Public policy

The Scottish Policy Forum consulted on key policy areas ahead of the Scottish Parliament election in 2026. 

• Find out more about the Scottish Policy Forum here.
• Read our response here.

The Scottish Affairs Committee launched an inquiry, following up on its inquiry into coronavirus and Scotland. 

• Find out about the inquiry
• Read our response

The Scottish Law Commission held launched a public consultation on the law reform work that it should carry out in the future, seeking views on which areas of Scots law are most in need of reform.

• Find out more on the Scottish Law Commission's website
• Read our response
• Read the Eleventh Programme of Law Reform published 31 May 2023

The Scottish Government issued a consultation on supporting Scotland's recovery from coronavirus.

• Read the consultation on the Scottish Government’s website.
• Read our response

This consultation sets out the Scottish Government's proposals to improve the way social care is delivered in Scotland, following the recommendations of the Independent Review of Adult Social Care.

• View the consultation on the Scottish Government's website
• Read our response

We responded to a Scottish Government consultation seeking the views on the Government’s proposals for delivering Anne’s Law in primary legislation, to ensure that people who live in adult care homes have rights to see and spend time with the people who are important to them.

• View the consultation on the Scottish Government's website
• Read our response

The Scottish Government invited views on the draft aims and principles of an independent public inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

• Read more about the inquiry on the Scottish Government’s website
• Read our response

The Scottish Parliament’s COVID-19 Committee issued a call for evidence on next steps in 2021 for COVID-19 legislation.

• The Law Society's response

The Scottish Parliament's COVID-19 Committee issued a consultation seeking views on legislation related to COVID-19, including SSI2020/249: The Coronavirus (Scotland) Acts (Early Expiry of Provisions) Regulations 2020 and The Coronavirus (Scotland) Acts (Amendment of Expiry Dates) Regulations 2020.

• View the consultation on the Scottish Parliament's website.
• Read the Law Society of Scotland's response (September 2020).
• Read our letter to the COVID-19 Committee dated 29 September 2020

The Scottish Parliament's Equalities and Human Rights Committee held an inquiry on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on equalities and human rights.

• View the inquiry on the Scottish Parliament's website
• See our response to the call for views

Our Public Policy Committee has submitted comments to the Inquiry by the Services of Lawyers and Lawyer’s Practice (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2019.

• View the draft SSI on the legislation.gov website
• The Law Society of Scotland's comments (March 2019)

The Scottish Parliament Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee has issued a consultation asking for suggestions of which Act or Acts should be examined by the Committee.

• View the consultation on the Scottish Parliament website
• The Law Society of Scotland's response (August 2017)

The EU External Affairs Sub-Committee is undertaking a short inquiry into UK sanctions policy after Brexit.

• View the inquiry on the UK Parliament website
• The Law Society of Scotland's response (July 2017)
• The Law Society of Scotland's briefing issued ahead of the House of Commons debate on Exiting the EU and Sanctions on 19 July 2017

The Scottish Law Commission (SLC) has issued a consultation on their Tenth Programme of Law Reform. The Programme will set out the main areas of law which the SLC intend to review starting in 2018. The SLC will submit the Tenth Programme to Scottish Ministers for approval and laying before the Scottish Parliament.

• View the consultation on the SLC website
• The Law Society of Scotland's response (July 2017)

The UK Government is seeking views on the legal powers needed to continue to be able to impose and implement sanctions upon the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.

• View the consultation on the GOV.UK website
• The Law Society of Scotland's response (June 2017)
• View the government's response on the GOV.UK website