City law society makes history with new president
BIRMINGHAM Law Society has made history by swearing in its first black president in the association’s 200 years. Inez Brown is a partner at Medical Accident Group, part of West Midlands practice Harrison Clark Rickerbys, and will now start a one-year tenure as the society’s president.
She began her career as a legal secretary before joining Anthony Collins in 2002 as a trainee and then qualified in clinical negligence.
After 11 years with the firm, Ms Brown moved to Harrison Clark Rickerbys to develop its clinical negligence team and now specialises in all types of claims including birth and brain injuries and is a member of Action for Victims of Medical Accidents.
It is the second year in a row the society has set a precedent after departing president Linden Thomas, from University of Birmingham, was believed to be its youngest ever when she was appointed in 2019 aged 34. Ms Brown said: “The world is in a period of huge readjustment economically, politically and socially.
“I’m excited to be taking over the presidency and support the continued growth and development of Birmingham Law Society at this time.
“I’m also supremely proud to be the first black woman in this esteemed position in its 202-year history.” Ms Brown said she would focus on three key themes during her presidency. She intends to keep flexible working at the top of the agenda among the society’s membership, especially in relation to areas such as productivity, cyber security and how agile working means different things to different people.
She is planning to arrange meetings between technology companies and law firms which already have a tech team or wish to move into this field alongside organising a law-tech conference in Birmingham.
Finally, she wishes to set up a scheme to identify two talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds who might benefit from a programme to enter the legal profession. There would also be mentoring and work experience for the successful candidates.