The legal profession is well placed to be vocal about environmental issues and other concerns facing society. Community interest issues create opportunities for the profession to be a voice of reason without the self-interest criticism that is often directed to lawyers. The Law Society rarely ventures into the lobbyist world of social comment on general issues. Our membership is often divided on issues of community interest such as uranium waste, drug reform, prostitution de-regulation, gambling regulation and even the environment.
Lawyers have their personal views on such issues and represent diverse interests in the community.
The Law Society as a representative body cannot lobby for any one view on such issues. The Law Society can, however, contribute to debate by offering balanced commentary on the issues, or making observations on wider social issues affected by proposed reforms. The objects of the Law Society, as stated in its rules, include representing the interests and views of members and of the profession to Government and in the media and the community . The Law Society has limited ability to undertake a lobbying role. Individual lawyers and groups of lawyers can and do form interest groups and make public statements on any issue they please.