The Law Society manifesto 2010
Delivering justiceReleased on:
04/03/2010
The Law Society is the representative body for over 145,000 solicitors qualified in England and Wales and practising around the globe. It lobbies and negotiates with regulators, government and others on behalf of the solicitors? profession. Through this work, the Society serves its members, the profession and the public by defending the rule of law and promoting access to justice.
Solicitors play a fundamental role in the functioning of society and the country. Every aspect of modern life is governed by the law and solicitors provide their professional expertise to manage legal issues arising from the cases brought to them by clients. In doing so, they support and sustain the rule of law in England and Wales, upon which the stability and structure of society is founded.
Solicitors also make a crucial contribution to the UK economy. In 2009, solicitors directly contributed nearly 2 per cent of GDP. The indirect contribution of their work is far higher, as a consequence of the advice of solicitors to businesses in commercial and other transactions. The investment that solicitors also make in their pro bono work, in giving free advice and representation, represents a necessary and proud contribution to civil society by the profession. This is estimated in 2008/09 to have had the equivalent monetary value of nearly £400 million.
However, the profession?s ability to remain competitive internationally, to maintain the pre-eminence of English and Welsh law around the world and to fulfil its role as the guarantor of the rule of law is not secure. It relies upon the willingness and ability of government to govern effectively to fulfil its potential.
The party in government following the general election will face a hostile and difficult environment. In facing that challenge, it must not forget the basic needs for justice and the rule of law. The Law Society calls on all political parties to publicly support the following four principles in their campaigning, policy development and - if elected - their actions over the next Parliament.
The four principles
- That government will uphold the rule of law by ensuring meaningful access to justice for all
- That government will properly defend the rights of the people
- That government will work for good governance and better law-making;
- That government will support and encourage a strong and independent legal services sector for the benefit of all
In this manifesto the Society provides a number of proposals for reform that would uphold and advance these principles. It commends them for further debate and discussion.
The full manifesto can be downloaded here
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