Last year the Law Society promised to update its strategy on key issues.

It seemed obvious that the first step had to be to ask the profession exactly what was important, and by February solicitors had identified a dozen areas including: indemnity, regulation, high street firms, multi-disciplinary partnerships, sections and specialisation, public image, higher rights of audience, legal aid and training.The Society then let loose teams of experienced practising solicitors with an interest and knowledge about each subject to look at them afresh.

On 3 June, three of those teams presented their preliminary thoughts to the Law Society Council.

The intention was to give them a chance to air their initial ideas and for Council members to provide feedback.

Even more importantly, it gave the teams a chance to see the way the others were thinking, where their work intertwined and an opportunity to co-ordinate their efforts.

This is a brief summary.-- High street firms: team led by Laurence Bennett (Merseyside and District).

Defined as relying primarily on private client work, these were recognised as the solicitors most under threat.

Some are successful but many are not and suffer from a lack of profitability, low margins, intense competition, over reliance on price sensitive work, insufficient resources to fund proper management, IT investment and adequate support staff.The big question is what can we do to help? What are the possible ways forward? Some suggestions include lightening the regulatory framework where it hinders fair competition with non-solicitors or where the cost of compliance is disproportionate to the benefits; allowing new formats for practices other than traditional partnerships, such as limited liability partnerships and multi-disciplinary partnerships; providing more active help in how to run a business profitably.-- Regulation: team leader Nancy Nagle (West Country and Gwent).

There are three reasons to regulate: in the wider public interest, in the more direct consumer interest and in the interest of the profession itself.Can there be effective self-regulation or does this clash with the Law Society's role of representing its members? Would a separate, independent regulator give the Society greater freedom to look after its members' interests? If so should that body regulate all suppliers of legal services? Can one code of conduct fit the whole profession or should it be tailored to differing circumstances?Should only those areas of work where solicitors have a 'monopoly' be regulated while those where solicitors compete with non-lawyers be left to normal business law? Should regulation be minimalist, all-embracing or in between? Will the government try to impose its own vision on the solicitors' profession? How do we balance the commercial needs of our members with those of ou r clients?-- Specialisation: team leader Andrew Holroyd (Merseyside and District).

The profession is rapidly becoming more specialised.

There are still some general practitioners but they constitute a decreasing number.How should the Law Society adapt to this? Should it adopt a minimalist role? Or should the Society build on the status quo by filling in gaps in the existing provision of specialist help, for example, by creating a conveyancing section? Indeed, should the Society go farther and actively seek ways of entering into a partnership with existing groups? If so what can the Society offer? Who decides on membership criteria, who leads on law reform or 'trade union' activity? Should the Society reconsider the way the Council represents members of the profession.

Perhaps less emphasis should be placed on geographical constituencies and more on constituencies representing distinct types of work?These are immense subjects and the best I can do in this limited space is give you a flavour of the work being done.

Over the next few weeks the Gazette will publish articles on each of these topics and others currently being worked on.We need to find solutions.

We must make the Society's policies reflect the needs and priorities of its members.

We can only do that if solicitors participate so those with any suggestions, comments or questions on any of these subjects should let the Law Society know.