Council Members Report

ADRIENNE EDGERLEY HARRIS,

Council Member

YOUR VOICE AT THE LAW SOCIETY

Council Members Report

Autumn 2025

Here as some of the topics from the last meeting of Council before the summer break, in July 2025. 

Industrial Strategy

The Government had just launched its Industrial Strategy, a ten-year plan to boost investment and support UK businesses. As an organisation TLS contributed extensively to the Industrial Strategy. This was the first time in recent years that TLS has been invited to join an international Government delegation of this nature and to engage with the Business Secretary and the Foreign Secretary.

The Government take on board many of Society’s asks from the Strategy, including support for  reskilling in digital skills and cybersecurity, and greater support for SME technology adoption. The plan firmly highlights the role of the legal sector and the role we play across the economy, and the strong focus on legal services is testament to the ongoing influencing work that TLS does with Government.

SRA business plan

The Law Society also responded to the SRA’s business plan and budget consultation 2025/26, welcoming the SRA’s reprioritisation of work and emphasis placed on investing in its core functions, as well as a continuation of the SRA’s work on EDI. In the meantime, TLS awaits the SRA’s plan to meet the recent enforcement directions from the LSB following the collapse of Axiom Ince.

Legal Aid Data loss

You will be aware that from the end of April, the Legal Aid Agency suffered a major data breach following a cyber-attack on their online digital services. TLS has been actively engaging with the LAA as they work to get their systems back online and ensure that members working in legal aid are being supported during this difficult time. The shutdown has further exposed the lack of economic resilience among legal aid firms – this situation should serve as a warning call for Government to provide a stable future for legal aid. TLS Chief Executive has personally met with the LAA and regularly joins update calls to push for action on behalf of legal aid practitioners.

Independent Sentencing Review

In May, David Gauke’s recommendations for the Independent Sentencing Review focussed on alternatives to the use of custody, increasing investment in probation and community services, and ensuring that custodial sentences under 12 months are only used in exceptional circumstances. TLS welcomed these recommendations but believes that the position will remain fragile with little margin for error if we are not to return to crisis point. Many of these recommendations being accepted by Government – however, to ensure that the public can have faith in the criminal justice system, there must be investment in all parts of the system which are interconnected. TLS continues to engage with Government over this issue and call for them to act with bravery to face the scale of the prisons crisis.

Justice Matters

TLS has been engaging with members across England and Wales, hosting roundtables on access to justice and solicitor judges. It attended The Times Crime and Justice Summit following earlier contributions to their inquiry, where they presented recommendations for reform. 

Pride in the Profession & celebrating 200 years of TLS

The current President has been touring the Country to speak and listen to practitioners. I invited him to come to speak with us and he or the Vice President attended Southampton and the Isle of Wight back in July and I am glad that many of you took the opportunity to engage directly with them in this bicentenary year.

Next meeting

The next meeting of Council is in October 2025. Do get in touch if you wish to discuss any of the topics above, or anything else of concern.

Adrienne Edgerley Harris, 07526 705571

adrienneedgerleyharris@gmail.com.

Adrienne Edgerley Harris

Council Member

for the South Constituency