Society issues 1,000th solicitor smartcard

One thousand Scottish solicitors have now received their electronic smartcards from the Law Society of Scotland, as its year-long rollout programme passes a key milestone.

The smartcard provides a secure digital signature as well as being a professional ID recognised across Europe. In the future, it is envisaged that the smartcard will open up opportunities for secure email and secure document exchange as well as other services for members.

The Society aims to have issued the card to all 11,000 practising members by next autumn, at which point it will replace the traditional paper practising certificate.

Lorna Jack, chief executive of the Society, commented: “Issuing the new smartcard to our first 1,000 members is a significant milestone.

“The smartcard will be extremely useful to all of our members, whether they use it as an ID card to access courts or prisons to advise and represent their clients, or to deliver contracts or transactions speedily and securely. The rollout of the smartcard coincides with new changes that allow residential property contracts to be signed electronically – and is just one example of how we’re working to give our members a competitive advantage in today’s legal marketplace.”

Ruthven Gemmell, a current vice president of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) and a former president of the Society, said: “We are delighted to see the Law Society of Scotland, in partnership with CCBE, showing the way forward in putting technology at the forefront of the legal profession, the justice system and the general public. Solicitors are increasingly working with clients and other lawyers in different jurisdiction and the new smartcard will provide a universally recognised accreditation card for Scottish solicitors across Europe.”