Even after 40-plus years I have felt a warm glow of reassurance, as well as impending relief, when on my occasional visits to London I approach the portals of the Law Society's hall in Chancery Lane, generally with the intent of using the excellent loos and having a cup of coffee - but sometimes to look up something in the library.


A few years ago security was introduced. I accepted this as a sad necessity, but was offended to be given a 'visitor' badge. Me, a 'visitor' to my Law Society, to which I have paid my dues all these years. What does this say about the attitude of Chancery Lane towards the membership?



Today, arriving for my usual visit, I was asked what I wanted to do in the Law Society's hall and to produce my membership card. I may have received one sometime, but I don't recall and how many cards can you carry? I asked where I could get one, the answer: 'The Solicitors Regulation Authority'. Why should the SRA have anything to do with issuing  a card enabling me to visit my Law Society's hall?



Looking at its website I see that the SRA is 'the independent regulatory body of the Law Society of England and Wales', and of its board of 16, only seven are solicitors. While there is a passing reference to giving support to solicitors, the whole tenor of the website is that the SRA is there to protect the public against solicitors. Nothing there about supporting and promoting the solicitor's cause.



Turning to the Law Society's website, and hoping that it would make it clear that the society is there to promote the solicitor's cause, I found nothing. Searching Google for 'constitution of the Law Society of England and Wales' brought nothing, except a reference to the Law Society supporting the legal profession in Pakistan!



What is the purpose of the Law Society? I now feel alienated.



GWN Stewart, Ipswich.