Governance and Constitutional Review 2024 to 2025

How to restore member control

As a Member of the Society for 45 years, and a Councillor for 14 years - including 2 as President, I have monitored the governance and constitutional review process which has allegedly brought about a significantly changed constitution (Nov 2025) – which adversely affects Members rights, and  rejects the checks and balances on Society operations that should be in place. At the outset, I supported the idea of a review –expecting it to bring about more Membership control – but others moved it the other way.

I consider that the process and resulting change of constitution were inadequate and affected “inter alia” by

1. The consultation process had a pre-determined outcome, and did not allow open commentary by Members. There was no independent commentary available to Members.
2. The changes took away Members rights producing a bureaucracy - where major decisions are made by unelected officials.
3. Neither at the 2025 AGM vote nor on any previous occasion was there any adequate allowance for debate or commentary on the proposals.

I have written to the Council and CEO requesting that the coming AGM consider setting up a special general meeting to reconsider the Constitution, and any amendments proposed to it.

The motion for the AGM is:

 That there be a Special General Meeting called by the Society within three months of this Annual General Meeting for the purpose of considering amendments to the Law Society Constitution that is alleged to have come into effect on 29 November 2025.

 The proposed amendments are attached as Annexure One, and are to be circulated to all members. in compliance with the Constitution, together with any other proposed amendments that may be provided by other members.

 The meeting should be:

• Held at 4:30 pm on a weekday
• Held face to face only, that is, an actual meeting rather than any virtual meeting.
• Chaired by an independent person approved by the meeting

 Conduct of the vote should:

• Allow all persons present to speak for or against each motion, or group of motions, before any voting on such motion or group.
• The vote for each motion or group is to be a by a show of hands, counted at the time, and the number of votes for and against each motion or group disclosed at the time to the meeting, and before the next motion or group.

The specific changes I propose can be accessed here.

The 2025 Constitution with tracked changes as above can be accessed here.

The Constitution as it existed  prior to the governance review, can be accessed here.

 

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