Paul Marsh
Pro-Chancellor, distinguished friends, colleagues, graduands and guests.
With a national and international profile as a key figure in the solicitors’ profession, Paul Marsh has gone on from a student at the original Lanchester Polytechnic Law School to achieve many great things and hold a number of prestigious positions. It is therefore fitting and with great pleasure that today we recognise his achievements with an honorary doctorate in Science.
Born and raised in Wimbledon by his father a master builder and his mother, a housewife, Paul’s early interests included sport. He attended Raynes Park Grammar School before undertaking his BA in Business Law here at Lanchester Polytechnic between 1966 and 1969, where he met his good friend Robin Morris who joins him today on this fantastic occasion.
It was his father’s respect for his solicitor, and then the inspiration of Lord Denning, described as the ‘most celebrated English judge of the 20th Century’, that led Paul into his career path which has been varied and much respected.
Providing a whistle-stop insight into Paul’s career is still a lengthy process. After graduating from Coventry and attending Guildford College of Law, he became an articled clerk with Bells Solicitors in Kingston-upon-Thames and was admitted as a solicitor in 1972. In 1973 Paul became a partner in Bells, becoming senior partner in 1986 until 2006. He currently works as a consultant to Downs Solicitors in Surrey.
Paul has also been appointed to a number of high profile roles after being recognised for the outstanding work he has carried out within his field. In 1987 Paul was appointed by the Lord Chancellor to be the Solicitor member of the Land Registry Rules Committee, responsible for drafting the Land Registry Rules 2003 pursuant to the Land Registration Act 2002.
From 2001 to 2007 Paul held the post of Chairman of the Solicitor’s Indemnity Fund, from 2003 to 2007 he headed up the Law Society’s Conveyancing and Land Law Committee as Chairman, and from 2008 to 2009 Paul was President of the Law Society of England and Wales. He was also a member of a number of Government working parties looking at conveyancing, leasehold enfranchisement and house buying. Paul currently serves as a solicitor member of the Board of the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
It is perhaps of no surprise that Paul was listed in The Times as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in England and Wales in 2009.Since then on behalf of the Law Society, Paul has gone on to establish the Conveyancing Quality Scheme designed to set high levels of competence for solicitors doing conveyancing work.
Paul, who was one of the first students to receive a law degree from Coventry University, continues to have very close links to Coventry University and the Law School and spoke at the school’s 50 year celebrations in 2016, which was attended by over 150 former students and staff, and leading members of the profession.
Paul married Sheila in 1972. The couple have three children, Samantha, Melissa and Edward, and three grandchildren. In the spare time Paul has, his hobbies include vintage cars.
In recognition of his significant and longstanding contribution to the legal profession, Coventry University, by decision of the Academic Board, has the privilege of conferring the Degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, on Paul Marsh.