The Law Society's wills and equity committee came into being in its current form in 1998.

It is required by its terms of reference to keep under review, and to promote improvement in, the law and procedure relating to wills, probate, trusts and charities; to consider and respond to relevant consultation papers from the Law Commission, the Lord Chancellor's Department, the Charity Commission and other branches of government; and to liaise with the probate section.Members, while representing a wide cross-section of types of practice, are selected primarily for their expertise in different fields, with a former charity commissioner and a number of leading authors and academics among its numbers, as well as specialist practitioners from the high street and larger private client firms.

As a result, the committee is able to bring a significant degree of experience and knowledge to its work.During the past year, the committee has dealt with issues generating a good deal of press coverage, such as the recent controversy over the government's insistence that original certificates now have to be purchased as proof of death, birth or marriage in place of solicitor-certified copies.

The committee worked hard with the Law Society's probate section, pressing the government to explain why it decided to change policy.

Bringing in the big guns with a letter from the president of the Law Society to the minister responsible, the committee was able to establish that there was little evidence to substantiate the government's claim that the change in policy was aimed at curbing a fraud problem.Questioning whether the change was a revenue-raising exercise, the Law Society secured a statement from the minister agreeing that a solicitor's letter notifying the facts of death could be used in place of an original certificate.

The committee continues to lobby on the subject.The committee welcomed MP Helen Southworth's early-day motion in Parliament calling for an increase in the widow's/widower's entitlement on intestacy -- an issue on which the committee has lobbied and which has generated some press comment the year.

Members worked closely with the Law Commission as the Trustee Bill progressed through its parliamentary stages, putting forward amendments to the draft Bill which were adopted prior to publication.

While welcoming the Trustee Act 2000 as the biggest change to trust law for 75 years, the committee looks forward to, and will continue to press for, further modernisation.Concerned that excitement at the opportunities offered by new technology was running ahead of consideration of professional conduct issues, the committee was among the first to offer guidance to the profession on the risks and responsibilities of doing business on the Internet (see [2000] Gazette, 8 June, 47).The new legislative and regulatory regime framed in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 generated a huge amount of work as the Society tried to digest the significance of proposals and secondary legislation flowing from the Act that could have radically transformed the way in which trust and financial services practitioners did business.The Society addressed issues of significance to the profession, pointing out where the wording of orders might have unintended effects resulting in the work of high street trust solicitors being drawn fully into the new regulatory frame work.

The Society has been broadly successful in minimising the impact of the new regime for most firms, as much of its analysis and con structive comment has been accepted by the government.Recently the committee responded to a number of Charity Commission consultations and each year it comments on the inheritance and capital tax aspects of the Budget.Committee members work with the probate section to represent the interests of solicitors on the board of the probate business review, which is currently considering how the probate registries operate and how the service can be improved, particularly through the introduction of new technology.

The review is part of a wider government review of the working of the civil courts.Our review board representatives will continue to support the existing excellent service provision by the registries and, while welcoming incremental improvements, will work to ensure that the overall review does not result in a reduction in the current level of service.The committee welcomes views from readers identifying areas of law where reform may be appropriate, and on practice issues where the committee may wish to consider issuing guidance.WILLS AND EQUITY COMMITTEECHAIRMANRichard Bark-Jones became chairman of the wills and equity committee in 1998, after serving as a member on predecessor committees.

He is a third-generation partner in Morecroft Urquhart, a Liverpool firm founded in 1813.

A former President of Liverpool Law Society, he lectures on trusts, wills and probate.

His interests, when not tasting the latest guest ale in his local, include sailing, skiing and (now as spectator) rugby.

Richard is married with three children, one of whom appears determined to follow her father into the profession.COMMITTEE MEMBERSMeg Andrews, Hartley & Worstenholme, CastlefordHelen Clarke, solicitor and academic, HarrogateRichard Ford (Chairman from September 2001), Wood Awdry & Ford, MarlboroughCharles Gordon, Foster Savage & Gordon, FarnboroughDiana Graves, Pemberton Greenish, LondonMurray Hallam, Withers, LondonMichael Hayes Macfarlanes, LondonProfessor Lesley King, solicitor & academic, LondonClive Margrave-Jones, Margraves, PowysNancy Nagle, Montague Harris, Chipping SodburyStephen Pallister, Pinsent Curtis Biddle, BristolGill Steel, solicitor and trainer, WinchesterRobert Venables, Bircham Dyson Bell, London.-- For additional information about the work of the wills and equity committee, contact Sonia Purser, policy adviser, the Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL, DX 56 London/Chancery Lane, e-mail: sonia.purser@lawsociety.org.uk.