Transparent dealings

Staying relevant is a challenge for everyone. It is especially challenging in a world where technology develops so fast around us.

For the law, being relevant isn't just important, it's essential. For lawyers, perhaps less so, but being relevant now means being visible and this is what our new leader has set out to achieve.

Launching his tenure as president of the Law Society, Jonathan Smithers made his film debut this week, premiering the first of what will be a series of video addresses, sharing with the profession the 'highlights' of his first days in office, and joining the legions of 'vloggers' aspiring to break the internet.

With a new instalment promised each month, it's a good time to think about how the series might develop as the Law Society bids to keep in touch with the current generation of tech-smart, time-short lawyers.

Speaking into a camera is not a natural instinct for most people. Doing it without an audience to bounce off is even more demanding, even for the most seasoned performers. The effect is a news style presentation.

Having met with Jonathan many times, it will be important to bring out his personality: warmth with conviction. I have little doubt this will come across with time and hope to see the desk fall away (but perhaps not for an Angela Rippon-style reveal).

Presentation is one thing, but content is all important. At this moment, the profession wants to know what the Law Society is doing behind closed doors, who it is lobbying, what its plans are for future action over legal aid cuts, and how the Lord Chancellor's plans are being shaped and challenged.

I look forward to hearing about how the president's status is being used to coordinate and influence his international counterparts, make the profession and the Law Society fit for the 21st century, and provide insight into what is coming up. The video message provides an opportunity to unite and engage the profession, but the message must be clear.

I'm not sure how sincere Jonathan is in declaring one of the 'highlights' of his first few weeks being speaking with journalists, such as SJ's John van der Luit-Drummond. I suspect such interactions won't make the grade in future weeks. What is clear, however, is that he wants to involve the profession in building evidence to support its campaigns, including court closures, and in protecting legal privilege.

The Law Society's members are so diverse that appealing to everyone is a difficult, if not impossible, task, yet commercial solicitors will be satisfied by efforts around international development, especially in China.

In future instalments it would be good to see the president responding to questions from members, or perhaps an occasional Kardashian style 'day in the life'. A change of scenery would be welcome too, as the presidential message is taken 'on tour'. Finally, every host needs a catchphrase. Suggestions are welcome and will be passed on after vetting.

This has been a good start, but with just over three and a half minutes, there is a lot to cram in. With so many plotlines fighting for our attention right now, it will be interesting to see how the series develops. For now, the jury is out.