Representation: call for co-operation with local groups

The 13,000-member strong City of London Law Society (CLLS) has backed Chancery Lane keeping regulation and representation under one roof.


CLLS chairman David McIntosh said close co-operation between the national Law Society and local law societies - but with clear demarcation of responsibilities - is the best model for representation of the profession.



He rejected the proposal by four other local law societies - Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol and Liverpool - that the national body should consider a complete split between regulation and representation (see [2006] Gazette, 18 May, 3).



'The CLLS and its members are not interested in becoming involved with any other law societies who think that they are capable of supplanting the present national Law Society as our representative arm,' he said.


Mr McIntosh, a consultant at City firm Davies Arnold Cooper, added: 'The [priority is] to work with the national Law Society, supporting it through what we hope will be a successful transition and to clarify for the future who does what for our members without duplication.'


He said the CLLS had worked closely with Chancery Lane on issues such as Clementi and this was a good template for future collaboration.


The CLLS has introduced corporate membership over the past 18 months, with a significant boost to its numbers. 'There's no conflict between what we are trying to achieve and what the national Law Society is trying to achieve,' he said.