Blogs & opinions
Accredited Paralegal roundup: Celebrations, updates and new opportunities
Laura McBain, Member Services Coordinator and Secretary to the Accredited Paralegal Committee, is back with an update on the Paralegal Practice course, important updates to practice competencies and new opportunities for you to get involved with the accreditation.
Building a kinder, accessible legal profession
As we mark the Society's 75th anniversary, Elizabeth Rose, Legal Director and Founder of L&M MediLaw and Scottish Legal Awards Lawyer of the Year 2023, reflects on the evolution of the profession’s approach to inclusivity and client engagement and her innovative approach to setting up and running a trauma-informed and accessible practice.
Sustainability: How your changes can make a difference
In light of sharing their top tips on how to become more climate conscious, Sustainability Committee members Lynsey Whelan, Anne Littlejohn and Peter Brash share how your changes can make a difference.
The Law Society at 75: Tracking the impact of paralegals
In celebration of the Law Society of Scotland’s 75th anniversary we sit down with two members of the Accredited Paralegal Committee, Laura McLaren and Sandra Reid, and Bruce Battersby, solicitor at BTO Solicitors, to track the influence of paralegals over the past 75 years and what they hope to see change going forward.
75th Conversations: John Macmillan and Ben Campbell
In the second instalment of 75th Conversations, Lawscot Foundation student Ben Campbell and Fellow John Macmillan discuss how the legal profession has evolved and their thoughts for the future of the sector.
CPD - from the lecture hall to laptop
Rachel Steer, Senior Manager of our CPD Research Team, considers how training for our members has moved from serving up bacon butties and lectures in conference halls, to delivering online training and specialist certification around the globe, ensuring that the Society's CPD content is dynamic, up-to-date and market leading.
Seven in 10 Wills ignore the issue of digital legacy
We live increasingly digital lives but how many of us have planned a good digital legacy? Seven in 10 of those making a Will leave no instructions about their online assets – or even a list of passwords – when they die. But both solicitors and financial advisers can help change that.
A profession driving change
In this retrospective piece, solicitor Adrian D. Ward MBE, a recognised international expert in adult incapacity law, reflects on the significant developments in legal practice over the years. Adrian discusses how the profession has adapted to societal changes and championing the rights of vulnerable individuals.
Developing resilience for law: An essential skill or an excuse for poor working practices?
Olivia Moore, Careers & Wellbeing Manager at the Law Society of Scotland, explores resilience and how much it's within our own ability to develop, or when it's unduly influenced by structural or cultural barriers at work.
How technology can positively impact risk management
Steven Thomson from Morton Fraser MacRoberts and former winner of the Innovation Cup Competition discusses the changes to this year’s competition and why you should enter.
Reflecting on change - the Society at 75
As we mark the Society's 75th anniversary, our Member Engagement Manager, Sara Czarny, reflects on the enormous changes of the past few years and shares the big ticket issues that will shape the future of the profession.
75th Conversations: Rupa Mooker and Harley Kirk
In our new three-part video series, 75th Conversations, you will hear directly from our Lawscot Foundation students and long-standing members of the profession about their career journeys to date.
A Deep Dive into Deepfakes
Deepfake technology, which uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create highly realistic but fake images, audio, and videos, is rapidly emerging as a significant threat in the cyber security landscape. As cyber criminals adopt this technology to exploit vulnerabilities, businesses must understand its implications and strengthen their defences.
A series of firsts: Launching the paralegal practice course
In the final instalment of our three part series on the creation of our Paralegal Practice course with Robert Gordon University, Rachel O’Neil, lecturer and developer of the course, shares how she joined RGU as well as how the first intake of students are getting on.
AML Spotlight: Training
For our anti-money laundering (AML) blog series spotlighting key topics, our AML Risk Manager Emma Cairns looks at the requirements and benefits of AML/counter terrorist financing (CTF) training.
Mental Health Awareness Week – Women in Law
Lou Murphy Careers and Wellbeing Manager reflects on the Law Society’s well attended Women in Law event, held last month during Mental Health Awareness Week.
Building a course for paralegals: The challenges of online learning and a work life balance
Following on from Jim McKay's discussion on the early stages of setting up the Paralegal Practice Course with Robert Gordon University (RGU), we sit down with David Christie, the Associate Dean for Academic Development and Student Experience at RGU’s Law School, to understand why they wanted to create the course and the challenges of online learning.
The fear of leaving – embrace your holiday!
Feeling anxious about taking annual leave? Solicitor Nadia Cook shares her personal tips for overcoming holiday stress and strategies to truly disconnect and recharge during your time off. This blog offers practical advice for everyone, as well as specific guidance for managers on supporting employee wellbeing by encouraging them to embrace their breaks.
Setting the foundation: How we created a university course for paralegals
In the first of three blog posts, Head of Commercial Services at the Law Society, Jim McKay, shares how we went from an idea – a university course for paralegals – to working with Robert Gordon University to bring the concept to life.
Accredited Paralegal Roundup: The start of 2024
In a new regular update, our Member Services Co-Ordinator and Secretary to the Accredited Paralegal Committee, Laura McBain, sits down to share what’s been happening with the Accredited Paralegal status since the start of the new year and some useful information on your learning and development.
Roundtable events dig below the surface of criminal justice reforms
In recent months we've organised two roundtable events to bring together a diverse range of views on the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill.
Why cyber insurance isn’t a substitute for cyber risk management
Cyber insurance may recoup some costs, provide cyber specialists to investigate the crisis and may even pay the ransom, but there are still issues left unresolved by insurance alone. Law Society of Scotland partner, Mitigo Cybersecurity explain why cyber insurance isn’t a substitute for cyber risk management.
Deaf Awareness Week: How to communicate inclusively
Dhana McIver, a solicitor and disability officer at Balfour + Manson who is also profoundly deaf, discusses the extent of hearing loss across the UK and what we can all do to communicate in a more inclusive way.
Move more! Mental Health Awareness Week 2024
We'll be offering a range of webinars on key topics during Mental Health Awareness Week, which takes place this year from 13 to 19 May. Now in its 23rd year, the week is an important opportunity to make time for our mental health and to tackle the stigma that remains a challenge in this important area.