The business of law

- Paul Marsh, president

'A forthright and strategic approach with the government, Parliament, professional regulators and the wider legal community.'

Paul Marsh

At my election as president in July 2008 I asserted that the most crucial duty upon myself and the leadership team at the Law Society is to comprehend the spirit of the times.

For some of us the spirit of the times could be how to adapt to the challenges and changes presented by the Legal Services Act, such as alternative business structures, Tesco Law and the mushrooming of an increasing band of unqualified, unregulated, self-proclaimed legal advisers.

For others the spirit of the times is the feeling of frustration if, despite a high degree of personal talent, career progress is limited by discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender or ethnicity.

For very many of us the coming years will be marked particularly by the slowdown in the economy - and perhaps especially the housing market - which will have a real impact on the profitability of all law firms. As you would expect from a solicitor who spent his professional career in a high street practice in Surrey, I am acutely aware of these problems.

In clear recognition of the prevailing spirit of the times, 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, and
  • 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.

As president I will work with my colleagues on the Law Society Council to collectively provide leadership for the benefit of our members and clients, ensuring that the Law Society adopts a forthright and strategic approach in its dealings with the government, Parliament, professional regulators and the wider legal community.

Recently, we have developed initiatives such as a series of legal breakfasts bringing together leading figures from the business and legal sectors to shape the debate on the business of law, and launched the Excellence Awards involving all sections of the legal profession.

I will continue to play a leading role in representing the profession abroad, concentrating on the promotion of our jurisdiction of choice campaign, an initiative particularly focussed on civil law jurisdictions abroad to promote England and Wales as the premier jurisdiction for commercial law and international dispute resolution.

These initiatives, along with the Law Society's work on leading the debate on law reform, are a snapshot of the functions the Law Society will continue to perform to promote the role of the legal profession in the domestic and international economy.

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