Smaller Firm Research 2025: Support plan

In July 2025 we published the results of the small firm research. The research not only identified the success and the challenges faced by smaller firms, but also areas where the Society could improve the support that we offer. These were based on suggestions by members who took part in the research. 

We have now put together a programme of support focusing on the key areas identified in the research. While we could not put into action all the ideas put forward by members, we have been able to indentify a number of areas where we can offer support. Some of these initiatives we have put in place already with the intention of rolling out the others throughout 2026. 

One of the key challenges raised by those working in smaller firms is attracting new talent. It was suggested that more could be done to promote the benefits of working in smaller or rural firms. 

  1. We propose to run a series of articles highlighting the advantages of working outside urban centres and the benefits of smaller practice environments.
  2. In addition to promoting these benefits, we also recognise issues around the recruitment process itself. To support this, we will increase promotion of Lawscotjobs, our dedicated platform helping both employers and job seekers in the Scottish legal market.
  3. To better understand the current recruitment landscape, we will relaunch the Journal’s profession-wide salary survey. This will explore both salary and broader benefit trends across the Scottish legal sector.
  4. Retaining talent can be equally challenging as recruitment and can lead to issues with succession planning. To support firms, we have developed a CPD session: Talent Retention: Strategies for Building a Loyal and Engaged Workforce. Focused on smaller firms, the session covers the business impact of attrition, hybrid working, psychological safety, effective leadership, and employee satisfaction beyond financial incentives. 

The survey results offer insights into the future of smaller firms, both for current business owners and the next generation of leaders. Succession planning was identified as a key challenge, suggesting a possible disconnect between business expectations and career aspirations. 

To support this area, we will: 

  1. Produce a guide on exit strategies, helping business owners explore options such as succession, sale, closure or merger, and understand the timescales and planning needed for each.
  2. Introduce a new CPD course in 2026: an Introduction to Partnership and Business Ownership. Aimed at early career solicitors, the course will demystify the path to partnership and outline the skills, responsibilities, and steps required to become a successful business owner.
  3. Succession planning will continue to be a priority area, and there is natural alignment with our ongoing work on talent retention. 

AML is a vital but often time-consuming aspect of legal practice. While we cannot change the regulatory framework and conscious of the UK government's decision to centralise AML supervision under the Financial Conduct Authority, we remain committed to improving the training, guidance and advice available to help make AML compliance more manageable for our members. 

Based on this feedback, the following initiatives are being introduced:

  1. Our CPD team has launched Bitesize AML Essentials, a new series designed to break down the key elements of AML for those new to the topic. 
  2. We will follow this with a set of “how to” guides covering different components of the AML process.
  3. Our CPD and AML teams will continue to produce webinars, conferences, on-demand content and certification courses throughout the year.
  4. We acknowledge that the AML section of our website can be difficult to navigate. Work is already underway to streamline and simplify the AML section of the website, making it easier to locate key documents and templates.
  5. In addition, we plan to hold in-person engagement sessions to give members the opportunity to raise questions and discuss AML issues directly with us. 

With technology advancing rapidly across the legal sector, there is a risk that smaller firms with more limited resources could fall behind. Our Lawscot Tech Advisory Board will adjust its membership to better represent the small firm experience. 

Recognising the overwhelming range of tech options available and barriers to adoption of tech (such as cost and lack of internal expertise), we will continue to offer a variety of opportunities through our CPD and training and member benefits programmes, including:

  1. Reframing our member benefits programme to make it easier to identify trusted legal tech providers, including those who offer discounted products and services to our members.
  2. Our Legal Tech Conference: free to attend for members and featuring expert speakers. We are also expanding the range of legal tech partners to feature more relevant exhibitors for smaller firms.
  3. Legal Tech Foundation Course and Certification Course: to build essential knowledge.
  4. Piloting free of charge 1-2-1 consultation appointments, providing expert advice on how small firms can successfully adopt tech to support their business operations.
  5. No-obligation demo sessions, designed specifically to introduce small firms to practical legal tech solutions. 

We also recognise the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, especially generative AI. Our support in this area will continue to evolve and includes:

  1. Promotion of our Guide to Generative AI, helping members make informed, responsible choices about AI use in practice. 
  2. A resource bank supporting members to upskill on AI and improve digital literacy, including bitesize videos demonstrating how small firms can incorporate AI into their business and real-life case studies of successful adoption. 
  3. Ongoing integration of AI-related content across CPD, including:

With one in five survey respondents reporting consistent, unhealthy levels of stress, we remain committed to championing mental health and expanding the support we offer. 

Our key wellbeing initiatives include:

  1. A dedicated wellbeing section on our website, offering advice and resources for both individuals and employers.
  2. Signposting to external support where appropriate, ensuring members can access the help they need.
  3. Development by our CPD team of new courses for solicitors regularly dealing with traumatised or distressed clients. While all legal work can involve pressure, it can be especially acute in areas such as criminal law, family law, or children’s hearings. Building on existing trauma aware training, these courses will also address the emotional toll this work can have on solicitors’ mental health and wellbeing.
  4. The relaunch of our parental leave returners’ guide, supporting those returning to work after a period of absence. 

Through the work of our Legal Aid and Access to Justice Committees, our staff, and our Office Bearers, we remain actively engaged in advocating for long-term investment and reform in legal aid. 

  • Ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections, we will publish our Election Priorities, calling on all parties to support access to justice and recognise the critical role of legal aid. 

We will also:

  1. Continue to regularly update our members by email and improve the Legal Aid section of our website, making it easier for members to find updates and information on our advocacy efforts.
  2. Offer six hours of free CPD for legal aid solicitors. By working with legal aid solicitors, we will ensure these courses are tailored to practitioners’ needs and scheduled with their demanding workloads in mind.
  3. We will continue to engage with members through a series of meetings in Sheriff Courts across Scotland. These sessions allow us to explore location specific concerns while building a national understanding of the sector’s needs.
  4. As part of our Policy Perspectives series of online discussions, we will consult and update members on any proposed legislative reforms to legal aid.
  5. In 2022, we launched the #AccesstoLegalAid public campaign on the legal aid crisis, working with social commentator Darren McGarvey to highlight the importance of civil legal aid in areas such as divorce, child custody, immigration, and medical negligence. This work continues through our ongoing #LegalAidMatters campaign, which encourages the public to contact their MSPs and pledge their support. We will continue to engage with SLAB and other stakeholders on ways to improve public understanding of the role of legal aid and the work of legal aid solicitors. 

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