Report comment

The Law Society's problems go back decades and are not purely structural. The real issues are: who is the Law Society supposed to represent and what are its functions? Currently it is hopelessly split because those who control the Law Society are largely unrepresentative of solicitors as a whole and in some cases (i.e. Partners in City of London and large commercial firms) have completely different objectives and interests. I have been in the legal profession for 30 years but have never had much time for the Law Society elite at Chancery Lane. They have presided over a decline in the quality of legal services and the courts and have never been prepared to fight governments in a serious way. Most of the day to day services provided by law society staff are worthwhile but could easily be replicated within an organisation geared to representing rank-and-file solicitors. A trade union which is committed to fighting for the interests of its members - which would in effect be a breakaway from the Law Society - is long overdue.