A fortnight ago in Nottingham, the Law Society Council reached a watershed, writes Jonathan Ames.

Not only was it meeting in the less formal atmosphere of a conference setting and welcoming 16 new solicitor members, but it was also opening its doors to five lay members.Council lay membership forms a crucial plank in the Society's reform process.

It is the physical embodiment of Chancery Lane's attempted transformation from the insular and inward looking to a public-facing modern organisation that works in co-operation with the public, who are ultimately solicitors' clients.Here, the five lay members set out their views of the Law Society and its council, and most importantly of the burning issues facing the solicitors' profession.STEVEN BURKEMANSteven Burkeman is currently a consultant on philanthropy.

Between 1982 and earlier this year, he was the trust secretary to the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, where he played a key role in launching several ground-breaking initiatives, including the first ethical investment vehicle in the UK and the first centre for whistleblowers.

Mr Burkeman is also the former secretary to the Central Birmingham Community Health Co uncil.

He trained as a teacher, having studied law at Manchester University and public sector policy at Birmingham University."I have always been interested in the interface between lay people and professionals - I have been a lay person working with medics, social workers and teachers.

So, given the fact that my first degree is in law, joining the Law Society Council was an interesting prospect.Obviously, I have been aware of the troubles [at the Law Society] in the past few years, but also of the huge effort being made by the Society to move forward.

I do not think I had a single view of the profession itself - it does, as it were, cover a multitude of sins.

I do have some solicitor friends, and they have always seemed to me to try to do a decent job in often difficult circumstances.Lay input in the council is essential if self-regulation is to be defended.

I hope I can bring experience in a number of sectors.

I have been a teacher, worked in the health service and local government, and have spent the last two decades engaging with the pressure group end of the not-for-profit sector.In no particular order, the most important issues facing the legal profession are: competition; self-regulation; and ensuring the continued provision of legal services to all who need them, especially poorer people."COLIN HARRISColin Harris is currently the chairman of the Mortgage Code Compliance Board, which regulates the UK's mortgage industry.

He is also the chairman of the Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership and the director of the Surrey Learning and Skills Council.

Prior to that he spent 27 years with the Legal & General Group, latterly as managing director (financial services).

Mr Harris studied economics at the University of Exeter, and did an MBA at the London School of Business Studies."I was attracted by the challenge of working with a self-regulatory organisation that has recognised its weaknesses and is going through major change designed to bring benefits to both its members and consumers.I have been involved in developing and now monitoring a voluntary code of practice for the mortgage industry - as chairman of the Mortgage Code Compliance Board - and I am keen to see other self-regulatory organisations prosper and exchange experiences.Both as a consumer of legal services and now regulator of an industry that uses solicitors extensively, I had been aware of the attacks on the Law Society, and criticisms of the profession's complaints handling record.

Having attended the Nottingham conference, and heard more of the top-level commitment to change, I am much reassured.

Nevertheless, it is clear it will take time for the changes to work through fully and for customers to see the benefits.

I believe our primary role as lay members is to ensure public interest and consumer issues are adequately voiced at council and taken into account in the formulation of policy and regulation.

My personal area of interest will be around regulation, but in general I would hope to contribute towards creating a coincidence of interest between consumers and the profession through clear communication, underpinned by strong, independent customer redress arrangements.The most important issues facing the legal profession are: developing a strong, independent customer complaints resolution and redress system; setting standards for customer service and monitoring them; and developing a more positive profile through contributing to law reform and consumer protection."SALLY IRVINESally Irvine is a partner at Haman & Irvine Associates, a consultancy specialising in professional practices.

She is currently a member of the council of the University of Northumbria in Newcastle.

And she is also a lay member of the General Dental Council and an arbitrator at the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

She is also a former general administrator and chief executive of the Royal College of General Practitioners."I have been a magistrate for many years and worked with lawyers in different capacities.

I have been involved in lay input to health management as a non-executive member of a regional health authority, and then chairwoman for six years of a trust board.I am now much concerned with professional regulation, through the General Medical Council and more directly as a lay member of the General Dental Council.

The Law Society is clearly trying to reach out to the public and be more responsive to client and public demands, and it seemed to me that my experience was relevant, as well as being interested in being at the beginning of a reform process.The Society has always been a shadowy and rather remote body that hits the headlines only when it gets into difficulties with in-fighting.

The events of the recent years have diminished its credibility considerably.

It is not obviously vocal in the cause of justice and law reform - or at least not to the average member of the public such as me.

My own experiences of solicitors - both within law firms and as individuals - are largely positive.

I have found them to be on my side, providing clear advice that I trusted.

I have always accepted that they will need to be continuously chased to ensure my file remains near the top of the heap, and that communication is not their strong point.

I have been impressed in recent years at the change in the way the firms I use are approaching quality assurance and client complaints.The Nottingham council conference was a welcome experience, with council members genuinely interested and concerned for the public/lay view.

It also made clear to me that there is a changing culture in terms of attitudes and priorities within the legal profession, and a widening gap between the different specialisms.

