Annual Plan 2018/19
Our annual plan for 1 November 2018 – 31 October 2019 includes 31 ambitious and exciting projects.
The plan has been agreed by our governing council, and will help us to deliver our five strategic goals to ASSURE, SERVE, EXCEL, INFLUENCE and GROW.
Our staff team will deliver the projects with support and expert guidance from our 500 volunteer council and committee members from across the legal professional and beyond.
You can read more about our 31 key projects below. You can follow our progress throughout the year by signing up to our email newsletters including Lawscot News and by following us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
ASSURE
Find out about this year’s projects that will help us ASSURE our members’ clients and employers by setting and upholding standards
SERVE
Read more about how we will SERVE our members through a detailed understanding of their needs, providing tools and services which they can use every day
EXCEL
Discover the seven ways in which we will EXCEL by operating as a world-class organisation
INFLUENCE
Here’s how we will INFLUENCE the creation of a fairer and more just society by being an international centre of excellence in thought leadership
GROW
Learn more about how we plan to GROW our membership and income by being a vibrant, influential and inclusive organisation
A great day-to-day service
In our operating year from 1 November 2018 - 31 October 2019 we aim to achieve everything in our annual plan as well as provide an excellent day-to-day service for our members, the public and the organisations we work closely with. Our great day-to-day service is supported behind the scenes by our dedicated teams offering operational support including human resources, IT, facilities, administration and finance.
Our day-to-day services to members, the public and others include:
Setting, enforcing and monitoring standards
to ensure the provision of excellent legal services - meaning the public can have confidence in Scotland’s legal profession
Investigating complaints about solicitor conduct
and where appropriate prosecute before the Scottish Solicitors Discipline Tribunal
Processing Client Protection Fund claims efficiently
to ensure people who are the victim of a solicitor’s dishonesty get the appropriate compensation.
Protecting consumer interests
by proactively inspecting the finances of hundreds of legal firms to ensure client money is protected and intervening in firms when there is a critical need to do so, including judicial factors.
Providing details of solicitors
to thousands of members of the public who call us for help with their specific circumstances
Scrutinising legislation at Holyrood and Westminster
suggesting amendments to improve the law and responding to consultations across a range of public policy areas.
Providing support for trainee and newly qualified solicitors
and those interested in a career in law whilst continuing our schools outreach through the Street Law programme and Donald Dewar Memorial Debating Tournament.
Delivering thousands of hours of CPD
(continuing professional development) so that solicitors, accredited paralegals, trainees and others working in the legal profession can maintain and enhance their skills.
Providing help and guidance for members
to support their emotional wellbeing through our Lawscot Wellbeing online resource
Offering confidential advice to members
on practice rules and ethics through our professional practice team.
Keeping our members informed
through tailored email updates relevant to their practice areas and interests, regular social media posts and our award-winning monthly Journal magazine.
Annual reports
We report on our performance against the objectives set out in our annual plan every year.