Andrew Caplen becomes new Law Society President

Andrew Caplen, a solicitor from Hampshire, has become the 170th President of the Law Society.

Caplen said that access to justice and the preservation of legal aid were his priorities for the year ahead. At the Society's AGM, on 10 July, he announced that the Law Society’s first access to justice day would take place on 8 September, and that it would herald the start of a new campaign and a major research programme.

“Under my leadership, the Law Society will re-focus on access to justice and will continue to fight the erosion of legal aid," said Caplen. "I have spent the last 20 years fighting against the cuts, so I know what this is all about, I have lived it.

“Access to justice ensures the basic functioning of our democratic society, and is what enticed many of us to become lawyers.”

He also said that he would specifically commit the Law Society to lobbying the Government to amend LASPO to enable legal aid to become more easily available for victims of domestic violence.

He will be supported by vice president Jonathan Smithers and deputy vice president Robert Bourns.

Mark Dugdale