... bringing you the latest news, views and information from The Law Society of Jersey.

This issue includes the sad news of the death of Advocate Michael Voisin, and a tribute to his distinguished professional life and outstanding contribution to the legal profession.

News from the Law Society includes notice of the impending retirement from office of the Bâtonnier, Advocate Mike Preston, on expiry of his three-year term and inviting nominations for the office of Bâtonnier of the Jersey Bar, a final reminder of the release of revised and refreshed standard seller questionnaires (SSQs), for mandatory use in residential property transactions completing after 1 August 2026, and of greater import, the news that reservations are now being taken for the Law Society's annual dinner on Friday 18 September 2026.

Important dates for members' diaries and a number of other court-related, government and regulatory announcements are also included, along with wellbeing, education and sits vac updates.

Members are reminded that the Directory section below contains links to the most up-to-date versions of various guidance notes and forms relevant to the profession, and now also includes links to the new SSQs.

The Law Society was saddened by the news that Michael Voisin, a retired advocate, had passed away on Tuesday, 14 July, 2026, aged 86 years. Michael will be greatly missed by all his family and many friends and former colleagues. The Law Society, on its own behalf and on behalf of all members, extends its deepest sympathies to Michael's family.

Voisin Law is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Advocate Michael Voisin, whose name remains an enduring part of our firm's history, identity, and legacy.

Michael joined the firm founded by his great-grandfather in February 1963 and dedicated four decades of his professional life to its development and success. When he retired in 2003, it marked the first time in the firm's then 107-year history that a member of the Voisin family was no longer at its helm. Ian Strang succeeded him as Senior Partner, continuing the strong foundations that Michael had helped to establish.

As Senior Partner from 1976 until his retirement, Michael led the firm through a period of significant growth and transformation, both for the practice itself and for Jersey's evolving legal and financial services sectors. A groundbreaking lawyer with a commercial outlook, he recognised early the opportunities that Jersey's unique constitutional and fiscal position presented and became one of the leading figures involved in promoting the Island as an international finance centre.

Michael was widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Jersey's finance industry. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, he championed Jersey on the international stage, lecturing at global conferences and writing extensively on the Island's role in international finance. Under his leadership, the Voisin law firm developed a strong international reputation, helping to position Jersey as a respected and sophisticated financial centre.

His vision extended beyond the legal profession. Michael understood that lawyers, alongside accountants, could play a central role in the development and administration of trust and corporate structures. He was one of the founders of Volaw Trust & Corporate Services Limited, established in 1982 to administer companies and trusts previously operated through the law practice. The business would later become VG Trust & Corporate Services Limited and grow into one of Jersey's significant trust company businesses, employing more than 115 people in the Island.

Michael's influence was not confined to private practice. Continuing a long family tradition of public service, he served as Deputy for St Lawrence between 1969 and 1975. During his time in the States of Jersey, he sat on both the Finance and Agriculture Committees and played an important role, alongside Ralph Vibert, in negotiating Jersey's special relationship with the European Economic Community. Those negotiations led to Protocol 3 of the Treaty of Accession, which came into force in 1973 and established Jersey's unique position within the EEC's customs arrangements while maintaining autonomy in areas such as financial services, taxation, and political representation. This framework would prove highly significant in supporting Jersey's future economic development.

Within the legal profession, Michael built a formidable reputation. Under his leadership, the firm acted on a number of pioneering and complex matters, including multi-jurisdictional litigation and the establishment of Jersey's first Shariah-compliant fund. He was also recognised for his expertise in planning law, particularly through his involvement in the long-running Lesquende case. His ambition, foresight and commitment to excellence helped create many of the foundations upon which Voisin Law continues to build today.

Michael was also a familiar and respected presence within Jersey's courts. Former colleagues fondly recall that court ushers affectionately nicknamed him "Mr Bojangles" because of the distinctive jangle of the chain bracelets he wore as he wrote in court – a small but memorable detail that reflected the character, individuality and presence that made him such a well-known figure to generations of legal professionals.

Reflecting on Michael's contribution, Principal Partner Jeffrey Giovannoni said:

"Michael Voisin was a significant figure in the history of our firm and in the development of Jersey's legal and financial services community. His leadership, ambition and belief in Jersey's potential helped shape both our practice and the wider industry. While many of our current team did not have the privilege of working alongside him, we continue to benefit from the legacy he helped create. On behalf of everyone at Voisin Law, I extend our sincere condolences to Michael's family, friends and former colleagues, and our gratitude for his lasting contribution."

