A poll running on the Firm website asking whether the Law Society should continue its representative role for solicitors has shown that 73% of respondents do not want the Society to continue to represent them.

The poll has been running since the Glasgow Bar Association's newly elected President called for a referendum on the issue.

The Firm's poll can be accessed by all users to the website. Votes can only be registered once from any computer. The poll does not claim to represent a definitive sample of views from across the profession, but the Firm's editor Steven Raeburn said the snapshot provides a useful indicator of attitudes within the profession.

"The profession are clearly engaged in all matters affecting them, especially as the Justice Committee debates the Legal Services Bill," he said.

"There is clearly a debate to be had between the individual members, their Society and amongst groups such as local Bar Associations, the Royal Faculty of Procurators and the WS Society to see how the dual roles of representation and regulation can be best achieved."

The poll will continue to run whilst evidence sessions continue into the new year.  Former President of the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow and Solicitor of the Year Gilbert Anderson will be giving evidence to the Holyrood Committee on 5 January.