DAVID McINTOSHThe performance of the Law Society has been undermined by some of its leaders listening only to themselves and pursuing their individual agendas instead of commonly agreed ones.

No wonder staff morale has suffered and sections of our profession feel that their interests are being disregarded at Chancery Lane.What is needed to redress these negative impressions is a clean sweep that provides leaders with high reputations as practitioners who are capable of setting good examples as ambassadors for all solicitors.

Only when the merits of solicitors, as the main gateways to justice and enablers of commerce, are loudly and proudly acclaimed, will we all benefit from widespread approval which compares with the high marks which the profession's clients of all types give to their own solicitors.This will not be achieved by more of the same from Robert Sayer as an over-staying President who has already been in office for the past - and, some would say, worst - five years in the history of the Law Society, or by Anthony Bogan becoming Vice-President as somebody whose practice is now more in the nature of an estate agent's than a solicitor's.

They do not even agree with each other on how the Law Society should be reformed, yet both seek to dominate the reform process that, in truth, belongs to the entire profession.Instead of trusting the reform co-ordination group required by Council to present proposals as to the future role of the Law Society and composition of Council in time for the profession to decide on a new model by the end of the year, they insist on pursuing their own hobby horses with whoever agrees with them and have the gall to call that leadership.

Furthermore, Anthony Bogan is misconceived in asserting that Michael Napier and I want a Law Society that is a bare regulator.

We, in fact, favour the retention of both the regulatory and representative roles, but with distancing of the policing functions.

Unlike Anthony Bogan, we do not want the Law Society to become a trade union only.Just in time, given the pressures facing the Law Society, a fresh leadership team committed to serving the interests of all solicitors' practices, large and small, and also employed solicitors is on offer.

From our respective backgrounds as experienced practitioners, Michael Napier as President, and me as Vice President, alongside whoever succeeds me as Deputy Vice-President, will provide what has been missing.

Significantly, all three candidates for Deputy Vice-President support the two of us.What requires decision is whether the reform process and the ongoing activities of the Law Society, both regulatory and representative, and the interests of all solicitors will be better served by the Napier/McIntosh team approach or by the two odd men out.Help the Law Society to regain credibility so that it can properly serve the interests of and raise the reputations of all solicitors.

Vote Napier for President and McIntosh for Vice President.David McIntosh is Council member for the City of London.