TIM WALLIS, chairman of North-East based Crutes Law Firm, has been re-appointed as a member of the Civil Justice Council by Lord Falconer of Thoroton, the Lord Chancellor.

The Civil Justice Council is responsible for overseeing and co-ordinating the modernisation of the civil justice system and for advising the Lord Chancellor on ensuring the system is fair, accessible and efficient. Members include judges, barristers, solicitors and consumer representatives.

Mr Wallis' involvement, as a member, will include attending quarterly meetings to discuss and agree responses to formal consultation papers.

He said: "To be reappointed to the council is a great honour, both for Crutes Law Firm and for me. It is exciting to be involved at national level in the major issues of the day, be they the compensation culture or more technical questions such as legal costs."

Crutes employs 193 people including 23 partners at offices in Teesside, Newcastle and Carlisle.