Supporting solicitors

October 2008

Your Law Society - Autumn 2008

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.

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The business of law - Paul Marsh, president

I intend to lead the Law Society for the benefit of the profession as a whole and make the business of law the fundamental theme of our work. Specifically this means:

• The promotion of solicitors
• The promotion of profitability
• The promotion of professional pride

In addition I will focus on promoting equality and diversity to ensure that entry to and advancement within the profession are open to all.

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Representing the profession

Representing solicitors' views to the regulators

The Legal Services Act includes many important amendments promoted by the Law Society that will ensure that the Legal Services Board (LSB) is not government controlled, and does not supplant existing professional regulators.

We have been engaging closely with David Edmonds, chair of the LSB, seeking to ensure that the Board will act in a transparent, proportionate way.

Fast and fair - we persuaded the government to abandon a proposed increase in small claims limits to £5,000.

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

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Supporting the business of law

Anti-money laundering support

The Law Society is working hard to help solicitors meet AML obligations. Support includes a comprehensive practice note, training courses, an advice line and an online directory of sources of legal expertise.

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.

Measuring law firm success

We are working on an innovative project to explore ways of measuring law firms' success.

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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.

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Supporting the delivery of legal services

Meeting the diverse needs of our members

We engage with and meet the vastly differing needs of solicitors through special interest groups. New International and Junior Lawyers divisions provide a comprehensive range of products and services to their members.

The future for conveyancing

The Society is working with other key professional bodies to develop workable versions of home information packs.

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.

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Defending legal aid

Our legal action against the Legal Services Commission and Ministry of Justice secured a number of wins for civil legal aid. On criminal legal aid we negotiated the terms of the new contract, persauding the LSC against proceeding with some controversial proposals.

Whole system reform

We are working with the Ministry of Justice to make the Legal Aid Impact Test effective.

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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.

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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.

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