The big issues

The Law Society is now better equipped to concentrate on the agendas of all the solicitors it regulates and represents.

But here I draw attention to the considerable work that it does on behalf of the largest law firms.

These practices have formidable reputations worldwide and are well-run business which contribute significantly to the UK's foreign earnings and economy.These firms benefit from the Society's training and standards regulations, creating a pool of talent from which, as major recruiters, they hire most of their qualified staff.

And the Society is now responding to their specialist needs.

Through its specialist committees such as company and revenue law, which include City practitioners, and the new representation and law reform boards, the Society provides an influential and respected focal point.

It is capable of influencing the development of company and commercial law practice in ways that benefit the corporate clients of large firms.

And it is much better placed to accomplish that than would be large firms acting individually.While it is true that these City practices are self-sufficient in many respects, most with international ambitions have needed the services of the Society in seeking establishment rights when obstacles have been placed in the way of English solicitors applying to be admitted to practise elsewhere.

The Society has intervened in several European jurisdictions as well as in India, Korea, Brazil, Hong Kong, the US, Canada and elsewhere.

I am personally following up the issue of hurdles confronting English solicitors wishing to be admitted to the bars of New York and Washington DC, something I raised in my address to the American Bar Association at its annual meeting in Chicago in August.The Society is helping English firms to overcome tax and VAT problems abroad, for example, in India and Belgium.

It is campaigning against government and EU legislation which if unchallenged will permit excessive access by law enforcement agencies to confidential and privileged material.

Material which - even in the heightened international security climate following the infamy of the 11 September attacks in the US - ought to remain protected by respectable solicitor and client relationships.

The Society is also involved in negotiating for a liberal outcome to the current General Agreement on Trade in Services round to open as many global markets as possible.

In addition it is striving to ensure that the reputation of English and Welsh solicitors, and their law and arbitration practice is seen as the best worldwide.

For example, we are undertaking, alongside governments, funded programmes in developing countries including those in the Arab world, Nigeria, several countries in eastern and central Europe, China and soon the Caribbean.

The Society's representative function will be evident in responding to the Office of Fair Trading's report and the Department of Trade and Industry and Lord Chancellor's Department consultations (about to begin) which it has generated.

This will include fighting for the preservation of legal confidentiality and resisting the idea that lending institutions can safely represent and advise borrowers on their own loans.

There is also the need to resist the suggestion that all forms of cold calling should be open to solicitors whose professional and ethical reputations must continue to be protected by the Law Society.The Society recently and successfully fought for an improved criminal defence contract which when first tendered by the Legal Services Commission was manifestly unfair.

This fight involved campaigning for a significant part of the profession (some 15%), quite a few of whom practise in the City of London.

They indicated that it was a novelty for them to have the Law Society shoulder to shoulder with them in ways which resulted in the Legal Services Commission making important concessions as a result of united and strong opposition.The Society often carries more weight when it negotiates with government and others than does the most powerful law firm.

And let there be no doubt that the causes of City solicitors will, as they arise, be pursued by the Society with the same vigour and conviction as was brought to bear on behalf of criminal defence practitioners.With increased support and enthusiasm from the City, other large firms and from the rest of the profession, the Law Society is better poised than for many years to concentrate on what must be its priority, namely assisting all solicitors whether in private practice or employed to fulfil their business and client needs.

It is for that reason that I urge those who are still preoccupied with Law Society problems of the past and who underestimate the effectiveness of last year's reforms and the opportunity they provide, to give the Society's new governance, management and council the chance to prove what a good friend the Society can be to our major law firms.As an example of this intention to concentrate on the needs of solicitors, I am organising a series of receptions at the president's house in Carey Street in London which will focus on important areas of practice.

One of these will take place on the evening of 27 November when the Lord Chancellor has agreed to attend.

It will focus on recognising and promoting the roles of this country's international practices, all of which will shortly receive invitations.The Law Society in all of its activities is determined to prove itself of value to all solicitors.

Please, join in its focus on your needs.David McIntosh is the Law Society President.

His next column will focus on high street solicitors