Former BBC solicitor Alistair Bonnington, writing exclusively in The Firm, has called on members to back David Flint's motion at the forthcoming AGM.

In a wide ranging argument, Bonnington criticises the Society for moving too close to Scottish local government, and failing to adequately represent the interests of members over the last ten years.

"If I were asked to apply adjectives to the Council’s approach to issues in the past decade I’m afraid I would have to choose ‘laborious’, ‘inept’, and ‘fearful’," he says.

"Most important of my three adjectives is “fearful”, which describes the Society’s lickspittle approach to Scottish politicians and their civil servants. The Society, both at Council and management level, hasn’t a clue how to deal with such creatures.

"The Law Society doesn’t take my approach. It kowtows to these creeps. Inevitably, it gets kicked all over the place as a consequence."

The AGM will vote on whether the present practising certificate fee should be capped at £400.00, and Bonnington endorses the motion.

"David Flint’s proposal is that the annual practising certificate fee for a Scottish Solicitor take account of the levy the SLCC take from each solicitor. Put simply, the price of the regulator and the representative bodies together should not wildly exceed what was paid when these functions were both carried out entirely by the Law Society. They should live within a budget, just like the rest of us," he says.

"An allegedly representative body which in the immediate past has so signally failed in carrying out that function and instead has cosied up to politicians should now answer to its members. David Flint’s motion gives the membership the opportunity to insist on a new and meaningful stance for its Society. It should be grasped with both hands."

Bonnington's comments can be read in full here.