Regional Parliament building in Lille and was hosted by the Parliament's president.    We will be hosting the 2019 conference, which will take place at the University of Kent at Canterbury on 20th September.

The Society has been involved in twinning activity for twelve years now, since first signing an accord with the Lille Bar. This has proved to be one of the most rewarding and enjoyable aspects of Society membership.  Close relationships exist with lawyer associations in Lille, Erie County (Buffalo, N.Y. state),  New York County, The Hague, Kortrijk and Gent.  As well as the personal friendships that can develop, useful business contacts can be made to the benefit of members' firms and clients.

We were represented at the ceremonial Passing of the Baton of Office of the Barreau de Lille, in Lille in December 2018.  The photo shows the outgoing Batonnier Mtr. Stephane Dhonte and the new Batonnier Mtr. Jean-Baptiste Dubrulle.