Build bright future for trainees

The Law Society Council must be reformed so that trainee solicitors and LPC students can be represented, argues Theeba RagunathanAt the Law Societys recent...The Law Society Council must be reformed so that trainee solicitors and LPC students can be represented, argues Theeba RagunathanAt the Law Societys recent special general meeting, president Michael Napier gave solicitors the chance to vote on key aspects of the Societys reform proposals.

These are:l An increase to a maximum of 120 seats on the Societys council;l The appointment of up to five lay members to the council, and;l Trainees and legal practice course students to have direct representation on the council.All three resolutions were carried at the SGM, with only the last resolution by the required two-thirds majority required to amend the Societys charter.As chairwoman of the Trainee Solicitors Group, I urge the profession to support all the resolutions in the postal ballot, as they recognise the need for diversity, inclusiveness, and more importantly progression.

The students and trainees of today, in the year 2001 are the solicitors of the new millennium and are the future of the profession.The TSG represents enrolled students, trainees and newly qualified solicitors, totalling nearly 36,000, or 22.4% of the profession.

Our membership contributes some 3.36 million or nearly 6% to the Law Societys income without the benefit of direct representation on the council for the largest part of our members.The TSG has fought for years for proper recognition of our members in the profession and within firms.

Being a member of an organisation such as the TSG one that can make a difference for trainees, and for others is an important feature of professional life.In a profession where apathy towards its professional body can be seen by the steadily dwindling interest in the annual election of its officeholders (from 30% to 18% over five years) the involvement of younger members is vital if the Law Society is to remain in touch with entrants to the profession.

For too long council decisions affecting the future of the profession as well as legal education and training have been made without direct representation from trainees and legal practice course students.In 1999, we were fortunate to gain observer status on the council, closely followed by representation of newly qualified solicitors by a council member, Peter Sigee.

Their contribution has been invaluable in supporting TSG members.

The TSG asked the Law Society to ring-fence the administration fee for training and education paid by LPC students.

This has been done from September 2000.The TSG asked the Law Society to improve the monitoring of training contracts.

As a direct result of this, the Law Society has implemented a system to focus on firms whose treatment of their trainees is less than adequate and via a generous grant from the Law Society Charity Trustees the TSG can now monitor the results of our work through our helpline.The Law Society has had 175 years in which students, and trainee solicitors, have been unable to have their voices heard in the council chamber, other than through the goodwill of those admitted to the profession.

The council should, and must, reflect the diversity of the profession through its membership.

I urge you to support the reform process, and to vote to allow trainee solicitors and LPC students to be directly represented on the Law Societys Council.

Recognition that democracy for the young is a right not a privilege and it is overdue.Theeba Ragunathan is the chairwoman of the Trainee Solicitors Group and a newly qualified solicitor at London-based William Sturges