President’s report

I was therefore surprised and disappointed to read what some commentators seem to have expected the trial to establish. It is said that all the information has not come out, that the role played by foreign governments has not been fully determined and that the culpability of others remains unresolved. These concerns demonstrate a misunderstanding of the purpose of a criminal trial, even such an extraordinary one as this. The Lockerbie trial established the guilt or innocence of two accused people. That is all it could ever do, and it is simply incorrect to criticise it because it does not provide all the answers to all the questions about this tragedy. This was a real test of the Scottish criminal justice system, and Scotland can be proud that the fair and dispassionate nature of the court process has received international recognition.

Claims Direct

No doubt there will be many in the profession who witnessed the recent slump in the share price of Claims Direct with some satisfaction. According to press reports the company blamed “a fall in consumer confidence after autumn’s negative publicity” for a drop in its caseload. If any lesson is to be derived from this chastening experience for the company, it is that the consumer is the boss. No matter how widespread and expensive one’s marketing may be, it is impossible to over-emphasise the importance of good client care. By virtue of their training and experience, solicitors understand and deliver high standards of client care, recognising as they do the importance of full communication with clients about the services offered as well as the provision of excellent value for money. Individual firms and the Society must take every opportunity to emphasise the advantages to claimants of using solicitors, and the Society is working with members who undertake personal injury work to identify all feasible methods of getting the message across.

International Relations

The Society has been through many changes in the past few years and is set to go through many more. It is increasingly looking further afield, sharing information with other Law Societies and learning from them. This is especially true of the Law Societies of Ireland and Northern Ireland which are dealing with many similar issues to those affecting us in Scotland such as developing legal education and training and addressing the competitive challenges faced by our members.

Another key element of the process for change has been the commencement of regular strategy meetings where the Executive and Council members meet away from Drumsheugh Gardens to discuss ways to modernise the Society and the way it works and to develop the services provided to members.

When the Law Society of Ireland gave the Council and some of the Executive the opportunity to visit their new Law School, hold a Council meeting and then follow that with a day’s strategy meeting at Blackhall Place in Dublin, it was seen as a marvellous chance to share insights and experience, to learn from a profession very similar in many ways to our own, and to strengthen ties of co-operation between us. The visit will go ahead at the end of March and I am delighted to report that it will actually cost less than our combined strategy day and Council meeting in Edinburgh last spring.

Using modern technology, those who are not able to go to Dublin will be able to take part in the Council meeting by video conference. I am confident that the exchange will be of great value for the Society. Since one of the important benefits will be to inspect the new Law School operated by the Law Society of Ireland, can I invite any members with an interest in the subject to forward any questions on how the Law School is run to our Director of Legal Education, Liz Campbell (lizcampbell@lawscot.org.uk)? I hope the Journal will report back as soon as possible after the visit on the success of this initiative and the lessons learned in relation to legal education.

The Clyde Coast in May

Other signs of change are to be found at our AGM and Conference. There is a different location – Seamill in Ayrshire; and different timing – 11th to 13th May. By the time you read this you should have received the booking form, from which you will have seen that the Conference is offering a great mix of CPD and fun. Families will be particularly well catered for, and I warmly encourage you all to send off your booking forms as soon as possible.