News

Four key themes dominated the responses to the recent consultation by the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission on its draft strategy, operating plan and budget. Neil Stevenson, the Commission’s Chief Executive thanked all those who responded “we know preparing a response takes time and consideration, and we’re tremendously grateful to stakeholders who took the time to share very frank, focussed, and thoughtful feedback.”

10 members of the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission staff team are running the equivalent of over 100 miles at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival in May. The combined effort includes a relay team, half marathon and full marathon runners, all in aid of the staff charity for the year ‘The Yard’.

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) is to host a roundtable on the application of disciplinary sanctions on lawyers in Scotland.

The SLCC has opened a short consultation on changing its time limits. The changes were first consulted on in October 2014, as part of a number of changes to the Rules.

“SLCC provides update on Conduct Trends Analysis report The SLCC has provided an update on its Conduct Trends Analysis report, which was published in April 2015. The report focussed on identified trends in conduct complaint handling by the Law Society of Scotland (LSS) over 6 years. Following a formal response from the Law Society of Scotland in September 2015, and further discussions since then, the update provides a summary of our recommendations and the Law Society of Scotland’s responses as well as some learning points.

The SLCC has welcomed guidance from the Court of Session in connection with an appeal against its decision to reject a complaint for investigation.

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission, is consulting on a new strategy for the next four years, aimed at putting consumer understanding at its heart.

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commissions welcomes the Competition and Markets Review of Legal Services in England and Wales, and believes any findings will also impact the sector north of the border.

Note: Our office will be closed from 5pm on December 24th to 9am on January 5th. Under our current Rules, if you send a completed complaint form by post during this period, it will not be received by us until 5th January 2016. If you send us your complaint through our online complaint form, it will be received by us on the date it is received electronically (even if the office is closed). If you are worried about our time limits, it may be best to use the online form. If you’re not sure, contact us before 24th December.

The SLCC need diverse thinking and different perspectives and talents to deliver their role and are looking to appoint three members (one Legal and two Non-Legal).

An update from the SLCC on the ADR Directive.

Ahead of our publishing our first set of quarterly decisions, we will be launching a new quarterly newsletter specifically aimed at providing practical and topical support for Client Relations Managers.