The Law Society of Scotland’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) team has published initial findings from its thematic review of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs), indicating robust procedures in many firms but also highlighting areas needing improvement. The review, which examined 50 legal practices via a questionnaire, aimed to gauge the profession’s grasp of the SAR regime and…
The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission makes recommendations for the Faculty of Advocates complaints handling
The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) has released a report on the Faculty of Advocates’ conduct complaint handling process, describing it as overly complex and difficult for lay complainers to navigate. This complexity, the report suggests, is likely to cause confusion and frustration thus undermining public confidence. The SLCC has suggested five improvements for the…
February feature: On-going regulatory reform
This month’s feature looks at a few of the jurisdictions currently engaging in a review of the legislative framework for the regulation of legal services. These reviews cover issues ranging from a restatement of the objectives of lawyer regulation through to a fundamental redesign of the architecture of regulation and the roles and responsibilities of…
We need to talk about mental health in the Scottish legal sector
Scotland’s legal sector, while making progress in addressing mental health issues, is facing an accelerated crisis that demands urgent support. Mental health problems, affecting one in three people annually, have worsened in recent years, requiring comprehensive support across sectors, particularly in the legal profession. The demanding nature of legal work, long hours, high workloads, and…
New trainee numbers remain near record high in Scotland
The recruitment of solicitor trainees in Scotland has sustained strong momentum for the third consecutive year, with 765 new traineeships initiated in the past 12 months. Although slightly below the previous year’s record of 788 trainees, this figure is notably higher than the pre-2020 levels, where the number of new traineeships had never surpassed 700…
The Law Society of Scotland launches new guide for creating a wellbeing strategy
The Law Society of Scotland has launched a new resource called the Guide to creating a Wellbeing Strategy to support the mental and physical wellbeing of legal professionals. The guide outlines a three-step process to develop a wellbeing strategy, including securing the support of senior workplace leaders and consulting with colleagues on the wellbeing support…
The Law Society of Scotland continues work on regulatory regime for Licensed Legal Service Providers
The Law Society of Scotland has provided an update on the status of licensed legal services providers. Traditionally legal practices can only be owned by lawyers holding a practice certificate, these new Legal Service Providers can be owned by non-lawyers, though they still need to be majority (51%) owned by solicitors or members of specified…
Jane Malcolm named new Chair of Scottish Legal Complaints Commission
The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission has announced the appointment of Jane Malcolm as its new chair. Malcolm has a strong track record of strategic leadership in professional regulation, working in the public interest. She has a particular interest in consumer-centred services and policy, with a sharp focus on improving the experience of those who use…
The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation has set up a new legal sector engagement forum
The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, a division of HM Treasury UK, has set up a new legal sector engagement forum. The OFSI helps ensure financial sanctions are understood, implemented and enforced. The forum has been set up to enhance the direct engagement between the OFSI and the legal sector. The forum is an opportunity…
Scottish Parliament introduces Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill
The Scottish Parliament has brought in a new regulatory framework to change the way the Scottish legal market is regulated. The Bill provides for more competition and innovation in the regulation and provision of legal services. Existing regulators will retain their regulatory function but must become independent from other functions such as representing the membership…