Encouraging more diversity among the Law Society s Council and Committees

Transcription

1 Encouraging more diversity among the Law Society s Council and Committees Speakers: I. Stephanie Boyce, Council member, Women Lawyers Division, chair, Council Members Conduct Committee and member, Regulatory Affairs Board, The Law Society Sundeep Bhatia, Council member, Ethnic Minorities Division, The Law Society and proprietor, Beaumonde Law Practice Ross Hutchison, head of governance, The Law Society Kevin Poulter, partner and head of employment, Child & Child Yasmin Sheikh, disability consultant, coach and trainer and vice-chair, Lawyers with Disabilities Division, The Law Society Present and future governance at the Law Society Ross Hutchison, head of governance, The Law Society 1

2 High-level governance picture but it s being reviewed Remuneration Committee Audit Committee Council SRA Board Business and Oversight Board Green are supported by the Governance Team (w.e.f. 16 Nov 2015) Council Membership Committee Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Committee Red = supported by the SRA Council Members Conduct Committee Scrutiny & Performance Review Committee Blue = Supported by shared services (HR) Management Board Regulatory Affairs Board Membership Board Legal Affairs and Policy Board Inv Cttee SLG + 4 Advisory Committees + 21 Advisory Committees 3 The current size and shape of the Council Council 100 seats (a few of these unfilled) 61 members representing 42 geographical constituencies Up to 39 members representing demographic groups, sections and practitioner associations, eg Women Lawyers Division, Sole Practitioners Group, Housing Law practitioners Geographical seats filled by election, non-geographical by a mix of election and nomination Members are solicitors apart from one representing trainee solicitors and LPC students The term of office is four years (apart from the student/trainee seat, which is two years). Members can stand for re-election as many times as they like. 4 2

3 The role of the Council The Royal Charter vests the sole and entire management of the Society and of the income and property thereof in the Council. This includes the power to make regulations about the supporting structure of boards and committees. As governing body, Council: Settles our position on major policy issues Sets our budget, including the amounts to be raised through the practising certificate fee and compensation fund. Council delegates much day-to-day work and decisions to the Boards, while itself: Providing a collective voice for the profession, including debates on matters of common interest Keeping under review the arrangements for dealing with regulatory functions (including the role of the SRA Board) Electing the President and other office holders and holding them and the Chief Executive to account Ensuring that the work of the boards and committees is well coordinated, with any differences of view being resolved as required. 5 The Law Society Committees Appointments to these policy advisory committees, which are unpaid, are made on merit following a recruitment process. The term of office is three years but this is renewable. Committee workplans are agreed with the chairs usually in early autumn, and relate to expected areas of activity where the boards will be looking for advice. Policy advisory Committees reporting to LAPB Access to Justice Children s Civil Justice Company Conveyancing & Land Criminal Employment EU Family Housing Human Rights Immigration Intellectual Property International Mental Health & Disability Money-Laundering Planning & Environment Tax Technology & Law Wales Wills & Equity There are also regular meetings for all the LAPB Committee chairs as a group Policy advisory Committees reporting to RAB Education & Training Professional Indemnity Insurance Professional Standards & Ethics Regulatory Processes Other groups Some committees have various working groups / working parties, and there is a structure of committees that manage Law Society communities and commercial activities, reporting to the Membership Board. 6 3

4 The Law Society Committees Law Society committees are a source of advice and guidance to the Society on policy, practice and procedure in their specialist areas. Committees are made up of practitioners (mainly but not exclusively solicitors) who are experts in their field. Committees provide responses to consultations, contribute to the legislative process and to changes in the judicial and legal aid systems. They also provide guidance to the profession directly on areas within their expertise, through, for example, practice notes or events and conferences. Committees work within an existing policy framework and do not have delegated powers to create new policy in the Society s name but are encouraged to help shape new policy and policy changes where needed. The parent board approves committee business plans and appoints committee chairs and members. Committees do not hold budgets and may not make spending decisions or otherwise commit Law Society resources The parent board may establish taskforces to deal with emerging issues not covered by an existing committee or it may make recommendations to the Council for establishing a new committee. It can also make recommendations to Council to disestablish committees. 7 Constitutional framework Main constitutional documents: Charter (originally 1845) high-level matters about Society membership, Council composition and powers Statute certain aspects defined in Solicitors Act 1974 (as amended by Legal Services Act 2007), eg delegation of powers and regulation of legal services Bye-Laws the democratic relationship between the Law Society and its members (amendable by a general meeting) General Regulations the Law Society s standing orders governing how Council, boards and committees function (amendable by Council by 2/3 majority). Internal Governance Rules 2009 (IGRs), made by the Legal Services Board, set out the parameters of the regulatory relationship. 8 4

5 Some key themes Vital that the profession is represented to government, regulators, the public. Vital that the profession is promoted to its potential clients as the quality provider of legal services. Vital that firms and individuals have the support they need to practise. Vital that England and Wales are promoted overseas as jurisdictions of choice. 9 Some key themes (2) The Law Society Council needs to be representative of the profession: the profession is changing, and the Law Society needs to change to reflect this. Law Society governance needs to ensure effective, responsive leadership and high-quality, rapid decision making in a context of major changes to the legal market and the regulatory context. The status quo is not an option. The Law Society needs to use its resources effectively and efficiently. 10 5

6 Yasmin Sheikh Vice chair, Lawyers with Disabilities Division, The Law Society Encouraging more diversity What brought you here today? 6

7 Imagine where you can be... What needs to change? LDD Who are the members? Members wide range of disabilities Law students Retired solicitors Paralegals Law lecturers Practising solicitors Both visible and nonvisible 7

8 What does LDD do? Organise events and networking opportunities to help law students with disabilities Arrange work experience placements for people with disabilities. Provide one-to-one mentoring Provide a voice for the network to be heard by the Law Society, the profession and Government. LDD October conference Mainstreaming disability 27 October 2016 Free CPD event 8

9 Membership is free. All applications welcome. 25 years old Some successes comment on provisions of the Equality Act Help students find training contracts Run successful workshops on advice on how to write a CV Diversity matters "Nothing about us, without us" E.g. disabled toilets without mirrors Unique insight, your model of the world. 9

10 5 skills/benefits which lead to empowerment ARTICULATE communication ASSERTIVE confidence 10

11 AMBASSADOR Leadership ATTITUDE positivity 11

12 AUTHENTICITY 12