Last updated at 15:29, Friday, 25 May 2012

A new president of Carlisle and District Law Society has been elected.

Claire Davies

Claire Davies, a partner at city-based legal firm Cartmell Shepherd, joined the organisation last year, and took over this week after previously serving as its vice president.

The year-long role will see her representing a membership of about 120 solicitors from the area’s legal practices as well as overseeing talks, the annual dinner and social events.

She said: “I really want to try and increase membership and the value they will get from becoming members, particularly in the current climate.

“When it seems that anybody can set themselves up to offer legal services, the Law Society is keen to promote the idea that solicitors should be the first stop for legal advice.”

During a 27-year career, Surrey-born Claire spent 15 years as a partner in leading London-based firm Joelson Wilson, which specialises in leisure industry clients including various celebrity chefs.

The employment law specialist and her husband have lived in Cumbria since 1998 and have three grown-up children.

During a brief career break after moving north, she enrolled at the University of Cumbria and achieved a post-graduate diploma in personnel management and development.

Claire, who is a keen tennis player and a member of Chatsworth Tennis Club in Carlisle, joined Cartmell Shepherd in 2009 and was made a partner earlier this year. She was recently made head of the firm’s new employment division.

First published at 14:08, Friday, 25 May 2012
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk