Non-Constituency Seats on the Council

There are 75 Law Society Council members, 61 of whom represent geographical constituencies.

The other 14 members are elected by the Council to fill non-constituency seats.

The Council members, both constituency and non-constituency, serve for four years, and the terms of office are arranged to fall vacant by rotation.

Casual vacancies have now arisen in the following two seats: commerce and industry; and criminal law and legal aid practice.

Applicants for these seats should be solicitors and members of the Law Society.

The successful candidates will be expected to take an active part in all Council business and to serve on a main Council committee.Applicants for the commerce and industry seat should be employed as an in-house solicitor with a company or organisation.

Candidates will need to demonstrate an understanding of the issues affecting in-house lawyers and to command the respect of solicitors who are members of the Commerce and Industry Group.Likewise, for the criminal law and legal aid practice seat, applicants should be specialist criminal law practitioners and have a detailed knowledge of topical issues affecting this field of practice.Additional information for solicitors interested in being considered for these vacancies is available from Elizabeth Kwok, Corporate Planning and Administration, tel: 020 7320 5736 or fax: 020 7320 5759.

Nominations should be sent to Patricia John, The Law Society, Corporate Planning and Administration, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL, not later than 21 June 2000.It is expected that shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview during the week commencing 3 July.

These positions being casual vacancies, successful candidates will be elected by the Council to serve until July 2002 (commerce and industry) and July 2001 (criminal law and legal aid practice) or, if sooner, until any relevant changes arising out of the ongoing reform of Council are implemented.