A few days ago saw a major gathering of the municipal great and good as local government solicitors converged on Warwick University for the Solicitors in Local Government annual weekend school.

They had plenty to discuss, such as the cost of practising certificates, and a growth in demand for legal services during the recession, which in most cases has not been matched by concomitant growth in resources. These and other topics are highlighted in detail in the Gazette’s Local Government 2009 supplement, which can be downloaded free from www.lawgazette.co.uk/supplements.

Council lawyers have often been criticised for not being able to adapt and change the way they work. This was highlighted late last year when local government minister John Healey urged councils to become more ‘entrepreneurial’ by using the powers at their disposal (http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/council-lawyers-039in-well-being-denial039)

This is perhaps a little harsh at a time when local authority lawyers face an ongoing battle to raise their profile with employers, while at the same time being in the forefront of new methods in the delivery of legal services.

There is now doubt, however, that in the coming months, with central government foisting new governance regimes and extra responsibilities on councils, local government lawyers will be pushed to the limit. As we say in our supplement, the opportunity is there for them to emerge from the present period of turbulence with their status enhanced.