Prestigious appointment for Northumbria law academic

Northumbria University associate professor Russell Hewitson has been elected to the Council of the Law Society as the Council Member for Commercial Property.

The Council is the governing body of the solicitors’ profession and sets the strategic direction of the Law Society. Its role involves representing the views of solicitors, setting the practising certificate fee and compensation fund contributions, and approving the annual business plan budget. Additional responsibilities include determining the Law Society’s position on significant policy issues, making changes to rules, and fulfilling the Law Society’s functions as the approved regulator of solicitors.

With 64% of the total votes cast, Russell’s appointment was a significant endorsement of his standing within the profession. He will start the role following the Law Society’s AGM on 14 October 2021 and will be in post for four years, with the option to stand for re-election.

Russell said: “I am honoured to be elected to the Law Society Council and am now looking forward to working with the other members of the Council in representing the interests of the profession to the best of my ability. Commercial property is a wide and diverse sector covering the sale and purchase, financing and leasing of all types of commercial property. Key references for all of us on the Council are to assist the profession in adapting to regulatory change and to promote solicitors’ firms as the leading providers of quality.”

Professor Michael Stockdale, Head of Northumbria Law School, added: “This is a highly prestigious appointment, not just for Russell and Northumbria Law School, but for the wider University as well. Having academic representation from Northumbria on the Council of the Law Society also adds significantly to the learning experience of our students and will I’m sure help enhance their career opportunities.”

In 2017 Russell was also appointed as Chair of the Law Society’s Conveyancing & Land Law Committee. This was the first time an academic was appointed to lead this specialist policy committee. He stood down at the end of August 2021 when his term concluded however he remains a member of the Committee.