A protest motion against Law Society Council plans to separate regulation from representation has been narrowly defeated in a postal ballot, it was revealed this week.

Some 7,909 solicitors (52.4% of the vote) endorsed the council's approach, compared to 7,175 who voted against. The ballot was sent to more than 123,000 solicitors at a cost of around £100,000.


The motion's author, Michael Garson, said: 'The result was very close - [our objections] cannot be dismissed by council as the aberration of a few. It is by no means an overwhelming endorsement for a gung-ho approach by [the council].


'The fact that there is such a fine balance of opinion means that if we go forward, we should do so carefully and be mindful of the need to keep everyone together.'


Law Society President Kevin Martin said: 'This result, in line with the outcome at the annual general meeting, endorses the approach of council on this important matter.'


The protest motion had been defeated at the Society's AGM in July, but won enough support to be put to a postal ballot of the wider profession (see [2005] Gazette, 21 July, 1). Under the council's plans, the Law Society's regulatory function will be hived off into a subsidiary company.