Too little, too late for the Law Society's back to basic strategy plan?

It has been a week of mixed fortunes and surprises for the profession. In his Autumn Statement, George Osborne took on the Ministry of Justice, announcing a reduction in its budget of 45 per cent by 2020 when compared to what it was in 2010, and the closure of 91 courts to free up the land for residential property.

Personal injury lawyers were also hit hard with the Chancellor of the Exchequer set to increase the small claims threshold to £5,000, taking in more minor injuries, further removing the right to general damages, and limiting unnecessary road traffic claims – i.e. whiplash claims – with a view to reducing insurance premiums. Almost immediately the markets reacted, with Slater & Gordon shares taking an immediate 51 per cent hit in Australia.

Also announced was the coming together of two significant players in the legal world: personal injury giant and alternative business structure Irwin Mitchell will seemingly consume regional firm Thomas Eggar. It might not seem the obvious pairing to spectators, but with the potential for further attacks on personal injury lawyers, a broad practice and move into Thomas Eggar's retail and technology sectors could prove timely.

Many of you will also have received an email from Law Society chief executive Catherine Dixon this week. The subject of the email? ‘Thank you’.

Thank you, it starts, for being a member of the Law Society. Now, I'm sure some of you will tell me otherwise when I'm next spotted loitering in the environs of Chancery Lane, but I didn't realise that we had a choice in our membership status, at least not those of us who are practising. Putting that to one side, I was nonetheless compelled to read on.

A reminder of membership benefits? Check. Commitment to representing the profession's interests? Check. Rule of law? Access to justice? Check. Check. Another thank you. And then, there in the final paragraph, the new strategy and three-year plan. What's happening with the Law Society in the next three years and why? ‘Click here.’

I clicked so you don't have to (and I suspect many of you didn't). The key message is that the society has listened to its members and gone back to basics: representing solicitors; promoting solicitors; and supporting solicitors. Some of this will be delivered through its online ‘My Law Society’ system, which will soon be rolled out.

The Law Society has had it tough in the past few years. The profession has evolved at a fast pace. The membership body hasn't always been the pillar of strength and beacon of hope it now sets out to be, and has been criticised as a result. Never before has this vision been so necessary – essential for its own future.

One of the growing issues for the Law Society is the expansion of the sector, from one-partner high street firms to multi-disciplinary, global practices, in-house, and everything in between. It's not easy to represent all those views across crime and commerce, legal aid, and international human rights. So, to do this, it proposes to put members at the heart of what it does.

My only concern is that this may be a case of too little too late. The profession has already splintered, with a reducing number of members identifying themselves publicly with the solicitor brand. To now be all things to all men (and women), the society faces its greatest challenge. The one thing missing from its strategy is unification. We don’t share one collective vision of success anymore, so someone will always lose out. This time, it may be the Law Society. 

Kevin Poulter is SJ's editor at large and a legal director at Bircham Dyson Bell @kevinpoulter