The Law Society – Practicing Certificate Fee consultation

Posted on29 April 2022

As a member of the Law Society, you are a part of a community of over 200,000 solicitors across England and Wales. As your professional body, the Law Society have been proud to represent the interests of solicitors for almost 200 years.

Collectively, the legal profession contributes £60bn to the UK economy and facilitates trillions of pounds of transactions globally, upholding the law and delivering justice. Our job is to champion, protect and support your interests, as well as to promote access to justice and defend the rule of law both domestically and internationally. The fees you pay as an individual, or that your firm pays on your behalf, are the main source of income for the Law Society. The income from these fees determines what we can plan and undertake for you, the profession, and wider society.

We have progressed with developing our next Corporate Strategy for the period from November 2022 until October 2025, setting out our new vision, objectives, and beneficial outcomes for the forthcoming three years. This vision has the full support of our Council and Board, and they have urged us to be ambitious in our plans to maximise the impact and value we give to our members. We need the funding to support this ambition and ensure we have the necessary resources to achieve it in the challenging times ahead.

This is the first year in several years that we are seeking an increase in the income we receive from the PC fee after taking a £3million (10%) cut during the pandemic in 2020 which was sustained in 2021 too. Whilst we know an increase is not desirable for members, we believe that the rationale and data we have shared through the consultation will help members understand why an increase is necessary. We want to be able to effectively support, promote and protect the profession and need appropriate resources to achieve that. This is coupled with the efforts we have already been making to become more efficient and driving our commercial income too.

We are encouraging our members to complete a survey to help shape our direction for the next three years. This is a key opportunity to share your views and let us know what you think we should prioritise, and the level of ambition you want us to have.

The survey should take 10 minutes to complete, and all responses are completely anonymous. The survey will close on Friday 27 May 2022.

The survey should take 10 minutes to complete and all responses are completely anonymous
The survey will close on Friday 27 May 2022
All those who complete the survey shall be entered into a draw to win a £100 Amazon gift card
Take part in the survey

Burges Salmon has been an enthusiastic supporter of BLS for many years. BLS provides a valuable role in uniting and promoting the whole of the legal sector across Bristol to benefit both its members and the city. It facilitates collaboration across the sector to ensure that we can all make a difference. Whether that is driving important initiatives in, for example, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and the use of new technologies, liaising with stakeholders and charities in our wider community or providing training to generations of lawyers, the service and support provided by BLS is invaluable. More recently BLS has taken a lead on promoting Bristol’s legal brand, encouraging legal and business services talent to come to the city, which in turn attracts clients and inward investment to our thriving and vibrant commercial community. BLS breaks down barriers and brings those in the profession together for the greater good. We are proud of our long-standing association with BLS.
Roger Bull - Managing Partner, Burges Salmon
Three things to say about my experience of working with Bristol Law Society. Their central team, council members and general hangers-on are just about the nicest, most generous group of people working in the legal sector today. The numerous events, awards, socials and conferences I’ve had the pleasure to attend over the years have been, without exception, top quality and supremely organised. And, thirdly, they consistently exceed and challenge the boundaries of what lawyers might assume a regional Law Society will restrict activities to – from a hugely successful charitable school meals drive to corporate social responsibility and diversity campaigns to being joint architects and coordinators of the region’s unique Bristol+BathLegalTech group, which it has been my privilege to co-chair for the last five years.
Chris Bull - Principal, Edge International
As one of the leading Insurance brokers for law firms in the UK and with a large presence in Bristol it seemed only natural for us to support the Bristol Law Society. Bristol Law Society is one of the oldest and most vibrant of the Law Societies in England and Wales. We are pleased to be working with them on important matters relating to law firms’ liability insurances and Risk Management. From Sole Practitioner to Top 20 law firms we are sure our two organisations can provide excellent support and assistance for the challenges faced by the legal profession.
Matthew Baker - Financial Lines Group, Howden Insurance Brokers Ltd
Joining BLS in 2013 and becoming President in 2018/19 has created many longstanding friendships and business relationships, whilst also unlocking doors to other opportunities in the City. BLS enabled a perfect balance of professional development and also opportunities to give back to the legal and wider community. I am pleased that my Firm has supported BLS in many capacities since 2013 and continues to do so.
Nicholas Lee- Managing Director of Paragon Costs Solutions and Past President of BLS