Other vacancies

You can find out more about opportunities to work with us and selection criteria for the current vacancies below.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our panel of Peer Reviewers for the Civil Quality Assurance Scheme.

Since 2003, the Law Society of Scotland (working with the Scottish Legal Aid Board) has been responsible for the quality assurance of civil legal assistance provided by solicitors through the legal aid scheme. The Quality Assurance scheme is a joint operation of the Law Society of Scotland and the Scottish Legal Aid Board and is governed by the Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations.

All firms providing civil legal aid are subject to peer review in six yearly cycles, by peer reviewers who are solicitors with current or very recent practising experience of working in areas of civil law and civil legal assistance, and who are trained as reviewers on behalf of the Scheme.

More information about the Quality Assurance Scheme is available on the Society’s website under Rule C3 and related guidance.

As an organisation our values are respect, openness, progress, inclusion and integrity. We strive to embed these in all our interactions with colleagues, members, stakeholders and members of the public. 

The Role

The role of the peer reviewers is to conduct periodic reviews of civil legal assistance case files to ensure that they comply with the guidance issued by the Council of the Law Society of Scotland in terms of Rule C3 of the Law Society of Scotland Practice Rules 2011.

Peer Reviewers examine a random sample of files for each practitioner who does civil legal aid work within the firm and thereby assess the quality of the work done by the firm, using the Scheme’s published criteria, and marking scheme set out on the Law Society’s website.

 Currently reviews are being carried out offsite either electronically or in hard copy but, in some cases, reviews occur onsite thus necessitating some travel.

Peer Reviewers send their review reports to the Civil Legal Aid Quality Assurance Sub-Committee of the Law Society of Scotland whose membership reflects the interests of the Law Society, the Scottish Legal Aid Board, and the public. The Committee is a Sub-Committee of the Regulatory Committee who are responsible for the oversight of all of the Society’s regulatory functions.

The Candidate 

The Society is looking for solicitors with a wide experience in civil law and the civil legal assistance system. Reviewers are required to review files from other parts of Scotland than where they normally work.

In addition to generalist positions, we have specific vacancies for practitioners with expertise in:

• Immigration (Outside of the West of Scotland)
• Fatal Accident Inquiries

We would like applicants to -

• Hold a full and current practising certificate.
• Have a minimum of five years post qualifying practising experience.
• Be currently practising in a civil legal aid practice unit.
• Have experience of supervising the work of legal aid practitioners or paralegals
• Have a wide range of civil expertise.
• Have good IT skills, a reliable internet connection and be able and willing to conduct remote reviews electronically.
• Achieve a sound pass in a peer review of a random sample of their civil legal aid files before appointment or have recently attained such a pass in such a review.

What will I receive in return?

Peer Reviewers will be contracted on a consultancy basis and will have to be available to devote up to two days a month to carry out these reviews. They will have to attend compulsory training, which will be provided before conducting any live reviews, and then on an annual basis.

Payment will be on a daily rate (£41 per file reviewed or £410 daily rate (7hours) excluding VAT), and travel and subsistence expenses will also be paid when required.

Peer Reviewer Testimonial: ‘I have greatly enjoyed my experience as a civil peer reviewer. It has allowed me to help other solicitors as they grow their experience and skill in providing civil legal aid. Equally my knowledge and working practices have benefited from seeing how others provide legal services.’

Apply now

To apply for one of these positions please complete the application form and return it to Amy Bell Quality Assurance Administrator – amybell@lawscot.org.uk. It is anticipated that interviews will take place the week beginning 9 December. All interviews will be via Microsoft Teams.

Closing date: Monday 25 November.