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02 April 2014 / Dr Jon Robins
Issue: 7601 / Categories: Opinion , Profession
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A thorny situation

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As Des Hudson announces his Law Society departure, Jon Robins reflects on his rollercoaster tenure
So it is farewell to Des Hudson. The Law Society chief executive will be lauded by some for providing a strong hand on the tiller that steered the good ship “Chancery Lane” away from its previous course colliding with every iceberg that came its way and denounced by others for selling its criminal defence members down the river.

Hudson insists that his departure date was in the diary last year and definitely not a panicky gesture to appease angry defence lawyers. The official line is that the timing of the announcement of his retirement is not an attempt to stave off yet more damage from a second special general meeting (SGM) challenging the leadership.

Chancery Lane paid tribute to its outgoing boss for having “strengthened” the organisation. “He has led numerous high-profile campaigns including the introduction of a range of new initiatives to help to increase the quality of legal services provision in England and Wales and raise public awareness of solicitors’ expertise,” the Law Society said. Such

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