City of Westminster and Holborn Law Society uniquely among local
law societies has a committee dedicated to law reform. The
Law Reform Committee traces its origin to 1963, very soon
after the formation of Holborn Law Society, beginning life as a
working party with the Law Society on proposals about positive
covenants on freehold flats. Unlike the other committees
which mainly deal with affairs of the profession, this committee is
concerned with the general law of the land. Most of its work
is studying and commenting on official proposals for law reform,
particularly those from the Law Commission with which it is in
regular contact. However from time to time also it formulates
proposals of its own, usually originating from a member of the
Society with expertise in the subject.
Perhaps its most notable achievement was the invention of the
enduring power of attorney. The Law Commission's initial
working paper on that topic in 1967 was acknowledged as
"initially prompted by a Memorandum from Holborn Law Society"
. Over the years there have been many instances where
the committee's submissions have passed into law.
Members who believe that the law on some topic ought to be
reformed are urged to contact the committee. Through working
with the committee they may find that their ideas have a real
prospect of being carried into legislation.
Chairperson
Arthur
Weir
email
01491 638294
