Law Society addresses regulatory pauses and presidential pay cap

At the Law Society’s Annual General Meeting, members addressed significant regulatory and administrative concerns. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) avoided a threatened vote of no confidence regarding proposals to separate the COLP and COFA roles from individuals with non-literal decision-making responsibilities. Following pressure from the SME and Boutique Law Firm Alliance, the SRA has agreed to pause the implementation of these proposals to allow for further engagement and evidence-based review.

Additionally, the Law Society voted to remove the salary cap on the president’s compensation. Previously, the president’s pay was pegged to the annual salary of a district judge (£144,350). Proponents of the change argued the cap was “somewhat harmful” to the profession’s reputation compared to the Bar Council. The motion passed with 49 votes to 35, allowing future council members flexibility to adjust compensation to reflect the scope of the role.