Local government lawyers are to look at the feasibility of creating a national knowledge network.


The plan - considered at a conference run by Solicitors in Local Government (SLG) last week - would build on SLG's structure of special interest groups and lead professionals. SLG has 51 special interest groups across its nine branches, covering areas such as social services, education and planning.



Guy Goodman, SLG deputy vice-chairman and head of community services law at Leicester City Council, said: 'If a network is to be sustainable, we need to make sure it has the resources.'



Stephen Turner, a commercial lawyer at Hull City Council, said it was important for local government lawyers to get involved in law reform. He added: 'We are the experts in our fields and that pool of knowledge should be capable of being tapped for the benefit of those who are new to their fields and those who are older in their fields, but who may have gone stale.'