Prime Highlight:
- Mark Evans, a solicitor-turned-law lecturer, has officially become the 181st president of the Law Society of England and Wales during its bicentennial year.
- Evans plans to champion access to justice by addressing “legal deserts” and promoting alternative routes into the legal profession.
Key Facts:
- Evans is the third president from Wales in the Law Society’s history, with over 28 years of experience as a practising solicitor in property and private client law.
- He currently lectures in land and real estate law at The University of Law’s Manchester and Chester campuses and will be supported by Brett Dixon and Dana Denis-Smith in his new role.
Background
Mark Evans, a solicitor-turned-law lecturer, has been appointed as the 181st president of the Law Society of England and Wales. Evans, who previously served as vice president, officially took over the role last week, marking another milestone in his long career in the legal profession.
A Welsh native, Evans is the third president from Wales in the Society’s history. Before entering academia, he spent more than 28 years as a practising solicitor, specialising in property and private client law. He currently teaches land and real estate law at The University of Law’s Manchester and Chester campuses.
Evans has been actively involved in both regional and national legal bodies since 2010. He served as president of the Cheshire and North Wales Law Society in 2014 and later chaired the Wales Committee. In 2015, he was elected as the council member representing North Wales at the Law Society.
Speaking about his appointment, Evans said he was “honoured” to lead the Society during its bicentennial year. “I’m excited to advocate for the legal profession in England and Wales and to demonstrate to the next generation that they have a future in law,” he said.
Evans plans to raise awareness about “legal deserts,” areas where solicitor numbers are falling and communities face challenges accessing legal advice. He also intends to promote non-traditional routes into the profession and support small and medium-sized firms to improve access to justice.
Evans will be supported by litigation solicitor Brett Dixon as vice president and lawyer Dana Denis-Smith, founder of the 100 Years Project, as deputy vice president.
