Solicitors' views sought on SLCC fee and budget plans

Scottish solicitors are being invited to contact the Law Society of Scotland with their views over the fees proposed to be levied by the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission in its next financial year, and its planned budget.

The Commission intends to cut the general levy for solicitors by £12 from £324 to £312, with bigger percentage reductions for advocates and in-house lawyers (click here for report), reflecting a 2.5% cut in its spending plans for the year from 1 July 2015.

It is obliged to consult with the legal professional bodies before presenting the final version to the Scottish Parliament, and the Society is in turn consulting with its members.

Chief executive Lorna Jack said: “We’re very pleased to see the continued efforts which the SLCC is making to deal with complaints effectively and to control its operating costs for the forthcoming year, with the result that solicitors will see a reduction in this year’s levy.

““It is very important that we have a robust complaints system and adequately funded complaints handling body. However we have urged the SLCC in previous years to review its charging model, particularly in light of the difficulties firms have faced in recent years, and in-house lawyers who have to work to very limited and in many cases reduced budgets.”

Members have been asked to submit views to the Society by 25 February, in advance of its formal response to the SLCC. Email slcclevy@lawscot.org.uk 

Ms Jack also commented on chief executive Matthew Vickers, who will leave the SLCC at the end of March. She said: “We have had a very constructive working relationship with Matthew during his time at the SLCC in tackling some of the ongoing challenges, and very much appreciate the work he has done to improve the complaints system to make it more efficient and less expensive. I wish him all the very best in his new role. I also look forward to meeting and to working with his successor in due course.”