OCTOBER 2008

Scottish Legal Complaints Commission Opens for Business

 

The Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Kenny MacAskill welcomed the formation of the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission as the office opened its doors for business on 1 October.

 

SLCC Chief Executive Eileen Masterman commented: “As an organisation that is structured to be completely independent, impartial and accessible, it will bring a different approach to addressing legal complaints in Scotland. The complaint handling procedure has been drawn up from a ‘clean sheet’ and anyone taking a complaint forward will benefit from a single gateway approach and the opportunity to use the services of trained mediators at every stage.”

 

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission was set up under the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007. The Commission is governed by a board composed of a non-lawyer chair plus four non-lawyer members and four lawyer members who are appointed by Scottish Ministers after consultation with the Lord President of the Court of Session.

 

Kenny MacAskill, the Justice Secretary said: “I want to congratulate everyone who has worked hard to get this new organisation off the ground. The Commission was an initiative of the previous administration, but one we were happy to support. I am determined to ensure that the legal profession in Scotland continues to thrive, and receive the respect it deserves for the good work it does. A modern, transparent, independent complaints resolution system is a key part of that. I have no doubt that the Commission will play a valuable role in safeguarding the rights of both the legal profession and users of the services they provide throughout Scotland.”

 

SEPTEMBER 2008

Publication of Governance Documents

A number of documents relating to the governance of the Commission have now been published and are available to view here (link now removed, October 2008) 

Publication of Commission Rules and Complaint Application Form

After following the relevant formal consultation process and inviting responses, the Commission has published the  Rules it will operate under, and a Draft Complaint Application Form. 

The Draft Order, which has yet to be approved by the Scottish Parliament, (since approved),  that makes arrangements for transfer of the Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman’s functions and divides responsibility between the Law Society of Scotland, Faculty of Advocates and the Commission for Service Complaints over the transitional period can be found here. Consultation complete - link now removed, October 2008.

JULY 2008

Announcement of Office Location

The Commission is now preparing its new building, ready for operation on the 1st October 2008.  The Commission will open within The Stamp Office, 10 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3EG on that date.

JUNE 2008

Scottish Legal Complaints Commission New Chief Executive

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission has announced the appointment of their first Chief Executive. The Commission, which will commence later this year, have appointed Eileen Masterman as their inaugural CEO. Eileen brings extensive experience in senior roles in both the private and public sector and has held a number of public appointments in Scotland and the UK. Eileen is a former Chief Executive of Homes for Scotland and was previously Director of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in Scotland. Her current complaints investigation role at the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman reflects past similar positions, notably with the Commissioner for Local Administration in Scotland. In addition Eileen has been a volunteer lay representative dealing with complaints of professional misconduct and poor professional service.

The Commission will handle service complaints against legal practitioners in Scotland, oversee handling of misconduct complaints by the Law Society of Scotland and the Faculty of Advocates.  Approximately 44 staff will work at the Commission

Chairing Member of the Commission, Jane Irvine, said in announcing Eileen’s appointment “I am very pleased that Eileen has agreed to join the Commission.  She brings with her a wealth of experience and the skills in complaints and dispute resolution from various professional backgrounds. These will be necessary to manage the new processes we are introducing to resolve complaints about legal services within Scotland.

Scottish Legal Complaints Commission Appoints Mediation Manager

A Mediation Manager has been appointed to establish a pilot project as part of the new Scottish Legal Complaints Commission. Marjorie Mantle, who has run the Edinburgh Sheriff Court Mediation Service since 2004, will take up the part-time role in mid-July. Marjorie, formerly a Director of Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh & Lothian, was accredited as a mediator in 1998 and has extensive experience in court, commercial and workplace mediations. She is a board member of the Scottish Mediation Network and founding partner of her business, Mediation Scotland LLP.

Jane Irvine, Chairing Member of the Commission, said “I am delighted that Marjorie is to set up the mediation project for the Commission. She brings unique expertise to this role and will be able to provide both members of the public and the legal profession with the option of an alternate route for resolving complaints." 

MAY 2008

The Law Society of Scotland's Survey on Standards

The Law Society of Scotland is reviewing standards for Scottish solicitors. Having clear and understandable standards is good for both solicitors and clients. It lets the client know what standards to expect and lets the profession know what is expected of them.

There are standards of service, which are about the service provided by a solicitor and/or the solicitor firm and there are standards of conduct, which are about the behaviour of individual solicitors. The aim is to have one set of standards that is clear and open to all.

Filling in the on-line questionnaire will give you the opportunity to have your say on standards for the solicitor profession. It should only take about 10 minutes to complete.

To access the questionnaire please click Law Society Standards Survey. 

MARCH 2008

Jobs with the Commission

The Commission is currently looking for staff.  If you are interested in the Commission, and would like to know more about the positions we have available, then we would love to hear from you.  Please visit our job vacancies page.

Publication of Consultation Documents

We are committed to establishing a Commission that is open and accessible to the public.  In line with our responsibilities under the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007, we have published our consultations on the setting of our annual budget and associated levies.  We have also published the responses to those documents.  Please see our consultation documents page for more information.