The first thing the new representational Law Society should do is investigate why the old Law Society authorised the use of the Solicitor Indemnity Fund (SIF) surplus in large part to prop up the old Law Society staff final salary pension fund (see [2006] Gazette, 19 January, 1).

This is an outrageous thing to do. The money was collected to fund a projected shortfall in our old mutual indemnity fund as it was put into run-off. It was not paid to fund pension contri-butions, which should properly be met from income derived from practising certificates. The money belongs to those solicitors who were compelled to contribute to the shortfall during the relevant years.


Anthony Bogan, former Law Society Council member, London