This has been a turbulent summer for the Law Society during which it has lurched from one disaster to another. It culminated in the employment tribunal decision that the Society was guilty of racial and sexual discrimination against its former vice president Kamlesh Bahl, a damning report from the legal ombudsman on complaints, and a 31% rise in the cost of the practising certificate.
As a result, the reputation of lawyers has sunk to an all-time low. However, greater public awareness of pro bono work would do a lot to improve the public’s view of lawyers. It is time the Law Society recognises the importance of pro bono work to the profession and starts publicising it more to counteract the bad publicity the profession has been getting.
