Lawyers in Local Government is a not-for profit company covering England and Wales which can trace it routes back to the 1950’s. Back then and in the decades which followed, it was a member-led organisation based entirely on the efforts of full-time lawyers working in the sector. Focused on collaboration, networking, training needs and a safe space to share good practice, the organisation would meet regionally, nationally, and indeed internationally to further the pursuit of good governance and when it could, lobby for change and produce guidance.
Depending on how you count it, there are as many as 400 local authorities within England and Wales covering just about every area of law you could think of with a few small exceptions. Not only that, the governance and machinery of local government is heavily prescribed by statute. There is also the political element of working with councillors. The job is vast, complex and demanding. For monitoring officers, the custodians of ensuring good decision making (amongst other things), it can sometimes feel an isolated position.
In 2015, the company changed its path forever by recruiting its first dedicated employee. An internal governance review followed by a revised structure of the Board of Directors quickly led to the appointment of its first ever CEO. Whilst such investment was not without risk, the company never looked back. Further investment in staff enabled the company to expand its member offering and diversify its offering, raising its profile at the national level. This also meant when the pandemic hit, LLG were able to pivot quickly to an entirely online offering, producing nonstop webinars and streams of guidance at a time where the law changed at pace and with huge consequences. Where we had previously trained 100 lawyers at a conference, we were now attracting audiences of 500. It also meant we were able to launch several campaigns, liaise productively with other stakeholders and represent the sector far more effectively with central government, via the production of guidance and procedure or by way of consultation responses and written evidence.
Two years ago, we positioned ourselves to bring two judicial reviews, one of which was in respect of permanent virtual meeting provision for Local Authorities alongside Hertfordshire County Council and ADSO. Virtual Meeting provision really opened up democratic participation and indeed, permanent provision would open the door for those with full time jobs, caring obligations or disabilities to more readily consider becoming a councillor. That campaign continues with recent positive comments recorded in the House of Commons and support from a whole variety of organisations.
LLG’s move to raise its profile and work in collaboration with other bodies has really enabled it to become involved with important lobbying. Recently the Family Rights Group invited LLG to give oral evidence to a cross party parliamentary group on the challenges facing kinship carers. The outcome has already been announced by the Ministry of Justice in that special guardians who are applying to take on the care of children will be eligible for means and merits tested legal aid in private law court proceedings and non-means tested legal aid for parents who oppose applications for placement orders or adoption orders for their child. To have played a part in that is deeply satisfying as it provides real access to justice.
Currently, LLG acknowledge recruitment and retention challenges within the sector which is why we are focused on a national graduate campaign to not just promote the sector to those considering a legal career but facilitate their entry to it with a focus on social mobility and diversity.
Local government lawyers work in a highly demanding and complex arena, focused not just on law, but the social, economic, and political realities of local authority practice. Being able to get back to our in-person conferences has been an exciting development this year for a sector which views itself as a ‘family’. LLG are at the heart of it all, from its grass-roots membership to its national board. Being agile and willing to change has enabled LLG to make a difference and we hope secure its future for another 72 years!
About the authors:
Deborah Evans
Since her appointment as LLG’s first CEO in 2018, Deborah has steered the transformation of the organisation to one with strong levels of membership engagement with a vibrant online knowledge, training and conference programme. Deborah and the talented team ensured that LLG demonstrated its value during the pandemic, producing fast-paced guidance and lobbying for policy change to ensure members could thrive. In 2021, Deborah led the launch of the first national work experience week for law students in local authorities across the country, with a plan to repeat this annually, complemented by a national graduate recruitment scheme in 2022.
Helen McGrath
Helen is responsible for driving forward the campaign element of LLG’s work and contributes to the formation of policy and membership benefits. Helen leads on responses to government consultations and written evidence, producing guidance, protocols, and briefings of benefit to the membership whilst engaging in stakeholder and corporate partner liaison. Helen oversees the National Lead programme, provides supports to the Branches, and oversees communications and press liaison. Helen is a qualified solicitor and the company secretary.
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