Moderniser Edward Nally appointed to LSB

Former Law Society president Edward Nally has been appointed non-executive member of the Legal Services Board for a four-year term starting yesterday (14 February).

The 55-year-old solicitor replaces a non-lay member post left vacant following Rosemary Martin's departure last month.

Although non-lay member have no specific remit or territory, an LSB spokesperson told Solicitors Journal Nally would provide 'a valuable depth of insight into conditions in small and medium-sized firms, as well as experience drawn from his many impressive representative roles'.

Nally qualified with Bolton-based Fieldings Porter in 1980, becoming a partner in 1982. Now the firm's senior partner, he has had an interest in regulatory matters for some time as chair of the Law Society's Regulation Review Working Party in 2001.

He was appointed president of the Law Society in 2004 when the legal services bill was one of the major items on the profession's agenda.

An early supporter of the proposed changes, he acknowledged in his inaugural speech as president that 'the governance of regulation must be separate from the governance of representation. I am not willing to contemplate being chained to governance arrangements that no longer meet the needs of the profession or the public interest.'

Notwithstanding his overall endorsement of the forthcoming new order, Nally also warned about the risks of a profession open to non-lawyers.

'There will need to be rules to prevent inappropriate cross-selling of services within LDPs. And safeguards against conflicts or any improper interference by external investors with the actual business of delivering legal services,' he said at the time.

He also stood up for legal aid as the government was making the first moves to cut its budget, saying New Labour should make legal aid 'a front-line public service standing alongside health and education in the fight against social exclusion. That means more money for legal aid, targeted in the right areas, the ring fencing of civil legal aid from criminal legal aid, and fair pay and proper respect for legal aid solicitors.'

Following his LSB appointment Nally is stepping down from his position as commissioner at the Judicial Appointments Commission but will retain his role as a governor of the College of Law and will continue to sit as a member of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.

Nally will work 30 days a year for the LSB for an annual remuneration of £15,000.