Law Society news
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Legal profession concerned by Scottish Legal Complaints Commission draft budget
We have called on the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission to focus more on its core role in handling legal complaints and go further in controlling its costs.
Engaging with the complaints process
Let's talk about complaints. No one likes to be complained about, but we highlight the importance of engaging in the process as part of a solicitor's professional obligations - and seeking support if needbe.
Authorisation marks significant step towards alternative legal businesses in Scotland
The Society has been authorised as a regulator of Licensed Legal Services Providers in Scotland, marking a further step towards solicitors and non-solicitors being able to set up businesses together to provide legal and other business services to consumers in Scotland.
Law Society cautions against change which could risk higher legal bills for consumers
While we want to see major reforms to the way legal services are regulated, we have cautioned against measures which could damage the competitiveness of Scottish law firms and increase the cost of legal advice for consumers.
Read more about our response to the Scottish Government consultation on legal services regulation reform.
AML annual report 2021
We have updated our AML Supervisory Annual Report building on the interim version published in February 2021.
With a foreword from our CEO, Lorna Jack, the report highlights the work we have undertaken between April 2020 and April 2021 in fulfilling our supervisory obligations as per the requirements of the Money Laundering Regulations 2019.
Regulatory reforms must not increase costs for consumers
While reform of legal services regulation is long overdue, we have cautioned against against changes which could increase costs for consumers and damage the competitiveness of Scottish law firms.
Comment on Scottish Government consultation analysis on reforming legal complaints
The Society's President Ken Dalling comments following the publication of the analysis of the Scottish Government consultation on proposals to improve the current complaints system.
Specialist AML guidance for Trust & Company Work and Notaries published
The Legal Sector Affinity Group has published further anti-money laundering guidance for specialist areas of legal practice, following its extensive redraft of the main UK AML guidance in January.
Regulatory Committee update
The Society's Regulatory Committee Convener Craig Cathcart provides an update on the work of the committee in 2020 and 2021.
Inaugural AML supervisory report and Risk Appetite statement published
In February 2021, we published our inaugural annual anti-money laundering (AML) supervisory report, highlighting the breadth and range of AML initiatives that the Law Society of Scotland has recently undertaken, along with our first supervisory AML Risk Appetite statement.
New UK AML guidance for the legal sector
The Legal Sector Affinity Group has completed an extensive revision and redraft of the UK AML guidance for the legal sector.
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Complaints reform “a significant and positive step forward”
The Scottish Government has published a new consultation to improve the current 'complicated and cumbersome' legal complaints system.
Wrong to target high street law firms with economic crime levy
The Law Society of Scotland has said that small, high street law firms should not be hit with an additional economic crime levy.
Price transparency guidance to come into effect in January 2021
Guidance for Scottish solicitors on publishing pricing aims to help consumers better understand the cost of legal advice and services is due to come into effect in January 2021.
Law Society opposes plans for economic crime levy on solicitors
The Society has opposed proposals to introduce a UK-wide anti-money laundering levy on solicitors.
AML Roundup June 2020
It is particularly important in these difficult times, that we maintain a clear focus on our AML measures and requirements and with that in mind, we wanted to bring you a round up of AML news and events.
AML Registration Requirements during the Covid-19 crisis
Due to the Covid-19 crisis, the Disclosure Scotland service is currently only processing applications for people working on sectors deemed vital at this time. HM Treasury are content that, on a temporary basis, firms or new sole practitioners can provide a statutory declaration that the BOOM(s) does not have a relevant criminal conviction as part of the application.
Preventing money laundering during Covid-19
The UK Legal Sector Affinity Group has published an advisory note for legal practitioners to prevent money laundering or terrorist financing going through law firms during the Covid-19 crisis.
Law Society responds to CMA report on legal services in Scotland
The Society responds to the Competition and Markets Authority report on legal services in Scotland
TCSP thematic review report
The legal sector’s provision of Trust or Company services has been identified as an inherently high risk area of business and as such, the area of focus for our first thematic review - the results of which have now been published.
New guidance aims to improve price transparency in legal services
New guidance for Scottish solicitors on publishing pricing aims to help consumers better understand the cost of legal advice and services.
Practice Rule Changes
See our update on Practice Rule changes relating to client communications and firms' client relations managers which come into effect on 1 February 2020