Scottish Government response to Roberton report

The Law Society of Scotland, the professional body for over 12,000 Scottish solicitors, has welcomed the Scottish Government’s response to the Roberton Report on legal services regulation.

The Scottish Government has pledged to consult on possible reforms after recognising the main Roberton recommendation to create a wholly new regulatory body had “polarised” views. 

There is also a commitment to work with the Law Society and others in identifying improvements to the legal complaints system in the interim.

John Mulholland, president of the Law Society said;

“We strongly welcome this response from the Scottish Government, particularly the commitment to consultation.  The Minister has set out a positive and practical way forward, offering an opportunity to build a consensus on much needed reforms to legal services regulation.

“The Law Society has long championed the need for change.  Much of the legislation we work to is almost 40 years old and increasingly unfit for purpose.  It is why we approached the Scottish Government four years ago, arguing for a new, flexible regulatory framework which could better protect consumers and allow Scotland’s successful legal sector to thrive.

“There was much in the Roberton report to support.  Indeed, many of her recommendations flowed from our own proposals for reform.  However, the Scottish Government has rightly recognised that the suggestion of a wholly new regulatory body has polarised opinion.   We believe a new body risks diluting professional standards and increasing costs.  This is not in the interests of consumers or the legal profession.

“Looking ahead, the Scottish Government is absolutely right to focus on the more immediate task of improving the system for legal complaints.  The handling of complaints is all too often a slow, complicated and expensive process.  We have been working closely with the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission and Faculty of Advocates on a package of reforms which could make the system quicker and more effective.  With Scottish Government support, this work can be taken forward as a priority.”