DEMOCRACY AT STAKE In 1995, a few colleagues and I were incensed by the proposal to pay the Law Society President the same remuneration as a High Court Judge - when so many colleagues were struggling on legal aid rate.

We managed to get 100 signatures calling for a poll - it was July-August, when many people were on holiday - and we were vindicated by a vote of more than 14,000 against 7,000-odd in the poll itself.It would have been impossible to get 500 signatures within the 28 days allowed, as is now proposed by the Law Society Council - and it seeks to abolish the right of 25% of those present at a meeting to call for a poll.

I suggest the increased number of members of the Society is irrelevant, and what is at issue is the reasonable functioning of a democratic system.

I urge all concerned to attend the special general meeting on 13 December and vote against this undemocratic proposal.Michael Ellman, solicitor, London