A man from Kent has climbed the legal ladder and been elected Vice President of the Law Society of England and Wales.

Jonathan Smithers - a partner in prominent Tunbridge Wells' law firm CooperBurnett - is on course to complete his rise to the top of the legal profession in 2015 when he will become President.

Mr Smithers, who heads up CooperBurnett's property team, officially took over the post at The Law Society's AGM held in London on Thursday July 10.

His first official engagement as VP occurred the same day when he represented the Society at an official dinner attended by the Attorney Generals of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the US and UK.

He said: "It is an honour and a privilege to become the new Vice President.

"I am also grateful to my partners and colleagues at CooperBurnett who are supporting me in this new role."

"It is an honour and a privilege to become the new Vice President" - Jonathan Smithers

Mr Smithers joined CooperBurnett in 1984 and is a past president of both the Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and District Law Society and The Kent Law Society.

He is also a leading light in the successful establishment of The Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS), a best practice accreditation for solicitors engaged in property work.

CooperBurnett was established in 1981 by senior partner Nigel Burnett who continues to act for clients in all areas of property, commercial acquisitions and sales.

The firm provides both commercial services and advice to private clients.