A trade body has appointed the youngest-ever president in its 205-year history.
Birmingham Law Society has welcomed 31-year-old Alice Kinder into the role at the association which represents more than 9,000 legal professionals across the city and surrounding area.
She is a senior associate in the employment team at Bexley Beaumont in Birmingham and also a visiting lecturer at Birmingham Newman University and the University of Law and a social mobility ambassador for The Law Society of England and Wales.
Last week, she won the legal category at the 2023 Greater Birmingham Young Professional of the Year Awards.
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Ms Kinder said: "I am delighted to be taking office as the youngest president in the society's history. I would like us to remember this moment as not just one in which there has been a change in leadership but one in which there has been a change in the narrative of our profession.
"As a moment which shows that the legal world is no longer bound by established norms but is evolving to be more inclusive, representative and reflective of the diverse society it serves."
Her one-year term will be focused on two themes - community and opportunity.
She is hoping to foster connections, become more integrated within the wider city and contribute to a stronger and more compassionate society alongside ensuring everyone has the same chance to achieve their aspirations, both within the legal profession and the society.
Ms Kinder said she was passionate about social mobility and would be working with partner charity the Social Mobility Foundation to launch the society's first-ever social mobility pledge.
She is calling on every individual and organisation within Birmingham's legal community to make a firm commitment to fostering equal opportunities.
Ms Kinder will also be launching an online internship to support law students from all backgrounds to gain experience and plans to run her first marathon in April to raise funds for the Social Mobility Foundation.
She will also be diversifying the society's networking opportunities to facilitate closer connections with the business community and events outside of the city centre.
Ms Kinder added: "While someone's background should never determine what they go on to achieve, it can and it does. Talent is everywhere but opportunity is not and I want to do what I can to address that."
