Turnout for a Law Society ballot to create a new ‘affiliate’ category has been low, anecdotal evidence suggests. The postal ballot closes tomorrow.

Affiliate status would be open to certain categories of non-solicitors working in the legal services market.

Past President Kevin Martin said that, as of last week, the response had been ‘disappointing’, especially as most people who felt strongly on the issue would have voted early.

Keith Etherington, council representative for the Junior Lawyers Division (JLD), also voiced concern: ‘Our members will inherit the Society and it is important that junior lawyers inherit a strong and vibrant one.’

However Richard Barr, representative for Norfolk, maintained that ‘quite a lot of people’ are voting. ‘I would not like to predict the way it is going to go,’ he said.