Dear Father Christmas

President's message: he is pleased at the quality of lay members of the Society's committees, and hopes that Santa will bring a few good things for 2005

13th December 2004 | Duncan Murray

November saw another admission ceremony for new solicitors. It is a privilege to be at such an enjoyable occasion. It is an important milestone for new solicitors and a day for their families to cherish. We were fortunate that Sir Neil McIntosh gave the address. His thoughtful chairmanship of the Judicial Appointments Board has given many people confidence in the Board’s future. He shared with his audience some of the characteristics which the Board looks for in applications received by prospective judges and commended these to new solicitors seeking career and personal success. They are: professional achievement; presentation skills; integrity, honesty and impartiality; intellectual capacity and sound judgment; and management skills. He also stressed the importance of the ability to deal with people fairly and courteously as well as with tolerance and understanding. His final observation, which particularly struck a chord for me and applies to many of us, was the proposition that appreciation is the most effective motivator.

We are fortunate indeed that Scotland benefits from the interested and informed contribution of so many talented individuals who are prepared to give service to the community. This was brought home to me recently when interviewing potential non-solicitor members of the Professional Practice Committee. The contribution of the non-solicitor members of Client Relations Committees and Law Reform Committees over the past 20 years and more has been invaluable for the Society. I am most grateful for the time and effort they take in their work with the Society and for the perspective and experience they bring to their decision-making. Those who believed that solicitors and non-solicitors would divide on each side of a complaints decision were quickly disabused of that perception. In August, Council agreed to the proposal from the Professional Practice Committee that its work would benefit from the involvement of non-solicitors. I am delighted to report that advertisements in the national press attracted a significant number of very high quality applications. All the candidates shortlisted would, I am sure, have made a significant contribution to the committee and I have great faith that those appointed will prove as invaluable as those on the other Society committees. Whether there should now be non-solicitor representation on Council is something which the Constitution Committee is considering. I look forward to consulting on the committee’s proposals.

Finally since “it is the season”, I thought in this modern world of freedom of information I should share with you my letter to Father Christmas:

Dear Father Christmas,

I wondered if you had taken advice concerning age discrimination and whether as a consequence you would take cognisance of letters from more mature correspondents. As an older correspondent you will also understand that I don’t necessarily expect all these to be delivered under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning, but if you can deliver them in the course of 2005, that would be great!

Disclosure to work like a dream and the Bonomy reforms to deliver improvements in solemn procedure.

Recognition by the OFT and European Commission that solicitors operate in an extremely competitive internal market which delivers legal services that work in the public interest. (Would the idea of their recanting their competition dogma be too much to ask?)

For people to stop talking about work/life balance and start really making it happen. (What is it that’s said about putting your own house in order?)

For Scottish multi-national practices to thrive across the UK market.

For legal aid reforms to ensure that clients continue to receive access to justice, solicitors are given reasonable remuneration for providing people with access to justice (with the help of funding from the Executive which is administered by SLAB) and the three organisations to continue to work together in harmony to achieve those ends.