Discouraging Interest


Law Society chief executive Desmond Hudson's reply to Justin Atkinson's letter is a sad reflection of how the Society sees its role and the efforts of its increasingly frustrated and demoralised members (see [2007] Gazette, 1 March, 14).



Mr Hudson says that membership of the criminal litigation accreditation scheme is 'unlikely to be interesting or useful to most users because the scheme applies to duty solicitors who are assigned'. But if the effort has been put in, then surely that should be flagged up and 'users' should be encouraged to take an interest in any such record of particular expertise.



Mr Hudson's reply suggests that the content of the website is being reviewed. In this world of consumers (rather than clients), I suppose that is all one can expect. Nonetheless, we should start thinking of the 'suppliers' rather than 'consumers', otherwise there will be no one willing to bother to supply the service, and then there will be nothing to put on the precious website.



Anthony Mace, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire