Lockley: Spearheads review

"THE Need to do better in getting over our message to the profession," is cited by Law Society secretary general John Hayes as a key reason for the Chancery Lane administrative shake-up.

But Council member Martin Mears, the anti-Chancery Lane presidential candidate, is unimpressed.

"It's a mere bureaucratic reshuffle without any significance whatsoever," he says.

Under the changes, to come into force in August, the functions of the five current London-based departments will be concentrated into four new directorates.

These are: members services under Geoff Bignell, professional and legal policy under Walter Merricks, resource management and forward planning under Jane Hern, and corporate and regional affairs.

Former legal practice director Andrew Lockley takes over the key corporate and regional affairs department which will spearhead the constitutional review of the society and be linked closely to the president.

International legal practice director Hamish Adamson is due to retire soon.