CAROLYN KIRBYWhy would anyone in their right mind want to be an office-holder of an organisation which currently enjoys such a negative public perception as the Law Society?The answer in my case is that I believe the profession is entitled to be proud of the work that it does, and the integrity and professionalism of the vast majority of its members.

It is also entitled to be represented in a way which projects and emphasises that professionalism.

Most solicitors feel justifiably frustrated that recent friction and political in-fighting has obscured the good work, often carried out for modest reward, which is being done in every town and city in the country.The same frustration exists within the Law Society itself.

The profession, the press and the public rarely have a chance to appreciate the very considerable positive side to the Society's activities, not least in the work of its specialist committees and task forces.

Alongside the staff contribution, a large number of practitioners give a considerable voluntary-time commitment to the management of the profession, the furtherance of law reform and the promotion of opportunities for professional excellence.

I believe that the politicisation of the role of the Society's office-holders in recent years has been significantly detrimental to good leadership and I wish to see a reversal of that trend.Leadership of the Law Society needs to be carried out collectively between the profession's elected representatives (the Council) and the office-holders who bear the responsibility of interfacing with the government and all the profession's other external stakeholders.

That collective responsibility requires an atmosphere of mutual respect and co-operation which has been regrettably lacking in the past year.

The present reform process, to which the Council and the management executive are all fully committed, is putting in place a modern, streamlined framework for the representation and regulation of the profession.

Included in those reforms is a review of the remit and membership of Council.

We must ensure that the profession is appropriately and cogently represented on its governing body, but it is not sensible to determine the who until we establish the what.So - why me? I am a 47-year-old solicitor with more than 20 years' experience in private practice.

I also have a wide range of management and administrative experience both within and outside the legal profession.

I have been active within the local law societies' group for 15 years, and have a better appreciation than most of the concerns of the profession across the whole spectrum of practice.My views on the current issues facing the profession and the skills which I can bring to bear on them are set out in more detail in my statement which accompanies the voting papers currently being circulated and I would urge you to read the statements in full before voting.I believe that Michael Napier and David McIntosh will provide the positive, dynamic leadership the profession requires and I ask for your support in electing me to assist them.Carolyn Kirby is the Council member for mid and west Wales