October 2024 Public Policy highlights

Take a look at the Public Policy highlights from the various Society committees for October 2024.

Consultation on anonymity for child homicide victims

The Law Society of Scotland’s Criminal Law Committee responded to the Scottish Government consultation, Media Reporting on Child Homicide, noting the consultation’s focus on the impact of reporting on bereaved families.

While the Committee is of the view that there is a relationship between the principle of trauma-informed justice and the regulation of publication of details of traumatic events related with crime, it acknowledged the necessity of considering the impact that any restriction may have on the exercise of the principles of freedom of expression and open justice.

It also noted a relationship between the consultation’s scope and one of the proposed provisions of the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill. Section 63 of the Bill introduces an offence that penalises the publication of information that leads to the identification of a sexual offence victim. The Committee’s written evidence submitted at Stage 1 indicated that anonymity for victims and complainers of sexual offence should continue in perpetuity.

Find out more about the consultation and read our response

House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill second reading briefing

The Law Society of Scotland’s Constitutional Law and Human Rights Committee issued a briefing in advance of the second reading of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill in the House of Commons.

While the Committee does not oppose the Bill, it does note that removing the right of hereditary peers to sit and vote will have consequences that could affect independent scrutiny of legislation and loss of expertise in analysis of topics subject to debate.

Following previous reforms under the House of Lords Act 1999, there are currently 90 hereditary peers, who would lose their right to sit and vote.

Read our briefing in full

Review of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement Inquiry

The Law Society of Scotland’s international policy executive, Dr Adam Marks, gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee on the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).

Dr Marks explained that the two main cohorts of the Law Society’s membership affected by the TCA are individual solicitors who have, for a variety of reasons, moved to member states of the EU and larger firms who provide legal services abroad. Dr Marks acknowledged that the review process represents important opportunities to improve matters but noted that the terms of the review are extremely vague. He expressed the view that any review should focus on issues against which we can realistically deliver, including transparency, mobility and youth mobility.

Watch the evidence session

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