Supporting solicitors
16 June 2008
Your Law Society - Summer 2008
- Building a new Law Society
- A new relationship with our members
- Representing the profession
- Supporting the business of law
- Developing new markets
- Supporting the delivery of legal services
- Promoting the profession
- Promoting equality and diversity
- Looking ahead
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the financial accounts for 2007
Building a new Law Society - Des Hudson, chief executive
Last year we began the task of building a new Law Society. How are we doing?
- Since the delegation of regulatory and complaints-handling responsibilities we have been able to campaign vigorously and robustly on behalf of solicitors as never before.
- We speak for our members on both the national and international stage on the issues that concern them in a way that no other body can.
- The new services we have already launched to help solicitors in their day to day business have been enthusiastically received.
- We have cut the amount of the practising certificate fee income taken by the representational Law Society in 2007/08 by almost 20 per cent over the previous year.
A new relationship with our members - Andrew Holroyd, president 2007/8
By establishing special interest groups we are able to meet the diverse business needs of different sectors of the profession.
The International Division promotes commercial activities and opportunities for law firms of all sizes. Marketing, networking, training and information services help firms develop their international business contacts and build their global profiles.
The Junior Lawyers Division provides a strong voice to students, trainees and newly qualified solicitors. Services include mentoring opportunities, careers advice, networking events, local junior lawyers' groups and a freephone helpline.
Further groups are likely to be launched soon.
Representing the profession
Fast and fair - we persuaded the government to abandon a proposed increase in small claims limits to £5,000.
What Price Justice? - Negotiations with the LSC and MoJ secured a package worth over £55m for civil legal aid practitioners.
Defending legal professional privilege - we are seeking leave to intervene in an appeal against a ruling that legal professional privilege does not apply to communications between company personnel and in-house lawyers.
Human rights - in the last year we have supported solicitors in countries including Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Pakistan and Kenya .
Celebrating excellence - the new Excellence Awards provide a rare opportunity to recognise and reward the profession's most outstanding members.
Supporting the business of law
The changing legal landscape - we are helping solicitors to exploit new opportunities by bringing together business leaders from the legal profession, potential partners, investors, policy makers and high profile speakers to debate the construction of a successful and sustainable legal business sector.
Helping solicitors to be greener - our profession contributes 1.4 per cent of GDP and employs more than a quarter of a million people. In 2007 we launched the Legal Sector Alliance with DLA Piper and Business in the Community.
An innovative commercial programme for City solicitors launches in 2008 in partnership with the City University.
Developing new markets
The Law Society is a major player on the international legal stage and we use our influence to create opportunities for, and provide support to, solicitors and law firms from England and Wales operating in markets overseas. English law is becoming the predominant law used to conduct international business and the Society is helping its members to exploit the business opportunities this presents.
Opening new markets overseas - our lobbying work has helped to open new markets for solicitors across the world. Recently India has been the focus of particular effort.
Trade missions - we organise trade missions to key jurisdictions around the world and head delegations of solicitors wishing to take advantage of networking and business development opportunities.
Supporting the delivery of legal services
Regional team strengthened - the nine regional managers and the Wales Office manager provide a personal communication channel to practices of every type and firms of every size.
Gazette gets a makeover - the Gazette reaches almost four times as many solicitors as any other legal weekly, and 80 per cent of readers agree that it's 'essential reading' for everyone in the legal profession.
New Lexcel standard launched - the Lexcel standard is the first legal practice management tool to be developed anywhere in the world and there is growing demand for us to introduce it in other jurisdictions.
Practice notes support key issues - the Society's web-based practice notes were launched in 2007. The first note - on the new anti-money laundering regulations - has received over 100,000 page views to date.
Promoting the profession
Qualified to answer - the Society's first national advertising campaign aimed to improve public understanding of the unique selling points the profession offers, arguing that solicitors are the only sensible choice for consumers .
England and Wales: the jurisdiction of choice
England and Wales is a highly attractive jurisdiction in which to resolve disputes. We are promoting England and Wales as the jurisdiction of choice for international dispute resolution to in-house counsel around the world.
Promoting pro bono work
Solicitors' pro bono work is estimated to be worth nearly £340m per year. We support and raise awareness of this crucial contribution.
Promoting equality and diversity
Equality and diversity principles are embedded in everything we do. Our new Equality and Diversity Committee promotes best practice and develops new initiatives to ensure that there are no barriers to talent in the profession.
Looking ahead - Paul Marsh, vice president 2007/8
My central task as president will be to ensure that the whole profession, from sole practitioner, to high street, to the City, and from private sector in-house to local government, can fully exploit its unique expertise to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead.