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Council Member’s Report
Council Member’s Report
Summer 2025
It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of Robert Bourns, former President of the Law Society. Robert was a stalwart of the legal profession, a dedicated public servant, and a friend to many. He was the first Chair of the Board at the Law Society and gave an extraordinary amount of his time, energy and wisdom to the advancement of the profession. I am sure you will all join me in extending our heartfelt condolences to his wife and family.
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the Law Society of England and Wales. Over the past six months, the Society has met with hundreds of members, aspiring lawyers, students, judges, local law societies, journalists, and members of the public. The anniversary tour has spanned more than 20 cities—from Cardiff and Newcastle to Nottingham, Birmingham, Bristol, and Norwich—and even extended beyond national borders to celebrate the global reputation and influence of UK law.
One of the final stops on this national tour was held in London on 23 June, underscoring the city’s importance as a global legal hub. Recent research* by the Law Society confirms that London continues to place a high level of trust in both lawyers and the broader legal industry.
As part of the bicentenary, the Law Society has also published recommendations from its ‘21st Century Justice’ project, offering a bold and practical vision for narrowing the justice gap. The report outlines key recommendations to government and the sector, including:
1. The creation of a free, AI-powered legal tool, similar to NHS 111, to help the public identify legal issues and access the appropriate support.
2. Urgent reform of civil legal aid, which is in critical need of investment to prevent the loss of skilled legal providers.
3. Improved access to the ombudsman system, making it more user-friendly and accessible to those seeking redress.
In related news, the government has just unveiled a 10-year Industrial Strategy, which, with the right investment, could support sustained growth in the legal sector. This is a positive step, but its success will depend on tangible action and adequate funding. Legal Futures (https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/legal-services-a-national-asset-says-governments-industrial-strategy)
At present, a growing number of individuals are forced to represent themselves in court, often because they fall just above the financial threshold for legal aid. This is especially troubling in cases involving domestic abuse, where the absence of legal representation can result in deeply unfair outcomes.
When legal aid is unavailable, many become litigants in person (LiPs). In abuse cases, the court is required to appoint a Qualified Legal Representative to cross-examine the victim instead of the alleged perpetrator. However, when such a representative is unavailable, the judge must step in, which compromises their independence and delays proceedings. Ensuring legal aid is available would protect the integrity of the system and ensure fair representation for all parties.
Worryingly, 40% of private law cases from January to March 2025 had no legal representation—a sharp increase since the introduction of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO). The current scheme for Qualified Legal Representatives is under strain and failing to meet demand. An urgent review is essential.
You would have heard about the Legal Aid Agency data breach and the President has been in discussion with the LAA CEO in relation to this not happening again and the steps to take to protect our members.
The Law Society has launched a research project to understand how well the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) prepares solicitors for practice and to identify any gaps in knowledge or skills. The findings will help develop a training framework to support newly qualified solicitors to thrive in practice. There is a survey, and you have to log in to your MyLS to take part in the survey.
Finally, you may already be aware that the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has appointed Sarah Rapson as its new Chief Executive, succeeding Paul Philip upon his departure. We look forward to seeing her leadership in action.
I would once again request that if you have not updated your details on MyLS, then please do it and if you have not registered on MyLS, then please do register in order to receive updates etc.
Please do let me know if you have any issues that you wish to discuss with me or would like me to take to the Law Society.
