Lord Woolf primed to give keynote at Solicitors Journal Live

The former Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, will use the opening keynote speech of Solicitors Journal Live 2016 to stress the importance of standing together as a profession and managing change amid a shifting political landscape.

To appear on day one of the conference, the legal stalwart will also discuss legal aid and access to justice and maintaining high standards and professional competencies in a modern, 24/7 world.

Called to the Bar in 1955, Lord Woolf was appointed first treasury counsel (common law) in 1974, a post he held for five years.

By 1979 he had been appointed to the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court and, in 1992, he became a Law Lord.

Lord Woolf was appointed Master of the Rolls in 1996 before going on to succeed Lord Bingham of Cornhill in 2000 to become Lord Chief Justice.

The Times Law 100 listed the Blackstone Chambers barrister as the most influential lawyer in Britain in 2009, adding to his list of accolades.

Lord Woolf, who is synonymous with the Woolf Reforms, has been a prominent figure throughout his illustrious career.

In 1990 he chaired an inquiry into the Strangeways prison disturbances blaming a 'combination of errors' and 'intolerable' prison conditions as the cause.

Most significantly, he blamed multiple governments for failing to provide the Prison Service with the resources required to provide for an increased prison population in a 'humane manner'.

The prison welfare advocate again blamed politicians for the poor condition of prisons when addressing the issue, last year, some 25 years after the Strangeways inquiry.

Lord Woolf is also well known for giving his support to the divisive Medical Innovation Bill, which would restrict patients bringing negligence claims where doctors use innovative treatment.

2016 should see the British Bill of Rights debate reach its conclusion; Lord Woolf has highlighted the 'dangers' and 'expense' this could cause as lawyers become more 'creative'.

With over 60 years of experience, Lord Woolf's appearance at Solicitors Journal Live will be one of the highlights of the event.