Paskareva bags 20k for 15 days work with anti-mafia unit

Law Society chief executive Janet Paraskeva has been appointed as a non-executive director of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) – a post that will net her £20,000 a year for 15 days work.

The news comes a month after The Lawyer exclusively revealed that Paraskeva had been appointed as a shadow member of the board of the Consumer Council for Water, which will occupy two days a month.

In her latest role, Paraskeva will offer strategic advice to SOCA when it becomes operational in April 2006. The agency unites several government units that have responsibilty for fighting organised crime.

Paraskeva said that there would be considerable crossover between SOCA and Law Society issues.

President Kevin Martin said he was pleased that Paraskeva’s contribution to law reform and the criminal justice system had been recognised in the appointment, and added that it would not diminish her commitment to the Law Society.