About the Panel

What is the Consumer Panel and why is it needed? 

The SLCC Consumer Panel is an independent advisory panel, set up to assist the regulatory system in understanding and taking account of the interests of consumers of legal services, to champion consumer interests and to make recommendations for improvement. 

This can include:

  • Suggesting topics for research connected to legal consumers
  • Expressing a view on matters relating to the SLCC’s functions 
  • Making recommendations to the SLCC on its functions
  • Making recommendations to the Lord President relating to his regulatory functions 
  • Making recommendations to relevant professional organisations relating to any of their regulatory functions.

There is a strong voice for legal services providers within the regulatory system through their membership bodies and other groups and associations. That informs the regulatory system they are subject to. The Consumer Panel is required to ensure that there is also a strong voice for consumers of legal services which is heard across the regulatory system. 

How was the Panel established?

In 2014, the SLCC worked with the Scottish Government to amend the legislation that set it up, the 2007 Act, to create the independent Consumer Panel. This was to ensures it that the Panel would be a permanent part of what regulatory system. The The Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2025 expanded the functions of the Consumer Panel beyond the scope of complaints and the SLCC's work. It now has the power to make recommendations to the SLCC and to legal services regulators and the Lord President in relation to their regulatory functions (came into force on 1 July 2026). 

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