Law Society applauds solicitors' judicial appointment success

31 March 2010

The Law Society is this week celebrating the success of three solicitor judges who have been authorised to sit as Deputy High Court Judges.

The three acclaimed solicitors are Michael Caplan, former Law Society President Phillip Sycamore and former Law Society Council Member Alexandra Marks.

Law Society President Robert Heslett said: "I congratulate these three solicitors on their authorisation to sit as Deputy High Court Judges. It is both a significant personal achievement and recognition of the growing prominence of solicitors across the judiciary and at a senior levels. I hope this will encourage more solicitors to consider a judicial appointment as an attractive career move."

- Alexandra Marks, a partner at Linklaters, currently sits on the South East Circuit as a Recorder. She is authorised to sit in the Queen's Bench Division at the Royal Courts of Justice. Alexandra said: "I feel honoured by this appointment, and hope it will encourage other solicitors to apply for judicial posts - even if, like me, they have no advocacy or contentious experience as practitioners."

- Phillip Sycamore is a Circuit Judge based at Preston and also President of Health Education and Social Care Chamber at the Tribunals Service. He is authorised to sit in the Administrative Court and after initial training will be able to sit in the newly opened Administrative Court in Manchester. Phillip said, "I'm delighted to have been selected as a deputy High Court judge, both on a personal level but also very much from a professional viewpoint from my background both as a solicitor and now as a judge working in the world of tribunals."

- Michael Caplan, partner at Kingsley Napley is currently a Recorder on the South East Circuit. He is authorised to sit in the Administrative Court. Michael said, "I am naturally delighted and greatly honoured."
The Law Society works hard to promote equality and diversity and to encourage solicitors to consider judicial appointment as a career.

Mr Heslett added: "The Law Society is working hard to enable solicitors to attain judicial appointments and we congratulate these three solicitors on their success. Improvements to the way judges are appointed and greater career flexibility should prove to be incentives for more solicitors to consider judicial careers. It is essential that the judiciary reflects the greater diversity within the profession and within society as a whole."