Beyond his professional achievements, Michael embraced retirement with the same enthusiasm and energy that characterised his career. He divided his time between Jersey and his home in Majorca, enjoyed golf, and pursued a lifelong passion for deep-sea fishing. His travels in search of the next catch took him across the globe, from Venezuela to Mauritius and beyond.

As we remember Michael, we do so not only with sadness at his passing, but with deep appreciation for a life of remarkable achievement and service. His contribution to Voisin Law, to Jersey's legal profession and to the development of the Island's finance industry leaves a lasting legacy that will continue to be felt for many years to come.

Our thoughts are with Michael's family, friends, and loved ones at this difficult time.

Members are advised that Advocate Mike Preston's three-year term of office as Bâtonnier will come to an end in September 2026.  Advocate Preston does not intend to seek re-election.

In accordance with Article 33 of The Law Society of Jersey Law 2005, ordinary members who are advocates are required, every three years, to elect one of their number as the Bâtonnier, to be their head and to oversee the interests of the Bar.

Nominations are therefore invited for this honorary role. Please download the nomination form here.

Completed nomination forms should be provided to Neville Benbow at ceo@jerseylawsociety.je by close of business on 21 August 2026.

In the event that more than one nomination is received, a ballot amongst members of the Bar will be held.

The successful (if there is a ballot) or only (if there is one nominee) candidate will become Bâtonnier, subject to a formal election, which will be convened in the week commencing 14 September 2026.

As property practitioners will be aware, the Law Society Property & Conveyancing Sub-Committee (Sub-Committee) has been seeking to simplify residential conveyancing processes. Work has previously been undertaken to condense and standardise the typical due diligence questions asked by a purchaser’s lawyer, and the standard forms of the Standard Seller Questionnaire for Residential Properties, the Standard Seller Questionnaire for Share Transfer Properties, and the Standard Seller Questionnaire for Flying Freehold Properties were all adopted in 2022, and have been in use by practitioners since then.

The Sub-Committee has recently completed a review of the full set of standard form questionnaires, and now intends to implement revised, refreshed, updated and re-formatted versions of the standard seller questionnaires.

For ease of reference, please see below links to downloadable versions of the revised and updated SSQs (all dated 1 July 2026) below:

SSQ - Residential Properties (Freehold)

SSQ - Share Transfer Properties

SSQ - Residential Apartments (Flying Freehold)

Links to the revised and updated SSQs are included in the Directory section of Directions, and will remain there in the future.

All of the revised and updated SSQs have been approved by the Sub-Committee.

Property practitioners are asked to circulate this communication within their property and conveyancing teams and to ensure that the new and revised versions of the SSQs are downloaded for use going forward.

The Law Society recommends that the revised and updated SSQs are used going forward for transactions completing in July; the use of the revised and updated SSQs will, however, be mandatory for all transactions due to complete after 1st August 2026.

Any queries in relation to the SSQs should in the first instance be directed to Jonathan Bale at manager@jerseylawsociety.je, who is collating any queries for review and appropriate consideration in due course by the Sub-Committee.

Reservations are now being taken for The Law Society of Jersey's Annual Dinner which celebrates the Opening of the Legal Year, being held at L'Horizon Hotel, St Brelade on Friday 18 September 2026.

Attendance is open to Ordinary, Non-Practising, Retired and Student Members of the Law Society, as well as Advocates and Solicitors working in the Law Officers' Department, Viscount's Department or Judicial Greffe.

Lawyers qualified in other jurisdictions who are working for Jersey law firms may also attend.

As the dinner is again being held on the same day as the Assise d'Héritage, and will be attended by members of the Court, we would very much anticipate strong representation from firms and across the whole profession, including lawyers in the Law Officers' Department and in non-practising roles outside law firms.

The Jersey Law Course Prizegiving will also be held at the dinner.

The details of the dinner are as follows:

📅 Date: 18 September 2026

🕛 Time: 7:00pm for 7:30pm

📍 Location: Hotel L'Horizon

Speaker: His Excellency Vice Admiral Sir Jeremy Kyd KBE, Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey

Click Booking to download the booking form.

Early bookings are encouraged to avoid disappointment as capacity is limited. Bookings should, in any event, be made by Friday 28 August 2026.

All bookings and dinner enquiries should be directed to the Operations Manager on 01534 613950 or manager@jerseylawsociety.je.

As members and firms will be aware, the Law Society's subscriptions for Ordinary Members are now payable in two instalments.

The second instalment for 2026, comprising 50% of the year's subscription rate, have now been issued to firms and, where applicable, individuals.

Subscription invoices are based upon Law Society membership records as at 30 June 2026.  Any subsequently notified changes in firm or status will not be reflected in invoices. 

