Des Hudson Chief Executive, Law Society of England and Wales 10 th Anniversary IILACE Conference 2-5 October 2008, Namibia Effective Strategic Planning

Origins of the Law Society Created 1825 Meeting members’ demands Mission: – complaints by petition remonstrance and appeal

The Law Society today Protecting, Promoting, Helping The key questions: – What do we do? – Who do we do it for? – How do we get better at doing it?

What we are Three separate voices. One profession: – The Law Society – The Solicitors Regulation Authority – Legal Complaints Service Unique

How do we get better at doing it? A professional body, but run as a business – Commercial obligations – Pension Scheme – A market for regulation?

The role of the CEO No vision, no plan Realistic and relevant Setting targets Identifying the challenges we face

Challenge 1. Lack of understanding amongst sections of our membership about who we are and what we do Sheer size of membership: 138,000 and growing = the Communication challenge

Challenge 2. Understanding our USP Very positive reputation among decision- makers Replicating that with all our members = the Reputational challenge

Challenge 3. Diversity in both senses of the word – Sectoral – Background Increasingly disparate profession? = the Structural challenge

Challenge 4. Increased work Increased demands Increased expectations = the Priorities challenge

Challenge 5. Competition? Proving our worth Voluntary membership? = the Raison d'être challenge

Challenge 6. 1 in 10 of our members working overseas English and Welsh solicitors working in 92 different countries London is home to hundreds of law firms from overseas = the Globalisation challenge

Shared challenges for Bar Associations across the world How we can best support the world community of lawyers Working together Helping to create partnerships