Vice-chair election sets precedent for SLFA

The Solicitors' Family Law Association is holding its first ever contested election for vice-chair.

The candidates are Grant Howell, partner at Charles Russell and chairman of the SFLA training committee, and Rosemary Carter, partner at Cambridge firm Miller & Co and chair of the SFLA mediation committee.

Current chair Nigel Shepherd said this was the first time that more than one person had wanted to stand for office in the SFLA, which now has 4,000 members. "It is a sign of a healthy, democratic association. It's very positive," he said.

The election results will be announced at the SFLA annual conference in March, when current vice-chair David Salter will take over as chair of the association.

Shepherd said the new office holders would continue to work on the implementation of the Family Law Act, mediation schemes, the ancillary relief pilot and accreditation.

The SFLA is also due to make its views on current family law issues known to politicians in a pamphlet in the run up to the general election.