Future Plans: local law societies question sustainability of national body retaining both regulation and representation

Four of the country's largest local law societies have urged the national body to consider the possibility that retaining regulation and representation under one roof may not be sustainable in the long term.


The news comes as the results of the Have Your Say consultation were issued, delivering a message that solicitors want the new Law Society to concentrate on representing their interests.


The paper produced by Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol and Liverpool law societies is aimed at informing discussions with the national office-holders.


Robert Bourns, president of Bristol Law Society, stressed that it is not meant to undermine the national body. But he said: 'There is a view as to how long it is going to be possible to maintain ownership of regulation and representation, and that is the question begged by the paper.


'If there is any acceptance that this isn't sustainable, we are saying to the Law Society that it should be looking to lead the debate on the separation.' The fear is that another body could fill the vacuum if it does not, he explained. Speaking personally, Mr Bourns predicted that such full separation is likely.


The possibility of two separate organisations was considered by the Law Society Council in May 2005, but rejected in favour of a subsidiary company for its regulatory activities.


A spokesman said the paper was an 'interesting contribution' to the debate on the future of the Law Society, adding: 'We want to find ways of ensuring that the new national representative body and local law societies work well together.'


The 19,000 Have Your Say responses found that after representation, providing services to members is the Society's second most important role. Influencing legislation and policy where it affects solicitors came third.


Ethics advice was the most highly valued service, followed by the Gazette, practice advice, training, on-line information and a legal defence union. Solicitors said they wanted services tailored to their area of law and type of practice.


On reducing the size of the current 100-strong council, 71% backed one of around either 30 or 15 members. Following a council discussion last week, Deputy Vice-President Andrew Holroyd said there was 'not quite consensus for a council of about 50 members, but not far off'.


The council decided that the non-regulatory side should retain the name 'The Law Society'. The regulatory side will be 'The Law Society's Regulation Board' while a distinctive brand is developed.


President Kevin Martin said: 'The results provide an excellent springboard to transform the Law Society. The council is now developing the services that we will offer in future based on what solicitors have told us they want. We are listening.'


The council also decided that the target practising certificate fee for 2007/08 should be no higher than £950, the same figure as should be set for 2006/07. Chief executive Janet Paraskeva said: 'We have already made some difficult decisions to create savings in resources that will in turn help us to keep the fee down in line with the wishes of the profession for a more efficient Society. Our future operations will be focused on their value to the profession and will aim to be self-financing as far as possible.'