Finding a new resolve for 2003

What will the new year bring for the profession? We asked top lawyers what tops their lists

Carolyn Kirby, president of the Law Society

I hope that during the next year the profession will consistently provide excellent customer service across the board, to match the excellent advice almost all solicitors already provide.

The customer guides and the client's charter we will be sending out early in the new year should help with that.

For the Law Society and its council, I hope we can concentrate on the key issues facing the profession - the need to enhance our regulatory procedures; and the need to represent all sectors effectively so that we serve the profession and the public to the best of our abilities.

Jason Rowley, president of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers

I resolve to remove the word "costs" from the front page of the Gazette during 2003.

To achieve this resolution, I will use my presidency to foster the discussions now taking place on a phased implementation of predictable costs for personal injury claims in the fast-track, agreement of levels of recoverable success fees and after-the-event premiums, and forecasting costs in the multi-track.

I also resolve to strengthen the relationships with similar organisations in terms of initiatives on rehabilitation, structured settlements, alternative dispute resolution and court service/judicial issues.

Patrick Allen, president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers

I sincerely hope that in the near future, personal injury clients will get their damages in full and quickly, because the cost of satellite litigation will fade away, and the indemnity principle will be abolished.

Sensible people on both sides will agree a protocol to settle cost disputes quickly, without rancour and without mind-numbing points on oral explanations and technical regulations.

There are signs that this is beginning to happen.

Richard Miller, director of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group

The LAPG resolves to lead the way in representing legal aid lawyers in 2003 by presenting strong arguments to the Legal Services Commission to change practices and proposals that are damaging to practitioners without any counterbalancing benefit to the taxpayer or to clients; by challenging the negative view of legal aid and its practitioners presented in the press; by ensuring that the Law Society takes full account of the impact of its policies; and by ensuring that our members are kept well informed about what is happening.

We also resolve not to be rude about government ministers - so long as they are not rude about us first.

Sue Bucknall, director of the Solicitors Pro Bono Group

My new year resolution is to encourage all lawyers to do two pieces of legal pro bono work during 2003.

It's not a lot to ask.

In just one visit to an evening legal advice centre, most lawyers do three or four cases each, so one visit in the year would suffice.

But what a difference all of that pro bono work makes.

Our LawWorks for community groups project helped nearly 100 community groups last year, which represent more than half a million people.

The advice was valued at more than 375,000.

In just one of the LawWorks clinics last year, almost 4,500 pieces of pro bono advice were given and we are now supporting and opening new evening clinics in London and elsewhere, including three in Manchester and one in Birmingham.

To encourage this resolution, the SPBG will give free membership to all individuals and legal aid firms who volunteer to perform (and tell us about) two pieces of pro bono.

If allowed a traditional new year wish as well, it would be for some fairy godmother to produce the funds so that the SPBG charity could work without worrying daily about money.

Karen Mackay, director of the Legal Action Group

This year should be the year that the debate on delivering legal services really moves on, and LAG will be at the forefront of that debate.

The government has to start really joining up its thinking - legal aid services need to be recognised as a vital part of the welfare state and as a means of tackling social exclusion.

Practitioners also need to start thinking outside the box and look at other ways of delivering legal aid services.

Heads in the Treasury should be banged together; early legal advice can nip problems in the bud, saving public money in the longer term.

It's about time that was understood.

Richard Kaye, assistant at Exeter-based Veitch Penny and publicity and media officer for the Young Solicitors Group

In 2003, the Young Solicitors Group's aims are as varied as the members we are representing.

We work for almost 50,000 solicitors and so we have to encompass a number of different priorities.

For example, one of our priorities in 2003 will be achieving the regulation barring the recovery of deductibles from assistant solicitors (the CROSS campaign).

Many assistant solicitors are being harassed, threatened or sued by employers and this must stop.

Furthermore, the reward of pro bono work with our successful pro bono awards takes on a new dimension this year, being included in the Law Society's national pro bono week.

We are also providing services to our membership and launching our new Web site on 17 January with products and information for our members.

Ali Zaidi, chairman of the Society of Asian Lawyers and partner with London firm Edwin Coe

On behalf of the Society of Asian Lawyers, may I take this opportunity of wishing all your readers a happy new year.

May the Legal Services Commission give you more than you claim; may your expenses claims never be questioned; may your eternally grateful clients sing your praises even though they lost with costs on an indemnity basis; may you be played by Brad Pitt/Jennifer Lopez in the movie of your life; and may the partner you slandered at the Christmas party not sue.

In short, I hope you receive all of what you wish and little of what you may deserve.

The SAL has a number of resolutions for the year 2003: to continue growth in numbers and remain one of the largest legal societies; to support our student members; to work with/against the Law Society (note to secretary: check whether the president sent me a Christmas card and amend previous sentence appropriately); to affect policy making in government; to get my photo in the Gazette more often.

Nadia Akhtar, chairwoman of the Trainee Solicitors Group and trainee at DLA's Manchester office

The Trainee Solicitors Group aims to build upon the successes of the past year.

The group's overall objective is to seek the full and active representation of all our members by supporting tomorrow's solicitors today.

The TSG aims to ensure that its members receive a wide range of services in line with the Law Society's pastoral care recommendations - by greater publicity of the TSG's new Web site, the freephone helpline service and the TSG's regular publications, including The Trainee and Training Contract Handbook.

The TSG will investigate the ever-rising levels of debt among law students and how this may be hindering access to the law and preventing the creation of a truly diverse legal profession.

Nigel Boardman, head of corporate, Slaughter and May

Wishes and hopes for 2003: Arsenal do the treble; the Financial Services Authority lives up to its promise as a "light touch" regulator; journalists and investors learn to distinguish between fraud and corporate governance failures on the one hand, and business decisions which they at the time praised but which have proved wrong; London solves its traffic congestion and reduces violent crime, both of which weaken the City's attraction as a financial centre; all other major UK firms complete transatlantic mergers; the FTSE swallows Viagra; someone manages to create the first UK/US dual listed company; and JK Rowling publishes her next Harry Potter novel.

Rodney Warren, director of the Criminal Law Solicitors Association and chairman of the Law Society's access to justice committee

I dream of waking in the morning, following a busy night in the police station and knowing that I am entitled to time off to recover from the lack of sleep that being duty solicitor brings.

Of going to my office, currently being refurbished at the state's expense and dealing with the day's cases with clients patiently queuing in the waiting room, having turned up on time.

Although I have started the day knowing that at the end of the month I will get my pay cheque and a further contribution to my indexed final salary pension for seeing as many clients as I can in normal working hours, I can, outside hours, see and charge clients privately to supplement my income.

That's how it actually is for my brother.

He's a doctor.

Sue Carter, chairwoman of the Sole Practitioners Group

The Sole Practitioners Group has been trying to resolve a formalisation of relations with the Law Society for two years.

It is important that we reach a satisfactory conclusion in the next 12 months.

The Sole Practitioners Group aims to continue to improve the help given to sole practitioners in representational, pastoral and regulatory matters.

We must continue to enhance the reputation of sole practitioners.

We must continue to press mortgage lenders to instruct us.

We must enhance our local groups.

We must encourage the Law Society to be "our friend", and have a balance between work and home life.