Virtual law firm pioneer takes over as Law Society president

I have to reprimand the Law Society for a serious omission. In this Olympic year where runners all over the country are passing flaming torches to one another every few hundred yards, surely the Law Society could have arranged the same – modest tapers or brands to be passed from the outgoing to the incoming president and to the vice president and the deputy vice president as they both move up one level in the office holder hierarchy.

The hundred or so members of the profession who attended the Law Society’s Annual General Meeting on 5 July might have had their afternoon brightened up by acrobats performing in the aisles or smiling young men handing out well known brands of soft drink.

In a torchless ceremony, the outgoing president John Wotton handed (more accurately almost handed) over the role to Lucy Scott-Moncrieff (pictured) who is now the president of the Law Society. Nick Fluck is the vice president and Andrew Caplen is the deputy vice president.

In her acceptance speech Lucy paid tribute to John Wotton whom she described as a “wonderful team leader.” In a break with tradition she announced that he is to continue with some of the work he had been doing as president.

She acknowledged that she could never measure up to his skills in dealing with commercial firms in the city. With refreshing honesty she said that she also wanted to engage in that “but I know where I’m beat and I know where I need help.” She described his continuation with his work as an “encore”.

Her presidential theme is “a diverse profession for a diverse society” to include not only demographic diversity but diversity of the provision of legal services. “It is,” she said, “one of the glories of this country that we have a network of local high street firms working across the country for local people in local situations and however much new legal services come along, such as the Co-op or online (which are absolutely fine for people that want it) there will always be people who want to be able to go to a local firm”

She vowed that the Law Society would do everything it can to ensure that those firms survive and flourish. Her first task (starting next week) will be to meet a group of Midlands solicitors to talk about innovation, bright ideas that people might have and things that have worked. There will also be an online forum for people to make contributions – not only from small firms, but also in-house lawyers and lawyers working in local government.

Another strand of her presidency will concern access to justice. Despite the cuts to legal aid, and the effects of LASPO, she emphasised that ways must be found of giving access to justice.

She also has plans to revitalise Law Society council meetings – with the intention of unleashing the talent of council in the areas where it really matters in terms of big strategic debates about big strategic subjects. She ended with a plea for all to play their part – to be working with solicitors from all sectors – “wherever the work is needed to be done, there we need to be, engaging with people – and my door is always open.” 

Richard Barr is a consultant with Scott-Moncrieff & Associates LLP (Richard.barr@paston.co.uk)