May 2009

This is likely to be my penultimate diary entry as I shall be handing over the Presidential office to my successor at the Law Society’s AGM on 23 July. I am still staggered at just how quickly my time in office has gone.

 

As I write this, I am preparing for my last two overseas visits, the first of which is to Qatar. The Qatar Government are keen to promote Qatar as a commercial and financial centre. They recently established a new court and the idea is to promote that court in the context of the importance of the rule of law. Given that English solicitors have enormous presence overseas, it is very important that the Law Society and English solicitors are represented at this event.

 

My final visit will be in June when I will be travelling to Croatia. I will look forward to sharing those experiences with you all next time.

 

I continue to enjoy visiting fellow professionals in legal practices up and down the country and recently I visited Chester and York. One of the things that I have found really encouraging is that the property market is improving, albeit slowly but the signs are there to see.  However, people are still reticent about selling, primarily because of the drop in the value of property prices and we should do more to try and encourage people not only to buy but to sell as well.

 

I also met with David Edmonds, Chairman of the Legal Services Board, to discuss the issues surrounding the introduction of Alternative Business Structures and the impact they are likely to have on the profession. The LSB is keen to see the introduction of ABS’ by 2011. The LSB firmly believes that Alternative Business Structures are the way forward and will enable law firms to explore new ways of organising their businesses to be more cost-effective, permit different kinds of lawyers and non-lawyers to work together, and allow for external investment. However, I do not fully understand how they would benefit commercially viable practices who are already satisfying the needs of their clients. Why would these clients not wish to stay with an already tried and tested product?

 

What you probably don’t know is that I am a real old car enthusiast and I recently had a fabulous opportunity, quite unexpectedly, to indulge my passion. I had been invited to speak to members of the Morecambe and Lancaster Law Society, following which I was travelling over to another engagement at Preston University. The Society very kindly agreed to arrange transport for me. I assumed that it would be probably be a taxi to take me to the station or perhaps, if I was really lucky, a chauffeur driven car. Imagine my surprise and absolute delight when my transport turned out to be a 1934 Lagonda. I savoured every moment as I enjoyed the journey from Lancaster to Preston.

 

Some of you may have seen my recent appearance on Channel 4 relating to the controversy surrounding the supply of HIPs by non-solicitors and the anxiety this is causing.  The subject of HIPs is still close to my heart and not surprisingly continues to attract a lot of media interest.

 

In May I had the pleasure of hosting a lunch for a small group of Downs’ Partners and their clients. As you know, as the President, I am privileged to have the use of a beautiful, Georgian town house in London and it is always a joy to be able to share the charm and character of such a wonderful building with friends and colleagues.

 

I recently gave a speech at the Criminal Law Solicitors Association conference in London which was entitled “Sixty Years of Legal Aid – A Cause for Celebration?”   The Legal Services Commission is advocating the award of contracts for legal aid in police stations through a process of best value tendering. The LSC are planning on running several pilot schemes with a view to the full implementation of the BVT scheme by 2011. The proposals are extremely controversial and have been widely condemned by the Law Society.

 

Lord Bach, the legal aid minister, was also in attendance and I took the opportunity to express my concern at the difficulties these proposals would create for many practitioners involved in the legal aid service. The debate over this subject is likely to run for some long time!

 

My next entry will be my last as President of the Law Society. I have enjoyed every minute of the last 12 months but I am looking forward to getting back into the thick of it as I join Downs in their Godalming office.