MR Rob Hargreaves has been named as the new president of Bury and District Law Society.

He took over the chains-of-office at the society's annual general meeting held at Bury Magistrates Court.

Mr Hargreaves (54) was born in Bury, educated at Bury Junior Technical School and the former Derby Grammar School. He lives with his wife Gail, a social worker, in New Moston.

After leaving school, he obtained an economics degree from London University before enjoying short careers both in journalism and teaching.

By the early 1980s, he gained a law degree and joined Bury based Butcher and Barlow solicitors. He is now the firm's litigation partner at Prestwich. In 1993, he joined the Bury and District Law Society, serving as press relations officer and parliamentary liaison officer.

Commenting on his new position within the society, which draws its members from solicitors in Bury and Rossendale, Mr Hargreaves said: "The profession is adapting to great change through information technology and the pace of legal reforms.

"The Government's reforms of legal aid have created many difficulties and the law society will be monitoring their effect on the local community. At this stage it is by no means certain that the Legal Services Commission will deliver better access to justice as the Government has promised.

"I hope to encourage the setting up of a self-help training course, locally, which will harness the expertise and experience of local solicitors."

Mr Hargreaves succeeds outgoing society president Ms Shefali Talukdar.