In brief: Chancery Lane's £7m surplus queried

Former Law Society treasurer Mike Howells has queried a £7m surplus which has been built up by the society over the past year. "We just can't go on pocketing money and spending it," Howells told last Thursday's meeting of the Law Society council meeting. "It's the profession's money." Council member Edward Nally said a newly established audit committee of which he was a member was looking at ways to improve Chancery Lane's financial management.