Welcome.

We have been supporting solicitors in need, and their families, since 1858. More recently we began a journey towards fulfilling our vision that all solicitors will be supported in times of need or crisis.

 

To deliver on this, we continue to provide direct financial support to those solicitors most in need of help and we also support access to services for them and the wider profession.

 

Increasingly, we collaborate with and support key partners such as Lawcare and the Solicitors’ Assistance Scheme so that we can, collectively, provide a more joined-up service at times of crisis.

 

We also seek opportunities to engage with the profession so that we understand its needs better, through mechanisms such as surveys, focus groups and interviews with key stakeholders or by providing support for academic research carried out by partners.

 

We are proud of our recent work identifying additional funds for solicitors affected by the pandemic and establishing an emergency award scheme focused on helping those falling through the cracks of government support.

 

We also understand that further hardship is likely to arise from the downturn in the economy and challenging labour market. Having spoken to members of the profession about their future needs we have recently widened access to our support.

 

Now those solicitors who are in financial difficulty due to unemployment or a lack of work are eligible for a greater range of assistance alongside solicitors who are unable to support themselves due to ill health, disability or age.

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We are widening our ‘tool-box’ of support - for all.

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Internally, our dedicated staff team have been working hard to assist increasing numbers of people coming to us for help. At the same time we are investing and developing our systems and processes including the launch a new CRM system.

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Our new refreshed brand - elements of which are included in this letter and the Vision, Mission and Values document supplied - will be rolled out over the coming months along with a new website and sharpened marketing and engagement strategy.

 

We are also working on new ways to involve volunteer solicitors in our work ‘virtually’ - especially linked to our ambition to embed an impact-based approach to what we do.

 

The successful candidates for the trustee positions will be joining an established board which collectively brings wide and long experience from across the solicitors’ profession.

 

We are looking to extend the expertise on the board by appointing trustees with experience in either the welfare benefits system or mental health and a third with a background in finance and investment (who will chair our Investment, Finance and Audit Committee).

 

We are also seeking an experienced trustee, who is likely to be well connected within the profession, to join the board as chair-elect, taking over the reins in September 2021.

 

Our plan is for all four trustees to join the board in March 2021.

 

I hope that the information that we provide in the recruitment pack and on the microsite will be helpful to you in making a decision about whether to offer your time and expertise and to apply for these roles.

 

Whether you decide that The Solicitors’ Charity interests you or not, thank you for taking the time to engage. I, my fellow trustees and the staff are all very grateful.

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