A SOLICITOR was elected as the new President of Newcastle's Law Society. 

Hexham solicitor Emma Heather was elected President at the Annual General Meeting on March 27.

The Law Society of England and Wales is marking 100 years of women in the law.

Emma, a partner in Hexham firm Nicholson Portnell, specialises in litigation, dispute resolution and family law.

The Society paid tribute to two senior members of the profession, Jill Mills and Lalage Swinburne, both with long associations with the Tyne Valley. 

Lalage, a legal consultant with Lambert Taylor and Gregory in Corbridge, was admitted in 1956 and Jill in 1961.

In 1956, there were three female solicitors in the northeast. Now, more than 50 per cent of the profession is female.

Emma commented: “I am thrilled to have been invited, and elected, by my professional colleagues to be this year’s President of the Newcastle upon Tyne Law Society and to represent the interests of our local solicitors not only across the region but also at a national level. 

"We have a proud history of campaigning on matters of local importance, responding to national consultations and working in partnership with other local law societies around the country that have a similar geography and demographic to our area. This year we celebrate 100 years of women in the law: I want to champion this anniversary and diversity in general.”

Nigel Emmerson from Womble Bond Dickinson UK LLP was elected Vice President and Paul Brown from Burnetts LLP as Deputy Vice President.