I hope the involvement of lay people will reassure solicitors that involving the public in their professional concerns is a positive and productive way of regaining reputation and respect as a profession.

Lay members, if used effectively, will bring a non-specialist, innocent approach to the issues of the day that concern solicitors.

They will add emphasis to those issues about the practice and nature of the law that concern society itself.

They will reflect how the 'normal' world approaches issues, and challenge constructively the institutional views of the lawyers.

They will bring knowledge and experience of other professional institutions to help in the reform process.The main issues facing solicitors are: engaging the public in a partnership to produce an effective voice in establishing equal access to justice for all, and the reform of outdated and outmoded law; clarifying the core values and professional code of practice that makes explicit fitness to practise law; and bridging the gap between disciplines working in the law, and even other professions, to offer the public a value for money service."ANGELA MUCHATUTAAngela Muchatuta is a health care professional with a law degree.

She is a registered nurse and midwife and a health visitor, currently working as the director of patient services/ trust nurse executive at Bedfordshire and Luton Community NHS Trust.

Ms Muchatuta is also in the process of completing an MA degree in health and medical care ethics."The law influences a lot of things we do from buying a house to how we drive.

In my own field, I have worked with people with mental health problems and children with special needs, that includes children who may have been subjected to some forms of abuse.

I wanted to be able to work with lawyers in looking at health services, at how the Law Society works and develops courses, and how we can work together to improve some of these areas of people's lives.Before joining the council, my view was that lawyers needed better to inform the public about the range of services that they are able to provide, not only in terms of litigation or when we are in trouble, but also about how the general public can actively work with lawyers to stop us falling foul of the law.Following the Nottingham conference, which was absolutely fascinating, I have found that many of the lawyers were extremely welcoming to lay members, including those who were saying 'I wasn't quite sure whether this is what the Society needs'.

I felt that the Law Society was open to suggestions and I hope that that is something we can develop.Lay members will be able to ask the wider council: 'Why do you do it that way? Have you ever thought of doing it in this way? Don't you think this will be helpful?' The principal issue for solicitors is about specialisation and some form of accreditation.

The Law Society needs to work with solicitors to develop specialisms so that the public has confidence that lawyers are giving the best advice on particular issues.The second thing is about lawyers working with the public and informing them about the range of services they can provide.Thirdly comes the equal opportunities agenda.

The Law Society needs to have some sort of human resources strategy which shows that it is looking at all the areas of good practice, and that its members will also try and emulate that good practice.

It is not good enough to say to solicitors that they need to look at equal opportunities when there isn't a demonstrable course of action by the Law Society itself."HUW THOMASHuw Thomas is a former chief executive of two county councils in Wales, Denbighshire and Gwynedd.

He is a member of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, an adviser to the board of trustees advisory group for Wales of the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, and vice-chairman of the executive committee of the National Eisteddfod 2001 in Wales.

Mr Thomas studied modern history and administrative sciences."I have an interest in consumer affairs and regulation.

Local authorities were urged during my time as a county council chief executive to improve their response to the public, and to remodel services to make them more accessible and transparent to their users.Combined with the general pace of change and initiatives there was considerable pressure to improve continuing professional development (CPD) processes for senior local authority managers.I see the same processes at play on the Hearing Aid Council where I represent the interests of consumers, and they are also affecting the Law Society and solicitors more generally.I have worked closely with solicitors over many years, as well as making use of the services of individual firms on a personal basis.

I do not think I have any stereotypical view of the solicitors' profession, although the Law Society as an institution has always seemed challengingly formal.The holding of a conference for council members was for both myself and other lay members a useful way of introducing us to the current issues confronting solicitors.Lay members will bring a different perspective.

There is also the ability to read across issues - it was interesting to compare discussions at the council conference about equality and public image with those I was used to in local and central government.The most important issues facing solicitors are: the need for the legal profession to demonstrate to the public that it has a speedy and transparent system of self-regulation, with clear standards of conduct; that the profession - like other national organisations - embraces and applies equal opportunities in a way that increases public confidence in the profession and promotes easier access to legal advice; that CPD is taken seriously; and that the public should see the Society playing a public and proactive role in reforming and simplifying the legal profession."LAY BOARD MEMBERSStandards boardBarbara SaundersA self-employed consumer consultant on EU consumer policy, and UK consumer policy in the fields of food and financial services.

Appointments include: non-executive director, West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust; and membership of the scrutiny committee of the General Insurance Standards Council.

A past chairman of the Insurance Ombudsman Bureau Council.Kevin DaltonA master of laws (LLM) in medical law, and a lecturer in obstetrics and gynaecology at Cambridge University.

Also an honorary consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist with Cambridge Health Authority and with Addenbrooke's NHS Trust.Brian SmithFor the past ten years, the chief executive of Stoke-on-Trent City Council and also a past president of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).

Also served on the joint governing body of the accountancy institutes (CCAB).-- Compliance boardSandi O'NeillSince 1997, a lay member of the Law Society's compliance and supervision committee, and recently appointed part-time lay member of the Financial Services and Markets Tribunal.

