Law Society of Scotland
This information reflects the Society's web site at the date you downloaded or printed it and you should check at www.lawscot.org.uk to see if it is still current.

Law reform

Scottish Parliament buildingOur Law Reform Department and committees work on behalf of the profession and the public to improve the law and legal system in Scotland. The practitioners, academics and other experts who sit on our committees and working groups make a vital contribution.

Analysing and responding to proposed changes in the law is one of our main functions. Part of this process involves commenting on consultations from the Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament, UK Parliament, Scottish Law Commission and elsewhere. See here for our consultation responses and other useful information.

This also details how the team can help MSPs with any legal questions they may receive from constituents.

Other responsibilities include:

  • representing the interests of the profession with government
  • representing the views of the profession to other legal bodies, such as the Scottish Legal Aid Board and the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission
  • ensuring the profession's views are represented in major debates, for instance, about alternative business structures and legal aid and access to justice
  • working across Holyrood, Westminster, Brussels and the wider international arena
  • working with non-legal organisations - economic, political, consumer - and other regulators
  • consideration of the future education policy for those entering the profession

For more information on the role of the law reform team and significant bills worked on during the last parliament, please view our parliamentary leaflet. This leaflet was sent to all MSPs at the start of the new parliament in May 2011.

Law reform contacts at the Society:

Michael Clancy 0131 476 8163
Alan McCreadie 0131 476 8188
Katie Hay 0131 476 8351
Brian Simpson 0131 476 8184
Andrew Alexander 0131 226 8886
Louise Docherty 0131 476 8204