Sterling work

I was pleased to be featured in the Gazette as incoming chairman of the Local Government Group, because the issues covered in the article reflect the significance of the group and the importance of public and administrative law generally (see [2001] Gazette, 29 March, 5).However, I must confess that the headline itself came as something of a surprise as it's news to me that I'm a reformer and that the group is in need of reform.The points I was emphasising are these: first, that this area of law is diverse and with the potential to impact enormously on the lives of many.For this reason alone, local government lawyers must see themselves as guardians of the rights granted by successive Acts of Parliament.Next, a career in the local government legal service should be seen as a legitimate path of choice.

The group will be doing all it can to promote career issues through the medium of the existing sub-committee - and not one to be newly created as suggested in the article.Finally, the group has much to offer the Law Society as a model for sound governance.

We need to be emphasising the important work that we do already, rather than changing course in new directions.Nigel Roberts, Chairman of the Local Government Group