Members are reminded that subscriptions are payable on demand. Prompt payment is requested.

Members are further reminded of the terms of Bye-Law 13 of the Law Society's Bye-Laws, regarding the potential consequences of late payment or failure to pay.

Please note that subscriptions are subject to GST.

Any queries in relation to subscriptions should be directed to the Accounts Department on 01534 613909 or by email accounts@jerseylawsociety.je.

The Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority (JCRA) is consulting on the implementation of the new Competition (Mergers and Acquisitions) (Jersey) Order 2026 (the 2026 Order), which will come into effect on 1 November 2026.

The consultation

The JCRA is preparing for the effective implementation of the 2026 Order and, through consultation, is seeking stakeholder views on:

• the JCRA’s proposed approach to call-in powers;
• the potential introduction of a simplified notification; and
• the use of voluntary applications and briefing notes.

We welcome your responses to the questions set out in the consultation, which can be found here: C-005 - Updates to the Competition (Mergers and Acquisitions) (Jersey) Order 2010 | JCRA. Responses should be submitted by 4 August 2026 to competition@jcra.je.

Engagement with the JCRA

Throughout the consultation process, there will be opportunities for stakeholders to engage directly with the JCRA to discuss the proposals.

Further drop-in sessions for stakeholders will be held on 27 and 28 July, between 12:00 and 14:00, at the JCRA’s Office 2nd Floor Salisbury House, 1 - 9 Union Street, St Helier, Jersey.

Stakeholders may also request a meeting by appointment, on a first come, first serve basis. Please contact competition@jcra.je to arrange an appointment.

A webinar will be held on 29 July. Please contact competition@jcra.je to register your interest.

Practitioners will find the latest news and events published by the Jersey Financial Services Commission here.

Practitioners are advised that the Licensing Assembly will meet in ordinary session on :

 

📅 Thursday 24 September 2026 at 10.00am

📅 Thursday 17 December 2026 at 10.00am

for the purpose of considering applications under the Licensing (Jersey) Law 1974.

Advance notice is given that this year's Assise d’Héritage will be held on Friday 18 September 2026.

As advocates will be expected to renew their oath at the Assise d’Héritage, they are respectfully requested to 'save the date'.

​September 8 - His Majesty The King's Accession
​November 8​ - ​Remembrance Day (second Sunday in November)
​November 14 - ​Anniversary of the birthday of His Majesty the King
​November 30 - ​St Andrew's Day (in Scotland)

Further information on dates for flying flags on buildings for 2026 and flag flying in general can be found here.

The 2026 Women in the Law - Wellbeing report by the Next 100 Years: Women In Law project, supported by LawCare, RPC, and Goodbody Wellness Company, surveyed over 500 women in the legal sector.

This important report finds that women in the legal profession face significant structural barriers, which limit their progression to senior roles despite their strong representation overall. Many experience high levels of stress, anxiety, and burnout, affecting both wellbeing and career decisions, with some considering leaving the profession.

85% of respondents had experienced health and wellbeing issues that had affected their work in the past five years.

70% had experienced ongoing exhaustion or low energy frequently or almost constantly, not fully relieved by rest.

65% of those experiencing exhaustion did not feel comfortable raising it at work.

67% have considered moving jobs or taking a career break due to health and wellbeing issues.

50% do not believe their current working pattern is sustainable for their health in the long term.

43% do not feel they can openly discuss health and wellbeing concerns at work without negative consequences.

A lack of openness around these issues worsens the problem, while poor wellbeing has wider impacts on individuals, organisations, and the profession’s standards and reputation. The report calls for urgent, systemic change, emphasising that improving women’s workplace experiences is a shared responsibility and that embedding wellbeing and inclusive cultures must be a priority.

LawCare is the mental wellbeing charity for the legal profession. They’ve been supporting legal professionals for over 25 years and understand life in the law.

LawCare offer free, confidential, emotional support, peer support and resources to those working in the law in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. They promote mental health and wellbeing best practice in legal workplaces and drive culture change in education, training and practice.

If you need support contact the LawCare helpline on 0800 279 6888 (open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday), email support@lawcare.org.uk or access online chat and other resources at www.lawcare.org.uk.

LawCare supports all branches of the legal profession: advocates, solicitors, barristers, judges, chartered legal executives, paralegals, trademark attorneys, patent attorneys, costs lawyers, notaries, licensed conveyancers, support staff and concerned family members.

The Law Society of Jersey is proud to be associated with, and to support the work of, LawCare.

Life in law is fast-paced and demanding. Practitioners spend so much time helping others that their own wellbeing can take a back seat.

