Groups support Society's call to enlarge councilSpecialist solicitor groups have welcomed an appeal launched this week by the Law Society to register their interest in acquiring seats on an expanded governing council (see page 45).As part of wider reforms, the council last month approved plans for a more representative council with up to 120 seats.

There could be 39 more specialist seats and up to 5% lay membership.

The plan will be put to a special general meeting on 28 February.Franklin Sinclair, chairman of the Criminal Law Solicitors Association, confirmed that his group supported the reforms and specifically that of expanding the council.

He said: 'At the moment there is very little representation on the council of the coal face of criminal practice and we would welcome more.'Roger Bowden, chairman of the Local Government Group, also backed the principle of a larger council.

'Last year the council took one seat away from us which was less than satisfactory from our point of view,' he said, 'so we are keen to see a more representative council.'Young Solicitors Group chairman Mark Dillon welcomed the broad intention of the move but warned it would still be difficult for younger solicitors to join the council.

'Many younger fee-earners haven't got the freedom to give up their work time,' he said, adding that there needed to be 'more radical thinking done, such as allowing Saturday sittings'.