From local milkman to national chairman

INTERVIEW: commercial lawyer takes reigns at Young Solicitors Group

In much the same way as Michael Atherton, as a young cricketer, was accurately dubbed FEC (future England captain), so commercial lawyer Mark Dillon might soon be known as FLSP - future Law Society president.

Mr Dillon, a projects and procurement solicitor in the Leeds office of Eversheds, has been elected the new chairman of the Law Society's Young Solicitors Group (YSG).

He comes to the role with a strong record of successful politicking at Chancery Lane, following a year as chairman of the Trainee Solicitors Group in 1996 - during which he fought off concerted efforts to end the minimum wage for trainees.

Along with fellow YSG leaders and former TSG chairs Richard Moorhead, Hannah Wiskin and Nick Armstrong - led by the 'grandmother' of young solicitors, Lucy Winskell, who represents them on the Law Society's ruling Council - he is a member of a lobby of active and ambitious young solicitors determined to have their voices heard.

In the last couple of years, there has been something of a hiatus in Mr Dillon's climb up the greasy pole: after qualifying at London firm Rosling King, he could not find work in his chosen field of public sector law and briefly left the profession - during which he could be found delivering pints of milk - before returning to Eversheds.

Before entering the law, Mr Dillon, who at 38 is too old for the YSG but is eligible by virtue of being less than five years qualified, had spells in sales, teaching and public relations.

Lifestyle concerns are the number-one issue for overworked young solicitors at the moment.

While Mr Dillon lists flexible working as one way to address them, he identifies greater involvement in the wider community as the main solution.

'There is a growing sense of alienation among many young solicitors,' he says.

'They're well paid but feel "there must be more than this".

It's not self-indulgent but a feeling that an aspect of the law should be engaging in society more widely.'

He says the more forward-thinking law firms are beginning to realise this.

'Encouraging young solicitors to get involved in the TSG, YSG, pro bono or community groups is not just a good thing in itself, but also a good thing in helping resolve the conflict young solicitors face.'

Mr Dillon also criticises most law firms for failing to provide young solicitors with management training at an earlier enough stage.

A few enlightened firms delegate organising a pro bono initiative to a young solicitor, or give them a budget to manage, he says.

To encourage this shift in the profession, Mr Dillon is planning a major survey of his members, a Web site and a series of events around the country 'bringing together all the players to set out what the profession has to offer to get young solicitors engaged' in other activities.

And is he indeed a FLSP? Like any good politician, Mr Dillon remains coy.

'A couple of years ago, I would have said no, because the Council wasn't where things were happening.

But there has been so much change in the last year that I'd like to think an increasing number of young solicitors would see involvement in the Council as being attractive.'

Neil Rose