One law firm celebrates the appointment of one of its housing attorneys – and says there are no worries the role will take them away from private practice.
Helen Tucker, a partner on Anthony Collins Solicitors’ housing management team, has been named assistant district judge for the Midlands Circuit. She will sit part-time in the district courts from the beginning of next year.
Tucker said she is “honored” by the appointment and looks forward to drawing on the experience she has gained in her law firm.
Tucker isn’t the firm’s first judicial recruit. Rankeshwar Batta, a partner on the Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury Team, is the Assistant District Judge on the North West Circuit. Sarah Huntbatch, Legal Director on the Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury team, is an assistant doctor.
Commenting on Tucker’s new role, Senior Partner Peter Hubbard said, “On behalf of everyone at ACS, we would like to congratulate Helen on her appointment as Assistant District Judge. We pride ourselves on supporting our employees and partners who serve part-time legal counsel and recognize the importance of that activity in supporting the administration of justice through our judicial service and our judiciary. ‘
Latest Diversity statistics stressed that the judiciary is dominated by lawyers, with the number of non-lawyers in office lower than in 2014.
React In a report by the House of Lords Constitutional Committee on the appointment of judges in 2017, the Justice Department said law firms continue to obstruct lawyers who want to become judges. Lawyers and other under-represented groups would specifically seek out to raise awareness of the role of the judiciary and to combat misunderstandings.
When asked why some law firms may be reluctant to assist their employees in entering justice, Hubbard said, “There is a concern that trial lawyers who become part-time judges may discourage them from doing private practice for clients. Our experience is that this gives our litigators much more experience in developing and resolving legal disputes in court, which we can then use to provide our clients with the best strategic advice in their cases. ‘
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