Presenting an alternative case for reformIn April, Milton Keynes and District Law Society conducted its own survey on reform plansThe results of this survey of 412 solicitors conducted in April 2000 indicate that the profession is diametrically opposed to the proposals set out in the Law Society consultation document.It shows the wish for a smaller council, decentralisation from Chancery Lane, and for the Law Society to concentrate on representation, with regulation transferred to the equivalent of a General Medical Council.As co-ordinator on the group, I call on those who feel strongly that these alternatives should be formally put to the profession as part of any consultation, to relay views to their local law society, their council member and to Law Society President Michael Napier.Neil Jopson is secretary of Milton Keynes and District Law SocietyThe Law Society has traditionally both regulated and represented its members. Do you think it should:Continue to do both 41%: Split the roles 59%Assuming the Law Society continues to do both roles which of the following reflects your perception of the present situation.It has the balance about right 26%It tends to concentrate too much onregulation 63%It tends to concentrate too much on representation 11%Assuming the roles were to be split, which of the following would you prefer? It should be: done formally on a model such as the General Medical Council and the British Medical Association 66%Carried out within the present Law Society with clearly defined and separate divisions within the Society dealing with each 34%If the roles were formally split should the Law Society retain regulation or representation?Regulation 35%: Representation 65%Decentralisation. Should the Society:Remain as it is 37%Place more emphasis on Regional Offices 51%Place less emphasis on Regional Offices 12%Bearing in mind that there are 125 local law societies, how many regions do you think would be viable? (The Community Legal Service divides England and Wales into 12 Regions)None 12%8 to 12 59%13 to 20 19%21 to 30 9%If none of the above, please say how many 1%At present the Law Society council is made up of 75 seats. Sixty-one represent geographical constituencies and 14 are appointed by committee to represent specialisations or under represented groups. Should candidates for election be elected:On a geographical basis alone 9%On a sectional/type of practitioner basis alone 12%A combination of the two 79%If a mixture of the two, what should be the split? By specialist/type of practitioner seats we have in mind seats representing areas of work such as criminal, family, commercial law, local government, commerce and industry, young solicitors, women solicitors etcetera.Specialisms/type of Geographicalpractitioner seats seats0% 100% 2%20% 80% 12%30% 70% 10%40% 60% 11%50% 50% 40%60% 40% 10%70% 30% 8%80% 20% 4%100% 0% 2%What do you think that the size of the council should be:75 people, as now 16%: Smaller 66%: Larger 3%:No opinion 15%The council deals with detailed policy-making. It meets about 10 times a year. A 'backbench' council member may spend 30 to 40 days a year on council business. A committee chairmain or other active member may spend 50 to 90 days a year on council business. Add to this time spent on constituency work. Council members do this on a voluntary basis without any compensation other than expenses. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: 'The current workload is too high. It prevents many solicitors with responsibilities to their firms or employers becoming members of the council.'Agree strongly 29%: Agree 50%: No opinion 13%: Disagree strongly 1%: Disagree 7%What workload of council business is the maximum a voluntary member with responsibilities to their firm or employer should be expected to take on each year?5 Days 3%5 to 10 days 22%10 to 20 days 48%20 to 30 days 18%31 to 50 days 6%50 to 70 days 1%70+days 2%At present council members receive no compensation for their time. Should they or their firms be paid for the time they spend away from their offices?Yes 73: No 27%If yes, any views on the amount? A sum equivalent to a district judges daily rate 58%: More 3%: Less 38%There is no limit on the length that a person may remain a council member. They are elected or appointed for a four-year term but may stand again as often as they wish until the age of 70. Should there be a restriction on the term of office of a council member?Yes 77%: No 23%It has been suggested that the council should include a small number of lay members, allowing the appointment of people with special business, management, or other expertise useful to the Society. Alternatively it has been suggested this might attract 'busybodies'. Should there be lay council members?Agree strongly 13%: Agree 42%: No opinion 8%:Disagree strongly 12%: Disagree 25%One suggestion for increasing local law society and group input is the formation of a second chamber or parliament. It would be made up of delegates from each local law society, and recognised and reputable legal interest groups both law society and non law society. This parliament would meet twice a year to debate detailed policy motions. The council would be expected to abide by the decisions. Do you agree with the following statement: 'It would be useful to have a second chamber to provide representation for some of the 125 local law societies and 100 or more associations of specialist practitioners?'Agree strongly 9%: Agree 27%: No opinion 12%:Disagree 33%: Disagree strongly 19%How do you think that the president should be chosen in future?By Law Society members as a whole through elections, in which case the president would almost inevitably initiate policy and take an active role in the leadership of the Society 58%:By the council, in which case the president would be more likely to be a person acceptable to the council, appointed to chair the council and to act as the profession's ambassador 35%:No opinion 7%At present there can be elections for the president, vice-president and deputy vice-president. Do you think that:Elections should take place at all levels every year 46%:Elections should stop at the deputy vice-presidential level 29%: Elections should stop at the vice-presidential level 25%(N.B. any limitation on elections would require a mechanism to impeach a 'rogue' office holder)Traditionally, presidents have been in office for one year. Do you think that the president's term of office should be:(a) One year 19%(b) Two years 62%(c) Longer 16%(d) No opinion 2%Survey conducted on behalf of the Milton Keynes and District Law Society by an independent research company and based on 412 valid responses