Rachel Pearce appointed President of Cornwall Law Society 

Coodes Solicitors’ Rachel Pearce has been appointed President of the Cornwall Law Society, formally accepting the role at the Society’s Annual General Meeting. 

Rachel, who is Head of Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury at Coodes, steps into the position following her year as Vice President. She has been a member of the Cornwall Law Society since moving to the county in 2013 and joined the committee in 2022, where she headed up the social sub-committee and played a key role in delivering the Society’s annual awards ceremonies in both 2023 and 2024. 

In her inaugural address, Rachel paid tribute to outgoing President, Pam Dosanjh Phillips, recognising the work undertaken during the past year to place equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of the Society’s agenda. She spoke about the importance of ensuring the legal profession remains welcoming, inclusive and supportive, and confirmed her intention to build on that progress during her presidency. 

Reflecting on her appointment, Rachel said: “It is both an honour and a privilege to take on the role of President of the Cornwall Law Society. The Society plays an important role in bringing the profession together across the county, and I’m really looking forward to working with the committee and our members over the year ahead.” 

As President, Rachel will place a strong emphasis on mental health and wellbeing within the legal profession. Having experienced burnout earlier in her career, she is acutely aware of the pressures faced by solicitors and the impact that long hours and sustained workloads can have over time. Her focus will be on encouraging healthier, more sustainable ways of working across firms of all sizes, supported by education, training and events that promote openness, resilience and wellbeing within the profession. 

Sustainability will also be a central theme during Rachel’s presidency. Recognising that firms are at different stages of their journey, she will work closely with the committee to explore practical steps that members can take to reduce their environmental impact and adopt greener working practices. Plans are already underway to host a sustainability workshop for members during the year, providing guidance and shared learning across the profession. 

Alongside these initiatives, Rachel will oversee ongoing improvements to the Cornwall Law Society’s website and social media presence, with the aim of better showcasing the work of the Society, its sponsors and its members, and strengthening engagement across the profession.  

Supporting junior lawyers and working closely with the Junior Lawyers Division will remain a priority, particularly in encouraging emerging legal talent to build long-term careers in Cornwall and ensuring the Society continues to represent the voices and experiences of its members both locally and nationally. Rachel is also keen to continue building strong relationships with other regional law societies, helping to keep Cornwall’s legal community connected, collaborative and well represented. 

Rachel has also named Cornwall Air Ambulance as the Society’s Charity of the Year. The charity provides vital, life-saving emergency medical care across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and relies entirely on public donations to operate. Rachel has already visited the Newquay airbase with colleagues and will be supporting fundraising and engagement activities throughout her term. 

Rachel’s appointment follows a year of significant professional recognition, having recently been named Clinical Negligence Lawyer of the Year in recognition of her work supporting clients in complex and often highly sensitive cases. 

Looking ahead, Rachel added: “I’m proud to be leading the Society at a time when the profession is evolving and facing new challenges. My aim is to keep the momentum going, support our members, and make sure the Cornwall Law Society continues to be a positive and inclusive space for everyone.”