Solicitors profession to be balloted on changes to Law Society Council including cut in local government representation

Solicitors are to be balloted on proposed changes to the make-up of the Law Society Council – including a reduction in the number of members representing local government from two to one – following Chancery Lane's AGM last week.

Another motion at the AGM, restricting council members’ tenures to 12 years save for certain exceptions, was also passed.

Legal Futures reported that the motion on terms limits was passed by 103 votes to 80, with three abstentions.

Amendments to increase the limit to 20 years or to allow council members who were chairing certain Law Society boards and committees to finish their terms even if their 12 years were up, were both defeated, it said.

The change to the make-up of the council, which would also see the number of geographical constituencies reduced from 61 to 46, was meanwhile passed by 117 votes to 73, with 11 abstentions.

Legal Futures said the requirement under Law Society bye-laws for 20 solicitors present at the AGM to vote for a ballot of the profession for one to be triggered “was easily achieved on both motions”.

Outgoing Law Society president Simon Davis said the vote was likely to cost in the region of £30,000.

During the AGM Quentin Baker, president of LLG, described the proposal as “ill conceived” and predicted it would end up “disappointing more people than it benefits”.

He argued that it amounted to “piecemeal tinkering” rather than the more in-depth review of the Law Society’s governance that was required.

Writing on the LLG blog, Head of Public Affairs Helen McGrath said the group was urging all eligible members to familiarise themselves with the proposals and exercise their right to vote in the matter when received.