This month our Chair of the Board of Trustees, Caroline Artis, stepped down at the end of her term as Chair.
We’re delighted to introduce you to Katherine Milliken, our new Chair.
She is looking forward to taking on this role, getting to know our team and volunteers. We chatted to her about this new role, and why she’s passionate about access to justice.
What attracted you to the role of Chair at Support Through Court?
I was privileged to attend a breakfast briefing run by the Charity earlier this year, where we heard from the Attorney General, senior members of the judiciary and staff and volunteers from Support Through Court. I was struck by the importance of the charity’s mission, by the skills and commitment of the staff and volunteers and by the support provided by the legal sector. When I heard that that Caroline was standing down as Chair, I leapt at the chance to become more involved.
What experiences or values do you bring to this role from your professional background?
I hope that over the last 25 years or so working in and around the law I have developed a broad range of skills that will be useful to Support Through Court. Working as an in-house lawyer, as I did for ten years, means that you rely on external counsel for those areas which lie beyond your own competence. I have been very lucky to work with some extraordinary professionals whose expertise and personal support have been invaluable. This puts into sharp relief the position of those who face court alone. I hope that empathy for those we are seeking to help will be a guiding principle for me during my time as Chair.
What are your first impressions of the charity and its work?
I have been very impressed by everyone that I have met so far. Their commitment to the charity’s mission is inspiring, particularly when combined with their focus on the good governance and processes which are vital in a complex operating environment. I have also been struck by how innovative and forward thinking the charity is which is exciting for the future. Finally, and importantly, everyone is really nice!
Why do you think access to justice is such an important issue today?
Access to justice is a vital component of a nation that is at ease with itself. Where individuals are granted rights that they cannot enforce, it is understandable that they might become sceptical about structures that seem to exclude them. The complexity of the legal environment continues to grow and whilst lawyers are able to become ever-more specialised it is harder for lay-people to understand the laws and processes that can have a dramatic impact on their lives. Helping people resolve issues before, or after, they reach court has benefits which reach beyond the easing of the emotional and financial burden on those involved, to the smooth operation of the legal system as a whole.
What are you most looking forward to in your time as Chair?
Initially I am looking forward to meeting more of the staff and volunteers of Support Through Court as well as the supporters who are so important to our work. In the longer term, I am keen to meet those whom we have helped and to supporting everyone involved as we continue to develop our service.
