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.

Support in the downturn

As part of the Society's work to support solicitors during the downturn, we have produced a practical guide, free to our members, Surviving the Downturn: A Practical Guide for Individuals. This publication is aimed at solicitors who have found themselves out of work during this difficult time, be that through redundancy, at the end of a traineeship, or are individuals finding it hard to return to the profession after some time away.

A copy of this publication can be downloaded from the related linked image.

The guide has the dual aims of helping out-of-work solicitors find the right opportunity for them, and also providing practical information to help solicitors through a period of unemployment

The guide is divided into five sections:

1. Managing your finances provides practical financial advice to those who have been made redundant, from dealing with debt to claiming benefits.

2. How to find a new job encourages individuals to consider their options and gives useful information about job-hunting, applications and CVs and interview techniques.

3. Keeping in touch includes advice on CPD, practising certificates and networking.

4. Taking care of yourself deals with looking after your wellbeing if made redundant.

5. Returning to work gives practical information on restoration to the roll of solicitors as well as effective techniques to help you settle in to your new job.

Being out of work can be an immensely stressful time. However, this guide aims to provide sensible advice and support, to help members cope and also move onto the next stage in their career.

In addition to the free download, a limited number of paper copies can be made available. Please contact professional support if you would like a copy, or have any other queries.

Other Support

A range of other support and information is available. Please see Pastoral Support Factsheet available from the related link and the information for those facing redundancy

To keep knowledge current or refreshed

Please keep checking our events page. If you see an event you would like to attend and you mention to Update that you are presently between jobs, they may be able to offer you a reduced price or perhaps a free place, depending on circumstances and if the event is not otherwise fully booked. There is also the option of ordering DVDs showing previous events.

Locum solicitors

In parallel to the options available through www.lawscotjobs.co.uk the Society maintains a register of practitioners who are available to work as locums.

These may be:

Solicitors having a full practising certificate
Solicitors without a current PC who are retained on the roll
Graduates who have completed their Traineeship but who have not found employment as a solicitor, perhaps working as a paralegal.

The information on the Register comprises:

Name
Location in which you could take up work, eg Central Belt (east or west) Borders, Tayside, Highlands etc
Area of practice eg conveyancing (domestic or commercial) general chamber, family work, civil litigation, criminal defence etc
Personal email
Telephone
Mobile if not given above.

The Society maintains the register and notes the date of insertion into the register. Six months after that date the entry will be deleted unless the locum contacts the Society to indicate that the entry should be kept for a further 6 months. This is an opportunity to update any changes to the personal information listed. There is no limit to the number of re-entries, but in the absence of contact from the locum, the Society will assume that they are no longer available and will delete the entry.

Should a locum find permanent work and wish to be removed from the Register, before the expiry of 6 months, they should contact professional support to request this.

Locums may take up work in any number of flexible ways, by agreement with the employer.

As short term employees (PI and GF contributions paid by employer) Cost of the PC is a matter for negotiation.
As consultants (employees for whom the PI and GF contributions are paid by the employer) Cost of the PC is a matter for negitiation.
As self-employed "career locums" effectively sole practitioners working on their own PI and GF contributions. Own PC required and minimum 3 years PQ experience.

For information on setting up as a sole practitioner please contact professional support.

To register your availability free of charge as a locum please provide the details listed above to professional support.

Entry on the Locum register does not guarantee a placement and the Society does not warrant the suitability of practitioners listed within the Register for any particular role. Suitability for the post and remuneration is a matter between locum and employer.

A copy of the information on this page is available in the fact sheet which can be downloaded by using the relevant link.

If you have a locum placement available to fill please get in touch and let us know.

Paralegals

There are some independent organisations that already offer training of paralegals. In addition, in August 2010 the Society launched its own scheme of training and accreditation for paralegals who wish to be registered and regulated by the Society. See our paralegals section.

In-house lawyers

Any solicitor employed in-house by any organisation and not in private practice is automatically a member of the Society's In-House Lawyers' Group (ILG). All members of ILG are entitled to free CPD offered at regular early evening sessions at the Law Society.

In-house solicitors who have been made redundant can still take up the benefit of these free events, certainly while they hold a full practising certificate. Please keep in touch with the ILG secretary at the Society, who will be able to discuss your continuing to attend these events if you wish, after expiry of the certificate.