BETTER A BADGE


Dermot Burke seeks relaxation of the prohibition of the use of the Law Society's coat of arms in firms' advertising (see 2006 Gazette, 5 October, 18). Depending on what he means by 'use', this may amount to a breach of the laws of arms (which are part of the law of the land, but not part of the common law). A grantee of arms may not license them to a third party for use for their own purposes (namely, as though the arms are granted to that third party). A grantee may, however, agree to the use of the arms as a means of identifying the grantee.



In this manner, there would be nothing stopping the Law Society permitting the use of the arms as a means of referring to the Society in third-party advertising.



The correct manner to signify allegiance to a grantee of arms is to make use of the grantee's heraldic badge - a simple device (such as the Prince of Wales' 'feathers' or Parliament's portcullis) that may be used by anyone, with the permission of the grantee. The Law Society has not seen fit to obtain the grant of a badge. At the current cost of £2,100, this is a fraction of the cost of a new logo for the Society.



Adrian Barham, Office of the Solicitor, Department for Work & Pensions, Department of Health, London