In-house income rises

In-house income rises

IN-HOUSE: The Law Society's C&I Group is owed up to 150,000

The Law Society's Commerce & Industry Group (C&I) has doubled its income in the past year, in spite of being owed up to 150,000 by a former training provider.Income has increased from 59,023 to 112,743, but should be at least 170,000, said the group's outgoing chairman Edward Smethurst at its annual meeting last week.The increase is attributable to greater Law Society funding, sponsorship, commercial funding and generated income.Mr Smethurst told members: 'We are in ongoing negotiations with [Peter Godber of Court Training Services] with a view to him releasing the monies.

'He was not prepared to undertake courses in the regions which we were very keen to do, so we amended the agreement with him in favour of another provider.'The group's annual report described the cash owed by Mr Godber as a 'very significant amount'.

It said: 'Although we cannot and have not accounted for these monies until they are received, we are advised that these sums should be well in excess of 100,000 if the group receives the monies that are due and payable.'Mr Godber said he has been pressing the group to enter into negotiations since 6 April.

'The ball has been in the court of the C&I Group for two-and-a-half months,' he said.

He added that he has provided training courses and conferences for the group for ten years and remained 'extremely happy' to do so.At the meeting, C&I members voted unanimously to turn the group into a company limited byguarantee, a move described by Mr Smethurst as 'momentous'.

Anne Mizzi