Elections for new Law Society Council members have now opened, with 17 seats up for grabs across 15 constituencies.

The deadline for nominations is 6 May, and successful candidates take office on 15 July. The term of office is four years, and for the casual vacancy in the City of London, until 14 July 2011.

Nominations are encouraged from all eligible solicitors irrespective of gender, race, colour, age, sexual orientation or disability.

The constituencies and number of vacancies (in brackets), and the current holders of each seat, are:

  • No 1-Central and South Middlesex (1): Michael David Garson
  • No 2-The City of London (3): Simon Ward Davis, Fleur Angharad Elinor Palmer, Vacant
  • No 5-West London (1): Lucy Ann Scott-Moncrieff
  • No 6-North Middlesex (1): Michael John Jennings Singleton
  • No 7-South London (1): David Taylor
  • No 8-The City of Westminster (1): Susan Jane Nelson
  • No 15 -Berkshire and North Hampshire (1): Razi ul abbas Shah
  • No 18-West Country and Gwent (1): Helen Davies
  • No 19-South Wales (1): David Kennedy Dixon
  • No 23-Birmingham and District (1): Derek Ian French
  • No 27-Manchester, Salford, Stockport and District (1): John Christopher Welton
  • No 30-Northumbria (1): John Nigel William Dodds
  • No 31-Yorkshire (1): Peter Philip Wright
  • No 38-Norfolk (1): Richard Everett Barr
  • Junior Lawyers’ Division (solicitor member 0-5 years PQE) (1): Grace Gordon Brass

Nominations are invited from solicitors who have a registered address in the constituency concerned, or who are members of a local law society in the constituency. Candidates must be members of the Law Society, and must be nominated by two other Law Society members who have a registered address in the constituency.

For the Junior Lawyers’ Division constituency, nominations are invited from solicitors with up to five years’ active post-qualification experience as at the last date for nominations. Candidates must be members of the Law Society, and must be nominated by two other Law Society members who are qualified on the same basis.

Further information on a Council member’s role and responsibilities, guidance notes for candidates and a nomination form.

Alternatively, email councilelections@lawsociety.org.uk; telephone 020 7320 5736; or fax 020 7320 5685.

Nominations should be sent to: The Chief Executive, The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL (LDE 56) no later than 5pm on 6 May 2010.