President

Change. We are told that the only constant is change. That is certainly the case in our constitutional and political world at the moment. I have had the pleasure of being the President for six months and I have witnessed two monarchs, three prime ministers and I think six Home Secretaries! Change is unsettling, as the markets can show, but it can also be a force for good.

Our new CEO Diane McGiffen’s influence has certainly been a positive one for the Society, and it was with this fresh impetus that we launched our new five-year strategy. The online launch and video talked about the Society’s five key strategic areas and explored the level of consultation undertaken with the profession, committee members, the staff team at the Society and external stakeholders.

In case you haven’t had a chance to look at the strategy yet, our aims in five key areas are:

1. Supporting our members to thrive.
2. Acting in the public interest through modern and effective regulation.
3. Innovation and efficiency.
4. Using our voice to enhance our legal sector and justice.
5. Leading the profession.

Climate: taking change seriously

It is within leading the profession and supporting our members to thrive that the word “change” has a significant impact – not least because when it follows the word “climate”, it is, arguably, the single most important issue facing humanity today.

We want to help the profession become more sustainable, and to help influence our political leaders to take the climate change crisis even more seriously. With that in mind, we announced the creation of a new Sustainability Committee just last month to build on the success of our work in the lead-up to COP26. Our new committee will focus on leading the profession as a whole to do its part to reduce the impacts of climate change.

Of course, solicitors are already involved in advising clients and employers on matters related to climate change, while considering the impact on themselves. But we need to fully understand the challenges that lie ahead, and ensure we are prepared for opportunities to influence and inform relevant policy and legislative development.

It was therefore incredibly disappointing to read that our latest Prime Minister seemed reluctant to attend COP27 in Egypt. The climate crisis impacts each and every one one of us and we, as a nation, should be looking to lead just as we, as a law society, want to lead our members.

Legal aid: targeting public support

Looking for more opportunities to influence, inform and generate change is also at the heart of the Society’s new public facing campaign on legal aid. We are engaging with author and commentator Darren McGarvey, and will be working with others for a wider media and social media campaign to raise awareness of legal aid.

How fundamental this is to providing legal advice to those in need at some of the most vulnerable times of their lives. I am sure most legal aid practitioners reading this will agree that this sector has changed much over the years, with the only constant being the stagnated pay rates.

Indeed I reviewed the rate for a civil legal aid 125 word letter this week and compared it to my own firm’s rate for a 125 word letter, and was shocked, but unfortunately not surprised, to find that I could only write 26 words of my 125 word letter if I was being funded by legal aid. That is 80% less than in private practice, and that was using the top rate. I know summary criminal rates are even lower. However if we want the Government to do more, and see the legal aid crisis as a true problem which only they can fix, then we need to try everything we can to change the perception of the public. As with climate change, only by having the support and backing of the public can we bring about meaningful change in this vital area of access to justice.