Doing the business

Ramon Mullerat, the eminent Spanish lawyer, has tabled a resolution for the International Bar Association conference in Amsterdam next week which may appear to be about motherhood and apple pie, but is in fact more contentious.

Mr Mullerat, the former president of the Council of the Law Societies and Bars of Europe, will call on the conference to resolve 'that lawyers should render their professional services avoiding commercialism, meaning an excessive and inappropriate emphasis on profit.'

Dispelling suggestions that lawyers are motivated by greed is a worthy endeavour.

But there is perhaps a sub-text to Mr Mullerat's call.

He is a well-known opponent of the concept and practice of multi-disciplinary partnerships, and his proposed resolution could have more of a political impetus than is initially apparent.

In contrast, industrialist Sir John Harvey-Jones last week told the Institute of Legal Executives that proficiency in the principles of good business is crucial to UK law firms' long-term survival.

These arguments reflect the prevalent tension between professionalism and commercialism.

Legal practice is becoming more of a commodity, from legal aid contracts to Hammond Suddards Edge's offer of conveyancing over the telephone and via the Internet rather than face-to-face.

Solicitors' firms must be successful in order for them to aspire to and achieve the high ideals and principles which form the crucial elements of being a complete lawyer.