Solicitors back lay membership plan for council

Solicitors have given overwhelming backing to the bulk of Law Society corporate governance reforms.Three measures allowing the size of the Societys ruling council to expand to a maximum of 120 seats, allowing for up to 5% lay membership of the council, and creating a council seat for trainee and student membership were all passed in a national vote by majorities of 78.5%, 70% and 77.7% respectively.It is anticipated that the council will initially expand to 105 seats from its current size of 75.

Slightly more than 17,000 practitioners voted in the postal ballot.

Society President Michael Napier welcomed the vote on lay membership, saying the high standards of service expected of solicitors will be enhanced by having the voice of clients around the table and will ensure that we are reflecting the publics interests and concerns.Advertisements for lay members should appear soon in the national press, with the final appointments expected to be approved by the Master of the Rolls this autumn.A fourth reform, which would allow the council to elect Society office holders, is to be put to a reconvened special general meeting at Chancery Lane on 26 April.

It is likely that this proposal will also be put to a postal ballot.