Law Society proposals to scrap HSSK group fail

A MOVE to disband the Law Society committee responsible for the High Street Starter Kit fiasco and establish a committee dedicated exclusively to information technology work flopped at the council meeting on Thursday.

The proposal was put forward by the society's policy committee but it was overwhelmingly rejected.

The proposal had been to replace the practice development committee (PDC) with a committee responsible for IT, a working party to deal with Practice Management Standards Certification and a Membership Services Reference Group with wide-ranging responsibilities.

Now the PDC, which has roles including dealing with the information technology needs of firms and helping firms in financial difficulties, is to pursue a policy of recommending one legal practice management software package to the profession from a single supplier at a cost to the society of £100,000.

According to the plans, detailed specifications will be drawn up by the PDC and companies will be chosen as sole suppliers of the various parts of the package for high street firms.

A report submitted to the council by the PDC says: "A tender will be held to select an appropriate supplier."

It adds that the supplier will meet the costs of software development and ongoing maintenance while working to the guidelines given by the PDC.