Law Society makes extra time for reform talks

REFORM plans which could see the Law Society presid-ent's wings clipped are to be discussed at a special meeting on Wednesday.

The extra meeting, which is costing the Law Society up to £20,000 to arrange, was scheduled after planned debates on a wholesale shake-up of Chancery Lane were squeezed out of both December and January's council meetings.

Conveyancing has dominated society affairs recently, but last month the council also spent much of its time squabbling over president Martin Mears' attack on staff and their subsequent release of an internal memo defending their position.

The meeting will debate reform proposals drawn up by council member David Tho- mas, who advocates wide ranging reforms including a streamlining of the president's role.

His paper says: "The burden of the numerous and diverse tasks is too great for one person to do all the jobs effectively."

Thomas said: "I think reform is very important. Changes are needed in order to make the society operate more efficiently."

However, Mears is dismissive of reform plans. In a response he has drawn up to the proposals, he says: "I never met anyone who called for our structures to be changed."