Strategy Development Update July Council Catherine Dixon Chief Executive

Content Summary of engagement and research; Early findings; Draft strategic aims and outline document; and Discussion and comment.

Summary of work streams Future of Legal Services; Defining member interests; Solicitor Brand; Legal Education and Professional Standards; Regulation; and External Relations and influencing.

Research stage – engagement Member feedback: CEO/OH and RM meetings across England and Wales; One to one interviews with members; City roundtables; Committee, Section and Division chair meetings; and Twitter Hour. Interviews with internal and external experts Interviews with other membership and campaigning bodies Promotion through trade and national media

Research stage – analysis Analysis of trends in the profession; Recognition that we lack data about our members; Establishing member groupings; Assessment of existing products and services against member groupings; Horizon-scanning exercises with members and committee chairs; Review of existing research, academic literature, blogs and articles; Benchmarking against other membership bodies; Assessment of the activities of other sector regulators, particularly for legal education and standards; and Defining our public interest role.

Early findings Future of legal services Unprecedented changes in how solicitors work; Austerity – funding cuts; Court fees/employment tribunal fees – keeping people out of court; B2B and in-house growing; High street shrinking; Rise in unqualified lawyers; Services provided in a different way – unbundling/deconstruction; ABS/Access to capital/Corporate structures; Technology; Unmet legal need; and Call for us to be at the forefront to advise members about changes.

Early findings Defining Member Benefits Need to understand our members – need more data – recognition that one size does not fit all: City to High Street; In house – private, public and charity sectors; Business owner/employee; and Career development. Development of products and services is scattergun; Certain groups of members are under-served. Often those members whose numbers are increasing; and Calls for membership to be extended – associate membership to offer support to those coming into the profession.

Early findings Solicitor brand While perceptions have changed overtime the title and brand are still highly valued by many members; and Recognition that brand solicitor should be promoted to the profession and to clients/public - seen as a differentiator. Legal education and professional standards Concerns about erosion of professional standards; Entry to the profession; CPD; SRA increasingly standing back from detailed regulation of education and training; Members want TLS to provide leadership, guidance and support; Recognition of TLS role in E,D,I and social mobility; and Supporting the best to join our profession regardless of background.

Early findings Regulation SRA’s plan to issue a shorter and less prescriptive rulebook is an opportunity for TLS to provide support and guidance; Opportunities for TLS to be the centre of excellence to inform the regulatory debate; and Call for guidance and support - fill the interpretation gap.

Early findings External relations and influencing Representative role identified as our key role – the profession wants us to represent them; Lack of knowledge about what we do – i.e. international work; Concerns that we don't represent all of the profession; Perceived by some as slow to react – lacking agility/pro-activity; and Recognition that we have raised profile in the last few months

Draft Strategic Aims Support - As a trusted partner, we will support our members [to help their clients] by offering improved and relevant products and services tailored to their needs. Promote - We will raise awareness of the benefits of using a solicitor at home and abroad, leading the promotion of the UK legal services market [and England and Wales as the jurisdiction of choice] and advising our members of key developments in the legal sector. Represent - We will lead meaningful engagement to influence Government and other key stakeholders in England and Wales and internationally to support the justice system for the benefit of our members and the public and be recognised as the leading voice of authority and knowledge in the legal sector.

Next steps Final research and engagement during July; Development of options and the outline documents during August; Consultation with profession on the three draft strategic aims; Further consultation with Working Group and Council during September; and Final decisions by Council in October.

Questions and Discussion