MDP animosity

The joint letter from the presidents of the Law Societies of Scotland and Northern Ireland on the subject of multi-disciplinary partnerships (MDPs) should sound a cautionary warning to the Law Society of England and Wales (see [2000] Gazette, 17 August, 19).

We are out of kilter with the body of informed opinion in other legal jurisdictions.

Why?

When our Law Society last debated the MDP issue in substance, the onus was placed upon those who were against any change from the 'status quo' to justify their position.

Had those who supported the MDP concept been asked to justify their position as proponents for change they would have been in some difficulty.

There has been no public consultation on the issue and there is no informed external pressure on the legal profession to embrace MDP structures.

We do know that the large accountancy firms are anxious to move into legal markets, but it is common knowledge that they are driven by commercial self-interest.

Government thinking on the subject is ambiguous and not properly developed.

The MDP debate is all about the independence of lawyers.

It goes to the root of what we are: profit or principle?

Lawyers in other jurisdictions need to know that there are lawyers in England and Wales who are wholly opposed to MDPs - despite the position taken by our own Law Society.

Anthony Bogan, Law Society council member for Surrey