Supreme Court president appeals to law firms in judicial push

Outgoing Supreme Court president Lord Phillips has called for leading law firms to encourage more partners to sit as part-time judges, in a bid to increase the number of solicitors in the judiciary.

Speaking in an interview with Legal Week, Phillips said it was "a pity" law firms did not make it easier for partners to sit as part-time judges because it ultimately barred them from taking up full-time judicial appointments. Experience as a part-time judge is usually a prerequisite to a judicial role.

His remarks come after The Law Society launched a campaign in July aimed at increasing the number of solicitors in the judiciary, with 20 of the UK's leading firms pledging to encourage more of their lawyers to take up appointments.

Phillips said: "The best way of dealing with this would be for City firms to realise it is highly desirable for them to make a contribution to the bench and encourage their partners to take time off to get judicial experience. 

"If they are not going to do that, then you've got to reconsider if you make it a prerequisite to do part-time judging. It certainly has been raised by me and other people with City law firms. They haven't been very enthusiastic. 

"If you have an extremely valuable partner, it is quite a sacrifice for the firm to allow that partner to go away for maybe a month; a year. 

"It's a pity. There are some firms that do permit and encourage their partners to do this, but not very many."

Berwin Leighton Paisner has become the latest firm to sign up to the Law Society campaign, taking the total number of firms to 21, alongside 11 of the UK's 20 largest firms by revenue, including Allen & Overy, Ashurst, Clifford Chance, Herbert Smith, Hogan Lovells, Linklaters and Addleshaw Goddard.

BLP head of commercial disputes Nathan Willmott said: "As we have built up our in-house advocacy group over the last two years, we have strongly encouraged our partners to take up judicial and arbitral appointments. The experience that our lawyers gain sitting in the High Court, specialist tribunals and arbitral panels is extremely valuable in honing trial preparation and advocacy skills. It is also experience that clients value very highly."

Clifford Chance commercial litigation head Simon Davis said: "There have been many talented solicitors on the bench but it is not an obvious next step for those whose working lives may have been devoted to resolving problems for clients without the need for an uncertain judgment. Any initiative which helps remove obstacles, real or perceived, is most welcome."