From June 2021, Henry Simpson has been elected President of the Guernsey International Legal Association by the association’s members.
Henry is an Associate and Advocate at Ogier (Guernsey) LLP, operating in their Corporate Team. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2016, before being called as an Advocate of the Royal Court of Guernsey in 2018, and being admitted to the Roll of Solicitors of England and Wales two years later in 2020. As well as having sat on the GILA committee prior to his appointment, he is also a member of the editorial board of the Institute of Law Guernsey and a council member for Male Uprising Guernsey, a charity which aims to raise awareness and promote education about prostate, bowel and testicular cancers.
Under its new presidency, GILA will continue to focus on its Bursary Scheme, which is available to Guernsey residents studying for a legal qualification with the intention of returning to practise law in Guernsey. It includes a grant of £1,000, as well as a complimentary GILA membership and career mentoring for the relevant bursary year. The link to apply for the bursary is available here. GILA is now accepting applications from law students resident in Guernsey for the 2022/2023 bursary scheme. Applications to be received in the form of a personal statement by 31 July 2022. Please email GILA Treasurer, Advocate Jenny McVeigh, at [email protected] for more information.
GILA also remains focused on their school’s engagement program, and are currently engaged in writing to the island’s schools to offer speakers to come and speak about careers in law. Another key focus of GILA’s is its Seminar Series, which allows members to attend seminars hosted by guest speakers from across the legal profession. The most recent of these took place on 15 July 2021 and was hosted by Judge Russell Finch, the first ever Judge of the Royal Court of Guernsey.