Your Scottish solicitor

Every solicitor in Scotland who offers legal advice must hold a practising certificate issued by the Law Society of Scotland. In order to be admitted as a solicitor and then apply for a practising certificate, solicitors must meet a high standard of education and training and prove that they are a fit and proper person to become a solicitor.

All Scottish solicitors will have undertaken extensive training including, but not limited to:

1. A Scots Law (LLB) degree from an accredited university (or equivalent)
2. A one-year diploma in professional legal practice
3. A two-year traineeship, working under the supervision of a Scottish solicitor

Once qualified, every practising Scottish solicitor is required to undertake a minimum of 20 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) every year to ensure their knowledge is up-to-date.

Scottish solicitors must adhere to very high standards. As a member of the Law Society of Scotland, your solicitor: 

• agrees to Standards of Conduct
• is part of a regulated profession which means that they are subject to a complaints process which can include the right to compensation

There are over 12,000 Scottish solicitors. Most of them work in private practice offering a range of legal services to their clients. However, about 30% of Scottish solicitors work for other organisations - some in the public sector such as the government, NHS, and Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and others in the private sector working for businesses from banks to oil and gas companies.

All Scottish solicitors can be found on our Find A Solicitor page. Only practising Scottish solicitors are entitled to use the Law Society of Scotland ‘Member’ logo.