Manchester Law Society (MLS) chief executive Fran Eccles-Bech has retired after 38 years with the local law society, one of the UK’s largest, prompting tributes from members and colleagues across the city’s legal community.
Eccles-Bech, who joined the society as a secretary in 1988, stepped down at the end of July. Carla Jones, previously the organisation’s long-serving operations director, succeeded her.
In a farewell article published on LinkedIn, Eccles-Bech traced a diverse career spanning major changes in legal practice, from typewriters, fax machines, paper files and a trusty office diary, to an age of virtual meetings, AI and smartphones.
Noting today’s increased emphasis on diversity, inclusion and wellbeing, compared with what was previously a male-dominated profession, Eccles-Bech said: “I have had the privilege of working alongside generations of solicitors, barristers, judges, trainees, students, volunteers, presidents, council members, colleagues and members.
“Together we’ve celebrated successes, faced challenges, navigated uncertain times and continued to champion our profession and our legal community.”
She said it was the honour of her professional life to serve Manchester Law Society, adding that she was leaving with lasting friendships and “immense gratitude”, saying that Jones would leave the society in “caring, capable and committed hands”.
Jones said in a LinkedIn response: “It has been a blast working with you and my honour to take up the baton.”
Eccles-Bech said she planned to spend more time with her family, travel and pursue previously neglected hobbies.
Her tenure coincided with Manchester’s growth as a legal centre outside London, as part of the Big Five network of city-based local law societies, which includes Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool and Bristol, working alongside the City of London Law Society, which recently appointed Patrick McCann as its CEO.
The society, founded in 1838, represents and supports lawyers through training, networking, policy work and hosts the annual Manchester Legal Awards, as well as maintaining strong links to the North Western Circuit, home of the Manchester Bar and prominent sets like Deans Court Chambers and Byrom Street Chambers.
The society offered pro bono support to families following the Manchester bombings in 2017 and responded to significant regulatory consultations, including over Axiom Ince’s collapse.
Jeff Lewis, the incoming deputy vice president of the Law Society, a litigation partner at Brabners and former president and officeholder of the society, credited Eccles-Bech with transforming what he described as a previously “sleepy, out-of-touch organisation” into one of the country’s leading local law societies, adding: “Fran has become a good friend to many people, including me.”
Lewis, who remains on the society’s council, described her as a “force of nature” who offered both support and forthright advice, adding: “MLS, the Manchester legal scene and countless individuals will miss Fran greatly.”
DWF partner Vikki Woodfine, another former president, said Eccles-Bech had been “the driving force behind so much that makes our legal scene special”.
Woodfine added that Eccles-Bech had championed successive generations of lawyers, supported their careers and promoted Manchester’s legal talent, adding that “she has helped create a legal community that is vibrant, engaged, collaborative and rightly celebrated across the profession”.
Victoria Ridge, a former colleague, described Eccles-Bech as her first mentor and a friend, saying: “You have led, pioneered and succeeded, not only as chief executive, but as a woman in a male-dominated profession.”
In its own farewell on LinkedIn, the society thanked Eccles-Bech for leaving it in good shape and praised her guidance, friendship and commitment. For her part, Eccles-Bech concluded: “I have every confidence that the society’s future is bright. It remains relevant, resilient and ambitious, and it is in the hands of talented people who care deeply about its continued success.”
Email your news and story ideas to: [email protected]
