Whether facing new and fierce competition, or trying to ensure access to justice for all, solicitors can make great strides by adopting a ‘can-do’ approach, writes Andrew Holroyd


What will be the secret to success in the new legal landscape? Achieving economies of scale? Specialisation? Innovative business models?



The answer – in part – is, of course, all of the above. But more than that, it is about the approach and culture of excellence that can be found in all our very best practices. This is something I have seen in spades in my recent regional visits to Middlesex and the north-east. It is what I would describe as the ‘can-do’ attitude.



What do I mean by ‘can-do’? I mean the sort of attitude demonstrated by a small high street firm I visited. They predict supermarkets will soon try to enter their market, yet they are not intimidated. They are not only planning to survive; they are also planning to thrive and to beat the supermarkets. They have created a bespoke conveyancing package to provide an excellent service to their clients and they are proud of it. They are ‘can-do’.



There has never been a better time to consider these issues. Change is here. The Legal Services Bill is now an Act of Parliament. We will face new and sometimes fierce competition. How will we react? Like the firm in Middlesex? By planning and by taking a thorough and holistic look at what we do and how we do it? By anticipating the strengths and weaknesses not just of our own business, but of the competition too? Or will we baulk at the first sign of competition? The choice, as they say, is yours.



This ‘can-do’ attitude was certainly something shared by all the nominees at our inaugural Law Society Excellence Awards. One young solicitor in particular, Andrew Campbell, may not have walked away with the award, but he had ‘can do’ written all over him. He has, quite literally, got on his bike (or rather his motorbike), and made his pastime and passion for motorbikes into a business for motorcyclists, carving out a very successful niche for himself in the process.



A particularly topical award was the Law Society Award for Excellence in Social Responsibility, because this month we are launching the sixth National Pro Bono Week, supported by the Prince of Wales. Within the profession, there is a quiet pride about all the pro bono work solicitors undertake – it does, after all, predate the days of corporate social responsibility and it is something solicitors have always undertaken without fanfare or fireworks.



I believe it is also vital that we trumpet all the pro bono work that solicitors undertake through pro bono week. Awareness is everything. We cannot assume the public – not least those who would benefit from pro bono work – understand what it is and how they get it.



Pro bono work is part of being a lawyer. It is a manifestation of that ‘can-do’ attitude once again, but in a social, not an entrepreneurial, setting. In a sometimes segmented profession, it reminds us of our common roots. It is a link between law students (who also make a valued contribution) and senior partners; and there can be no better example of the legal profession working in partnership with the voluntary sector.



Our own research underlines just how incredible a contribution is made by private practice solicitors alone. Two-thirds have conducted pro bono work at some point in their careers. In monetary terms, the value of these solicitors’ pro bono work alone equates to nearly £350 million – an estimated 2% of total gross fee income.



Pro bono work is, of course, at the heart of a basic tenet of our legal system – that access to justice should be shared and enjoyed by all. A special guest at the Excellence Awards, Beatrice Mtetwa, president of the Law Society of Zimbabwe, is dedicated to ensuring just that. And if there had been an award for ‘can do’, she would have been the unanimous winner.



The few television pictures that come out of Zimbabwe can only tell a fraction of the story of the hardships people face. Economic and political crises have precipitated a dramatic deterioration in human rights and the rule of law. Beatrice is one of only a handful of lawyers left conducting human rights work.



Beatrice and her colleagues’ fortitude in the face of daily threats to their lives inspired everyone at the Excellence Awards show and she received a heartfelt ovation. Whether at home or abroad, the Law Society of England and Wales has always promoted the rule of law and we are keen to match that solidarity with practical support to her and her colleagues.



For that reason, we aim to raise the £100,000 that the Law Society of Zimbabwe desperately needs by the end of December. More details on the immense courage shown by our colleagues in Zimbabwe, how the money would be spent and how to make personal or corporate donations to the appeal can be found on our website. We can all do our own little bit to help our colleagues uphold the rule of law in Zimbabwe.



Andrew Holroyd is President of the Law Society