A recent Law Society chief executive's column refers positively to the response level to the Society's 'Have your say' consultation process (see [2006] Gazette, 27 April, 14).

But rather than showing 'the importance that solicitors place on their national representative body', the 19,000 responses might show that solicitors are tired of their practising certificate fee being wasted by the expensive and inefficient talking shop that the Law Society appears to be.


The chief executive should await the outcome of the consultation before jumping to any positive conclusions. The Law Society should substantially reduce its superfluous initiatives, its glossy 'spin', its running costs and get on with the job of representing and regulating the profession efficiently and effectively, which is exactly how the majority of the profession has to operate to survive.


Richard L Smith, Seaham