Chairman set to reform the LGG INTERVIEW: Roberts looks to the future for local governmentNigel Roberts, the newly-elected chairman of the Law Societys Local Government Lawyers Group (LGG), took the long way round before settling on a career in...Nigel Roberts, the newly-elected chairman of the Law Societys Local Government Lawyers Group (LGG), took the long way round before settling on a career in local government.

Articled with Birmingham family practice Brevitts in 1982, he remained at the firm for six years before moving in-house to work for the Nat West Bank in Birmingham.In 1992, he decided he was looking for a real change and accepted a job with Wychavon District Council, a rural authority south of Birmingham, where he spent four years litigating and facilitating white collar compulsory competitive tendering.Moving to West Oxfordshire District Council in 1996, to become head of legal services, he joined the international projects group of the LGG, and became international officer with a seat on the national executive becoming vice chairman last year.Mr Roberts aims to emphasise three issues.

First, he wants to promote the importance and significance of public and administrative law.

Over the past years there has been an explosion of statutes affecting civil rights, human rights, crime and data protection.

It is not enough for lawyers simply to react to this, they must become the guardians of civil rights.Other legislation has increased dramatically the extent of involvement of lawyers within the local government, as they calculate whether the council is acting within its powers in its new relations to healthcare, police, and schools, he says.Mr Robertss second goal is the promotion of in-house law within local authorities as a legitimate career path.

I want to encourage trainees into the sector, and get them to stay in the sector, he says.He proposes the creation of a separate training sub-committee for the LGG, and a careers action plan, targeting universities, careers offices, law schools and careers fairs.He says: Local government is a fascinating and special area of the law; steering a path between choppy political waters, it is a fast-evolving environment in which to do law.Unfortunately, he says, there has been a past perception that local government is an area that people fall into, rather than choose, and he adds, I want to see that swept away.The third goal is to increase the influence of the Local Government Group within the Law Society.

The current reforms at Chancery Lane reflect many of those in local government creating a well-organised structure with a national executive.He maintains that the LGGs systems for networking, work assistance, self-help and training have much to teach Chancery Lane in its quest for stronger governance and relevance.Jeremy Fleming