Backround

The Law Society of Kenya is a professional statutory body drawing membership of all advocates currently totaling over 20,000. The Law Society of Kenya was established by an Act of parliament-The Law Society of Kenya Act (Chapter 18 of the Laws of Kenya). The Law Society in its present form was established in 1948 by dint of section 3 of the Law Society Kenya Ordinance 1949. The Act was later repealed on 30th October 1992. This was later replaced by the current Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Act of 2014 – wherein the structure of the Secretariat was reorganized to promote greater commitment to excellence as well client care in the practice.

Introduction

This strategic plan charts a definite course based on indicators of what LSK’s environment will be like in years to come. Thus, this strategic plan takes cognizance of demographic statistics, economic indicators, government policies, and technological advances. Through development and effective implementation of this strategic plan, LSK will benefit in a number of ways.

1. The strategic plan has enabled the Society to look into the future and to assume a proactive posture.
2. LSK will benefit from enhanced stakeholders motivation as communicating and implementing the strategic plan will stimulate positive response from various stakeholders of the Society.
3. The strategic plan also provides the Society with a framework for evaluating alternative strategies for achieving its mandate.
4. This strategic plan is provision of clarity on the overall objective of the Society which will result in increased organizational effectiveness and efficiency.

THE MANDATE AND OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY

The Society has the mandate to advise and assist members of the legal profession, the government and the larger public in all matters relating to the administration of justice in Kenya. According to Section 4 of the LSK Act 2014, the objects for which the Society was established are:

1. To assist the Government and the courts in matters relating to legislation, the administration of justice and practice of law in Kenya;
2. To uphold the Constitution of Kenya and advance the rule of law and the administration of justice;
3. To ensure that all persons who practice law in Kenya or provide legal services in Kenya meet the standards competence and professional conduct that are appropriate for legal services they provide;
4. To project and assist the members of public in Kenya in matters relating to or ancillary or incidental to the laws;
5. To set, maintain and continuously improve the standards of learning, professional competence and professional conduct for the provision of legal services in Kenya;
6. To determine, maintain and enhance the standards of professional practice and ethical conduct and learning for the legal profession in Kenya;
7. To facilitate the acquisition of legal knowledge by members of the Society and ancillary service provider, including paralegal through promotion of high standards of legal education and training;
8. To represent, protect and assist members of legal profession in Kenya in matters relating to the conditions of practice and welfare;
9. To formulate policies that promote the restructuring of legal profession in Kenya to embrace the spirit, principles, values and objects of the Constitution of Kenya;
10. To facilitate the realization of a transformed legal profession that is cohesive accountable, effective & independent;
11. To establish mechanisms necessary for the provision of equal opportunities for all legal practitioners in Kenya;
12. To protect and promote the interest of consumers of legal service and the public interest generally by providing a fair, effective, efficient and transparency procedures for the resolution of complaints against legal practitioners;
13. To develop and facilitate adequate training programmes for legal practitioners; and
14. To do all such other things as are incidental or to the foregoing functions.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

1. Provide transformative member services/welfare.
2. Improve administrative and governance structures.
3. Promote the implementation of the constitution,the rule of law and the administration of justice.
4. Enhance standards of learning, professsional competence and conduct.
5. Enhance sound financial, budgeting and risk management systems.

STRATEGIES

1. Provide responsive welfare conditions and services.
2. Provide easy access to LSK products.
3. Enhance communication with stakeholders.
4. Enhance equal outcomes for all legal practitioners.
5. Establish adequate physical infrastructure through constructing of secretariat office block
6. Promote open transparency and democratic systems.
7. Establish a cohesive and independent legal profession.
8. Institutionalize performance management systems (PMS).
9. Restructure the organization in line with enabling statute(s).
10. Enhance integrity and quality of continuous professional development program.
11. Enhance standards of professional and ethical conduct for legal profession in Kenya.
12. Ensure sustainable structure for acquiring legal knowledge by members and paralegals.
13. Establish sustainable funding regime.
14. Establish sound financial management systems
15. Ensure sound budgeting principles
16. Establish sound investment strategies
17. Ensure optimum utilization of assets
18. Ensure minimum impact of risk.
19. Increase in the Society’s financial resources.
20. Improve record management.
21. Have a well aligned to protocols of good governance.
22. Align policies to the spirit, principles, values and objects of the Constitution of Kenya and a healthy internal policy framework that enhances integrity and transparency.
23. Enhance human resource capacity.
24. Enhance high visible Society Brand.
25. Promote independence of the legal profession.
26. Undertake protection of the members of the public in matters touching on law and justice.
27. Improve access to justice by members of the public.
28. Offer full legislative and administrative support given to government and the courts to enhance justice.
29. Ensure there is rule of law and fair administration of justice.
30. Improve professional competence.
31. Enhance standards of learning and ensure training programs for legal practitioners are effectively enhanced.

Member Services