THE VIEW FROM CHANCERY LANE

Michael Frape Law Society Council Member for Cambridgeshire & Peterborough

The Law Society’s Corporate Strategy 2022-2025

Like many aged and august institutions (TLS was founded in 1825), TLS has not always been as fleet-footed and modern in its approach as more recently formed entities. Consequently, TLS has been on something of a modernisation journey over the last five years. It has now launched a new Corporate Strategy for the three years ending in 2025: www.lawsociety.org.uk/about-us/ our-strategy-and-business-plan

As the background to TLS’s Corporate Strategy 2022-2025 states:

Our last five year strategy focused heavily on transforming the Law Society given the many areas of improvement required across the organisation.

We invested in improved member services through digital platforms. We have modernised our home in 113 Chancery Lane and created a clearer operating model to focus the Law Society on the needs of members and on its public interest responsibilities.

TLS has therefore been on a ‘change’ journey, much like that of many of our member firms, and been experiencing the truth of Heraclitus’ oxymoronic aphorism that ‘Change is the only constant in life’. Nevertheless, with a much-improved digital platform in place and substantial organisational changes completed, TLS now wishes to place greater focus on improving its member offer and (relatedly) responding to UK Government policy developments.

Over the next three years, TLS’ strategic objectives are the following:

• promote the value of the profession and provide a compelling member offer

• protect the justice system and make sure it applies to everyone equally

• maximise our potential by growing our commercial reach, by being efficient and sustainable

• be an employer of choice for people who want to make a difference

These are unsurprising, but quite challenging, objectives especially given that they are concerned with access to justice and equality before the law. That is an area of public policy that TLS can only hope to influence along with other stakeholders. All government spending is subject to the economic vicissitudes, which affect tax receipts and how government prioritises its spending. Which government is going to prioritise the justice system and Legal Aid provision ahead of the NHS and education?

In terms of the finances, TLS derives the majority of its income from the practising fees paid by each solicitor for the right to practice law. This is known as ‘section 51 funding’, because it relates to the share of practising fee income TLS is entitled to receive under that section of the Legal Services Act 2007. The current fee is £286, which is an increase on the fee of £266 in 2021, but much lower than the fee in 2010 which was £428. This has put pressure on TLS to develop its commercial arm and now 30% of its income is generated by commercial activities. TLS says that it wants to develop its commercial activities further to become more ‘sustainable’.

As with all modern organisations, TLS will strive to be a more diverse and inclusive organisation. It is doing well in that area with the first Asian / Muslim President. But TLS is not making enough progress in becoming a better corporate citizen by being more sustainable in the ecological sense. There is very little if anything about improving non-commercial sustainability and becoming a net zero organisation as it should.

The work of the Council’s Committees

The Law Society Council’s two main committees are the Membership and Communications Committee (MCC) and the Policy and Regulatory Affairs Committee (PRAC). In broad terms, MCC is interested in TLS’s ‘member offer’ for solicitors and how that offer is communicated to our members via the website, email, social media or advertising. PRAC is interested in policy areas and is also responsible for overseeing the work of the 23 specialist committees, which range from Access to Justice through to Wills and Equity.

The two committees are populated by solicitor volunteers and the relevant staff members of TLS at director level and below. They have heavy workloads as they cover a lot of ground between them. The committees report their activities to the Council as a standing agenda item but may also make presentations on specific matters on an ad hoc basis such as on SLAPPs (Strategic Law Suits Against Public Participation). They also provide policy input on TLS campaigns such as ‘Legal Aid Deserts’ or the government’s refusal to implement in full the Bellamy review recommendation of a 15% increase to Legal Aid pay rates for solicitors.

This is all important work, which goes on unheeded by most of us but to our and the public’s great benefit.

21 ST FEBRUARY 2023 5.30pm and 7.30pm

THE CLS HOST DRINKS AT THE CLAYTON HOTEL , CAMBRIDGE to celebrate the launch of the

CAMBRIDGESHIRE LAW SOCIETY DIVERSITY NETWORK

We will be welcoming female, ethnic minority, LGBTQ+ and disabled members and their allies for a drinks evening at the Clayton.

Please come along to network, make connections and meet like-minded lawyers in Cambridgeshire.

FREE TO MEMBERS