Tim Smith elected Chair of Legal Software Suppliers Association

Tim Smith, CEO of Insight Legal Software Ltd, takes over as the Chair of the Legal Software Suppliers Association (LSSA). The LSSA is the UK’s industry body for legal systems developers and vendors. He takes over with immediate effect, after outgoing Chair, Craig Matthews, announced his resignation from Osprey, and hence his resignation as LSSA Chair.

To ensure a smooth transition, Matthews will become Vice Chair. He was given the online equivalent of a standing ovation by Members, as he handed over to Smith, who thanked him for his sterling service in the role, especially for steering the Association through an ‘interesting’ few years of changes in the market, and bringing on a number of new members despite having to deal with the impact of Covid. On his departure, Matthews commented, “2022 is looking set to be the busiest conveyancing year for over a decade; and this presents an opportunity for the LSSA and its Members to help conveyancers to get their house in order so that they can help their clients to buy (or sell) theirs”.

25 years’ experience in the Legal IT sector puts Tim Smith in a good position to head the LSSA. Until 2009, he was responsible for the design and development of all the Windows-based AlphaLAW Solicitors’ system, with his software used by in excess of 1,000 firms. Establishing that there was a need for a Legal Software supplier to provide an entirely new legal software product combined with unparalleled support, he founded Insight Legal in 2011, where he uses his expertise and customer-focused ethic to bring high quality but affordable software to law firms. “I attended my first LSSA meeting over twenty years ago,” commented Smith, “so have seen some considerable changes in that time. The LSSA has done a great job of keeping its members up to date on the various changes that are taking place both with new technology initiatives and by building and maintaining communication with other organisations and authorities. I will endeavour to keep this up and continue to raise the organisation’s profile with the legal profession. I am also keen to ensure that members follow a meaningful code of conduct, and wear the LSSA membership badge with pride.”