Law Society research held to mark 200 years of the organisation has found strong support for the legal industry in London, with confidence in many areas of practice more pronounced in the capital than the rest of England and Wales.
For the past six months, the Law Society has travelled across England and Wales to meet hundreds of members, along with aspiring lawyers, students, judges, local law societies, journalists and members of the public. The tour has spanned more than 20 cities, from Cardiff and Newcastle to Nottingham and Birmingham and down to Bristol and Norwich, to celebrate the global standing of UK law.
Law Society president Richard Atkinson said of the tour:
“We travel across England, Wales and beyond not just to celebrate solicitors, but also to listen to our members and discuss complex topics such as the role of AI, sharing best practice and the wins and challenges of diversity in our profession.”
Research held to mark the London event, one of the final stops on the tour, found that 75% of people in London believe the legal sector is important for the UK economy, which drops to 65% nationally. Two thirds of Londoners think allowing clients to access legal help online would improve their experience, compared to 59% national.
Slightly more people in London said they trusted solicitors than nationally, at 60% and 57% respectively. And while a quarter of Londoners (23%) said they would feel confident using legal services online without professional guidance, only 18% of the people in the rest of the country thought the same.
The survey also found strong support for legal aid amongst capital residents, with 89% believing it’s important. Eight out of ten people who have used a solicitor in the last five rated the experience positively.
Atkinson said the organisation’s milestone has offered a chance to reflect on the social and economic changes that have taken place over the last 200 years.
He added:
“We can look to the past to draw inspiration and muster the confidence to deliver further changes. Our mission continues to be to create a diverse legal community and a sustainable future for the next generations.”
