David Greene

David Greene, 64, told The Times that while it would be “wrong” to suggest the attack flowed from politicians’ statements, they “should be careful in their words when in this particular atmosphere and have to avoid the rhetoric of blaming lawyers when solicitors and barristers are simply doing their jobs”.

Setting out his concerns for the year ahead, the new Law Society president also warned that a no-deal Brexit will mean that lawyers who were able to practise across the EU will at the end of this year be faced with a labyrinth of bureaucratic processes in different countries.

Mr Greene also commented on diversity in the profession and argued that the term BAME is too broad and ignores differences within ethnic minority groups.

He said that “the experience of black and Asian lawyers is often very different. And indeed the experience between Afro-Caribbean lawyers and African lawyers is also very different”.

He also said the Law Society is studying “issues around disabled lawyers – and white working class men. This is important work because the profession should reflect the wider population and clients”.