MERGER: Devon, Exeter and Somerset pool resources


Two West Country law societies are to merge, ending more than 200 years of independence and creating the largest local law society outside the major conurbations.



Somerset Law Society, which can trace its history back to 1796, is to merge with Devon & Exeter Law Society, which celebrates its 200th birthday next year. The new body will be called Devon Exeter & Somerset Law Society (DESLS) and have around 1,200 members.



Devon & Exeter honorary secretary Tony Spiers said: 'The merged society will be able to make use of a wider range of talents and resources to provide an even better service to our members.'



He added that DESLS had already received the accolade of being chosen as the venue for two meetings of the Federation of European Bars (FBE) in 2008. 'It's a real honour to welcome the FBE to the south-west. It normally meets in some glittering European city.'



Crispin Hayllar, president of the Somerset Law Society and a family law partner at Bridgewater firm Alletsons, said that the merger meant his membership would benefit from a higher level of continuing professional development, events and representation.



He added: 'But there's a degree of sadness, tinged with an air of practical realism, at losing our independent status after more than 200 years.'



Jonathan Rayner