Society sets out plans for coming year

Forty key projects to help meet its strategic aims feature in the Law Society of Scotland's corporate plan for 2014-15, put before the Society's special general meeting today.

Solicitors attending the meeting also approved the proposed practising certificate fee of £550 for the year from 1 November, the fifth year in which it has been held at that level.

Projects set out in the plan include the rollout of the new digital smartcard, which will replace the paper practising certificate; taking forward any recommendations from the Guarantee Fund review to ensure appropriate consumer protections; work to improve access to justice; further work on fair access to the profession and promoting diversity; safeguarding an effective and properly funded legal aid system; and building on the successful mentoring pilot and improving support for individual members.

Explaining the purpose of the plan, chief executive Lorna Jack said: “It’s important for us to be clear about our priorities as an organisation and we want to ensure that our members, the public and other key stakeholders can also have a clear understanding of what we want to achieve and why – and equally importantly, that they can then assess how well we are doing in meeting our aims.

“That is why we publish an annual plan which sets out how we plan to meet our main aims and objectives. While not a detailed prospectus, it highlights a number of important projects and identifies those areas where we hope to improve"

Ms Jack added that like its members, the Society as a professional body need to adapt to a fast changing legal sector, including increased expectations of consumers. "That's why we plan to review our overarching Towards 2020 strategy to ensure that we are still on track and can make any necessary changes as the sector evolves."

"Just as we have watched events unfold in recent weeks and days in the run up to the independence referendum, the next year will continue to present an exciting backdrop for Scotland and the Law Society as significant further powers are likely to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament. We have a long and proud role in working with government and civic Scotland when it comes to constitutional reform and I have no doubt that our ideas, expertise and judgement will be called on in the months ahead and we look forward to being part of the continuing debate on Scotland’s future."

She emphasised that the Society is keen to hear from members on what they think it should be doing, and where it can improve. She reminded members of the current consultations on entity regulation and on whether to move to a principles and outcomes based approach in place of the current system of rules, stressing that the Society remains open minded as to whether to take either project further. (See Journal feature for more.)

The meeting also agreed to amend a rule relating to the Master Policy for professional indemnity insurance, to ensure that Scottish multinational practices must be covered by the policy.

A motion to change a rule on powers of attorney was also carried. This change was proposed to provide clarity for solicitors who are acting as a power of attorney in a private capacity, for example for a parent, to ensure that this can be kept separate from their professional work as a solicitor acting on behalf of a client.

Elections to the Society's Council will in future be conducted under the single transferable vote rather than "first past the post", following the approval of a motion to amend the Society's constitution.