The Legal Pause is a podcast dedicated to putting solicitor wellbeing first. They will also introduce you to fresh perspectives (sometimes the controversial ones!) about issues that often get overlooked.

Their podcast offers expert conversations on solicitor wellbeing, plus practical insights you can use in everyday life and work. In just half an hour, it’s a pause that fits easily into your routine while leaving you feeling more balanced and supported.

More details, and where to download the podcasts from, can be found here.

Applications are now open for the Jersey Law Course commencing in October 2026. Those who wish to apply for the course should complete this application form: Jersey Law Course Application 2026-27.

Please note that the deadline for applications is 11th September 2026. Anyone who would like guidance or information about the course should contact Advocate Claire Davies at the Institute of Law (claire.davies@iol.ac.je) or go to Jersey Law Course page on the Institute's website Jersey Law Course - Institute of Law Jersey.

The Legal Policy & Research Unit (LPRU) of the International Bar Association has created a podcast series interviewing inspiring IBA members from around the world with interesting careers and remarkable stories.

Each guest shares their thoughts and experiences about what it means to be a woman in the legal profession and how they have navigated different types of workplaces and challenges over the course of their career. The series covers women across all sectors of the law.

The third episode of its Inspirational legal women podcast Series 2, featuring Fiona McLeod AO KC, a senior counsel with more than 30 years’ experience practising across Australia in commercial and public law, including doing considerable work on class actions and royal commissions, is now live, and you can listen to it here.

A complete list of upcoming IBA events can be found on their conference diary page.

Are you looking for that next job on the legal career ladder? Click Legal Vacancies to see the latest job adverts.

Individuals who are looking for that next Legal career move can also register to receive details of the latest vacancies as soon as they become available. Go to the Legal Vacancies page and click on the 'Subscribe' button under the heading "Subscribe to job alerts" and follow the instructions.

If your firm wishes to advertise any vacancies, please send the following information to Sits Vac:

• the job or role title - with a brief description of the role
• the term - whether Full Time / Part Time / Contract
• a job description (if available)
• details of the remuneration package (or indicate as Negotiable or Market Rate)
• when the role is available from
• how to apply
• the name and contact details for a contact point for condidates to request further details
• the closing date for applications (if any)

Please include a small image file of the firm's latest logo in the email.

Advertising of vacancies for law firms is currently free of charge.

To discuss any aspect of advertising your vacancy, please call Jonathan Bale on 01534 613950.

To view/download the latest Guidance Notes, please click :

Guidance Note GN01 - The Route to Qualification as a Jersey Lawyer

Guidance Note GN02 - Use of AI in the Legal Profession

Guidance Note GN03 - Notifications to the Law Society

Guidance Note GN05 - CPD Eligible Activities

Guidance Note GN06 - CPD Waivers and Sanctions

Guidance Note GN09 - Non-Practising and Retired Members - Limitations and Obligations

To view / download the most up-to-date Law Society forms, please click :

Code of Conduct - Membership Update form (individuals)

Code of Conduct - Legal Services Body Update form

Code of Conduct - CPD Record template (Excel) (preferred)

Code of Conduct - CPD Record template (Word)

Code of Conduct - Waiver Application form

Accounts Rules - Accountant's Certificate template

Accounts Rules - Accountant's Reporting Checklist template

Accounts Rules - Member's Report template

Accounts Rules - Waiver Application form

Standard Form Documents:

Standard Seller Questionnaire - Residential Property (Freehold)

Standard Seller Questionnaire - Share Transfer Properties

Standard Seller Questionnaire - Residential Apartments (Flying Freehold)

CEO (Neville Benbow)

Email: ceo@jerseylawsociety.je

Operations Manager (Jonathan Bale)

Email: manager@jerseylawsociety.je

Telephone: +44 (0)1534 613950

Accounts

Email: accounts@jerseylawsociety.je

LawCare: LawCare is the mental health charity for everyone in the 
legal sector.

The Solicitors' Charity: The Solicitors’ Charity has been supporting solicitors at times of need since 1858.

Jersey Family Court Advisory Service (JFCAS). To book 1:1 sessions, which take place on the last Friday of each month, go to Eventbrite.

Jersey Gazette

Any links to third-party websites are provided solely for informational purposes. Inclusion of such links does not constitute or imply our endorsement, approval, or affiliation with the linked site or its operators.

Should you wish to submit anything for publication in the Law Society's Directions newsletter, please write in the first instance to Submissions.

Details of forthcoming events which are relevant to the legal profession should be sent to Events.

Directions is published fortnightly on a Friday, with a copy deadline of the preceding Wednesday.