Website reviews

The Law Society of Scotland (Commonly Used Rules)

www.lawscot.org.uk/members/common_rules/intro.html
Here’s a little secret that not many people know. In order to gain access to the Law Society of Scotland’s website “members only” section, you are supposed to log in by giving your name and roll number. Let’s face it, who can remember their roll number anyway? Instead, simply bypass the whole rigmarole by simply typing in the correct URL for the pages you are looking for into your browser – no password required.

Once you’re in, this page is a great starting point for all the relevant professional ethics rules and regulations. It provides instant online access to Accounts Rules, Conflict of Interest Rules, Law Society guidelines and briefer guides to the Money Laundering Regulations and the new system of investment business regulation.

Finally, it has a useful section titled “Professional Practice – Where can I find it?” which is an index to practice rules, journal articles etc on aspects of professional practice. The index is organised alphabetically, and refers the browser to the relevant publication (Greens Weekly Digest, The Journal, Scots Law Times etc).

Ease of Use: 4/5
Site Design: 3/5
Usefulness: 4/5

Money Laundering – Managing the Risk

www.mlro.net/lawscot/
From the Law Society again, this site provides access (on a pay-per-view basis) to online, interactive anti-money laundering training. As you have to subscribe and pay money, your reviewer has not tried the full experience, but only the preface, which can be viewed for free as a demonstration. The e-learning also counts for up to five hours’ group study CPD.

The slightly comic look to the fictional solicitor aside, the training works well. It loads quickly enough even with my sluggish dial-up modem, and the question and answer format is designed to provide positive reinforcement to the learner. It is difficult to assess how in depth the training is from the preface alone, but this resource looks to be of great use.

Ease of Use: 3/5
Site Design: 4/5
Usefulness: 3/5

Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman

www.slso.org.uk
What a simply wonderful website! The Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman is the person (Linda Costelloe Baker) who receives and determines complaints about the complaint handling of the Law Society of Scotland and Faculty of Advocates. The website itself looks great and the designers have taken pains to ensure that the site is accessible. The language used on the site is clear and plain and the content is useful for those wishing to make complaints. Of particular use, the guide on making a complaint is detailed and practical without being too complex, and the case studies provide a good idea of the sort of complaint which can be entertained and the likely outcomes.

On a more academic note, the site also carries the Ombudsman’s written responses to various calls for evidence and consultation on the regulation of the legal profession. These written representations, principally made to the Scottish Parliament’s Justice 1 Committee, provide an interesting insight into the perceived failings of the current regulatory system.

Ease of Use: 5/5
Site Design: 5/5
Usefulness: 4/5

The Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism

www.txethics.org
Straying momentarily from our own jurisdiction, this comprehensive site has a number of useful resources even for the Scots practitioner. Although much of the rules and discussion thereon are specific to the Texas Bar, there is nonetheless much to commend it. For those who wish an international alternative to the above mentioned online CPD, you may wish to try this site’s offerings (at only $35 a pop!) including audio/visual treats such as “Career Killers: Drugs; Depression and Alcohol” and “Ten Truths for Operating a Law Office, Humerous [sic] Scenarios”.

The other section of this site which will be of benefit is the section headed “Resources” and, in particular, the online book called “The Lawyer as a Professional”. Again, standing the differences in professional ethics rules between Scotland and Texas, this book is of great use. Each chapter addresses a different topic and many approach the subject from a philosophical angle, meaning that lawyers from all over the globe can benefit from learning and reflecting on the theory of professional ethics. Being an American site there is much said on the moral responsibilities of lawyers and the concept of lawyers as public servants. Which is no bad thing.

Ease of Use: 3/5
Site Design: 4/5
Usefulness: 3/5