Supporting the delivery of legal services

'At a time when risk management is more critical than ever, Lexcel provides the benchmark for compliance.'
Helen Bunker, partner, Piper Smith Watton LLP

Meeting the diverse needs of our members

We engage with and meet the vastly differing needs of solicitors through special interest groups. The model is based on the Law Society’s sections that have provided specialist support to solicitors in probate, property, dispute resolution and management for a number of years.

New groups launched

In November 2007 the International Division was launched to a warm welcome and within nine months firms of all sizes from England, Wales and across the globe had signed up (see 'Developing new markets'). Soon afterwards we announced the Junior Lawyers Division, a free membership group that offers products, services and discounts to students, trainees and newly qualified solicitors.

New Lexcel standard released

A revised version of the Lexcel standard for practice management was released in October 2007. Lexcel is the first legal practice management standard to be developed anywhere in the world and there is growing demand for its introduction in other jurisdictions.

Practice notes online

The Society’s web-based practice notes went live in 2007 with a comprehensive note on the new anti-money laundering regulations. Since then further notes have been published on subjects including antiterrorism, complaints handling, mortgage fraud and telegraphic transfer fees.

New training programmes

Every year we run more than 200 national and regional conferences, workshops and seminars to help solicitors keep up to date with legal developments and best practice. New courses for 2007/08 included training on the new Code of Conduct, risk management, e-disclosure and client care.

Law Society Publishing expands

Our list of practitioner publications continued to grow with the addition of 31 new or updated titles since the start of 2007. These included Marketing Legal Services, The Solicitor’s Handbook 2008 and The Solicitors’ Accounts Manual 10th edition.

The future for conveyancing

2008 has been an extraordinarily difficult year for conveyancers. The Society is working closely with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the National Association of Estate Agents to develop workable versions of home information packs. We are also looking at models for providing greater efficiency and improved service by solicitors and will be announcing plans for these in autumn 2008.

Online library extended

We enhanced our online library service during 2008 in a partnership with leading legal publishers LexisNexis Butterworths. The Law Society Library Online provides fast, easy access to the library catalogue and value added legal information sources, plus selected free LexisNexis content.

Dedicated advice line

In the last 12 months the Law Society’s Practice Advice Service has answered more than 30,000 enquiries from solicitors and law firm employees on questions about legal practice, policy and procedure.

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