The government is expected to introduce a raft of bills over the next year.

Janet Paraskeva analyses the implications for the Law Society and for solicitors

Against the backdrop of this week's Queen's Speech, the Law Society has drawn together its work, analysing what we expect to see in the government's legislative programme for the year ahead.

Every year, we scrutinise and then lobby the government on all the Bills that are likely to impact significantly on the profession or the public.

Some of the most significant Bills expected in this week's speech include the Judicial Reform Bill, the Housing Bill, the Registration of Partnerships Bill, the Mental Health Bill and the draft Domestic Violence Bill.

For the Law Society, the proposals for constitutional reform are among the most important of the government's plans for the coming year.

While we are expecting a Bill on a supreme court as well as on a judicial appointments commission, it is the commission that is of greatest significance to the Society because it is here that there is so much to play for.

The Society firmly supports the government's proposals to establish an independent judicial appointments commission, although we have concerns about its objectives, structure and functions.

The commission's key objectives must be to underpin the independence of the judiciary, modernise the judicial appointments system and encourage diversity of applicants for judicial appointment.

Therefore, we will be pressing the government to ensure that the commission is wholly independent - and seen to be so - by requiring at least half of its members to be lay people and by recommending a lay chair.

In terms of how judges should be appointed, it is the Society's view that political involvement should be minimised.

So, while we accept that the Queen should continue to make senior appointments on the advice of a minister, we maintain that the commission should recommend only one person for appointment to the minister, and that if the minister does not accept that recommendation substantive reasons should be given.

Constitutional reform is a central issue for the Law Society, but there are many other important Bills about which we have concerns.

The Housing Bill looks set to introduce, among other things, compulsory home information packs (known, in a previous life, as sellers' packs).

We contend that the preparation of such a pack should not be compulsory before the marketing of a residential property.

The proposals will add considerably to the cost of moving home, without necessarily bringing much benefit to buyers.

The government, though, is hoping the pack will speed up home buying.

But the fact is that other developments - at the National Land and Information Service and with e-lodgement at the Land Registry - are likely to more effective than the proposals contained in the Bill in achieving this objective.

The Mental Health Bill sets out a new single definition of mental disorder, as well as rights to advocacy and a new tribunal system.

Most controversially, it proposes compulsory treatment of mentally disordered people living in the community and the detention of dangerous people with severe personality disorders even if they have not committed a crime.

The Society considers the proposal to be fundamentally flawed.

While we welcome proposals for a new tribunal system and rights to advocacy, the main thrust of the proposals is to increase the number of people who can be detained against their will and made subject to treatment.

This is completely unacceptable.

What the Bill lacks is any right for people to receive the mental health services they need.

Two important areas of family law are also expected to be included in the Queen's Speech.

A draft Domestic Violence Bill would be welcome, and the Law Society broadly supports proposals that were contained in the consultation paper issued on this subject in the summer.

There are likely to be measures to improve education and raise awareness about violence in the home, to provide greater legal protection for victims and to support police pro-arrest policies by making common assault an arrestable offence.

However, we remain concerned about proposals that criminal courts should have the right to make civil orders following an acquittal.

The other major initiative in family law is likely to be included in the Registration of Partnerships Bill, which will enable gay and lesbian couples to register their partnership, giving them the same legal rights as married couples.

The Society supports this change, but we remain concerned with the government's failure to deal with the issue of cohabitants, both same sex and opposite sex, who do not marry or register their partnerships.

When such partnerships end the outcome can be unjust for some individuals involved - and we will press the government to address the position of unregistered/ unmarried cohabitants.

The Bills I have mentioned are among the most high profile of those anticipated over the next year.

There are others that will hit the headlines - the draft Entitlement Cards Bill, for example, where the Society has serious concerns about effectiveness and expense as well as the inroads into civil liberties.

There will be many others that will maintain a much lower profile.

But whether they make short-term headlines or have longer term impact, the Law Society will be addressing them, working with the legal profession, analysing the impact and lobbying government to help ensure that new laws are practical, effective and fair.

Janet Paraskeva is the Law Society's chief executive