A former director of Mercury Asset Management, and now a management consultant in the not-for-profit sector.

Also a trustee of Shelter (the National Campaign for Homeless People).Ramindar SinghFormerly head of the contemporary studies department at Bradford College where he worked for 26 years until 1998.

Has had a number of roles on race relations bodies, including the position of deputy chairman at the Commission for Racial Equality from 1990 to 1992.

Served as a magistrate between 1978 and 1991, and is also currently a member of the Building Societies Ombudsman Council and a member of the Ombudsman for Estate Agents Council.Ann M KellyA Fellow of the Institute of Management and an independent consultant specialising in corporate governance, complaints and diversity.

A member of the Competition Commission Appeal Tribunals and an independent member of the Ministry of Defence police committee.Mary CridgeHas worked for the Charity Commission for six years, for the past two as divisional manager of Charity Support, and before that as senior investigations manager.NEW SOLICITOR COUNCIL MEMBERSPatrick AllenNon-constituency - Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.

Senior partner with Hodge Jones & Allen and vice-president of APIL, with specialist knowledge of personal injury and clinical negligence.

A deputy district judge and a member of the Law Society's personal injury panel.

Roger BowdenNon-constituency - Local Government Group.

An employed lawyer for 28 years, having worked for a number of co unty councils across the north of England.

Currently the secretary and solicitor of Wyre Borough Council, with extensive knowledge of implementing new government structures.Rosemary CarterNon-constituency - Solicitors Family Law Association.

A partner with Barnett Sampson in London, and until recently chairwoman of Solicitors Family Law Association.Helen Clarke Non-constituency - Probate Section.

Lectures extensively for providers to solicitors, including the Law Society, is a member of the wills and equity committee and is on the executive committee of the probate section.

She specialises in elderly clients, wills and probate.

A lecturer and independent consultant/locum based in Harrogate.

Richard Henchley City of London constituency.

A former Law Society Council member and treasurer, currently the president-elect of the soon-to-be merged City of Westminster and Holborn Law Societies.

A law and public affairs consultant to the Periodical Publishers Association, now works closely with the publishing industry including newspapers.

Also chairman of the East Thames Housing Group.

He was previously head lawyer at Blue Circle and Rolls-Royce.Bob HeslettLeeds constituency.

Managing partner with Beachcroft Wansbroughs in Leeds and London, has extensive litigation experience, acting on behalf of solicitors, surveyors and brokers.

Also experience of personal injury, employment law, family law, crime, liquor and transport licensing.

Deputy stipendiary in Hull for six years to 1993.David Merkel Non-constituency - Group for Solicitors with Disabilities.Former chairman of the Group for Solicitors with Disabilities, is now semi-retired, having worked in local government in central London as a criminal lawyer.

He now lectures on law enforcement and related issues at universities and the army.Richard MillerNon-constituency - Legal Aid Practitioners Group.

Full-time director of the LAPG.

Formerly worked in Kent in general civil litigation with a high street practice.Tim O'SullivanDorset constituency.

Senior crown prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service based in Bournemouth.

He joined the CPS in 1990.

Former chairman of the Bournemouth and District Law Society.Alison ParkinsonNon-constituency - Association of Women Solicitors.

In-house solicitor with Railtrack, and a former chairwoman of the Association of Women Solicitors.

Also a member of the Law Society's equal opportunities committee.Timothy ReadmanNon-constituency - sole practitioners.

Sole practitioner based near Plymouth, a member of the Sole Practitioners Group, and was chairman in 1997-98.

A solicitor for 34 years.Jonathan RipmanSuffolk and North Essex constituency.

Was made a partner of Ipswich firm Gotelee & Goldsmith in 1984, and specialises in road transport law and commercial litigation.

Press relations officer for Suffolk and North Essex since 1990 and parliamentary liaison officer since 1995.Jason SmithNon-constituency - Employment Lawyers Association.

Employment law specialist with Palser Grossman in Cardiff, currently sits on the management committee of the Employment Lawyers Association and contributes to Personnel Today.

Also an occasional lecturer at Cardiff University.Edward SolomonsNon-constituency - Government Legal Service.

Spent 17 years at the trade union litigation specialist firm Thompsons before moving to the Government Legal Service.

Currently deputy Official Solicitor to the Supreme Court and deputy public trustee.Martin StaplesNon-constituency - Forum of Insurance Lawyers.

Former vice-president and president (1997) of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL), a senior partner with Vizards Staples & Bannisters, concentrating on policy construction and the resolution of major liability disputes.Hannah WiskinNon-constituency - Young Solicitors.

Qualified in 1996 and joined Hempsons in Harrogate in 1998, specialising in employment law.

Commissioning editor of the Young Solicitors Group magazine.Simon YoungNon-constituency - Law Management Section.

Managing partner of Veitch Penny in Exeter.

A commercial/business/insolvency lawyer, with extensive knowledge of partnership law.

Member of the executive committee of the Law Society's law management section, and a member of the Institute of Directors and the Association of Partnership Practitioners.