The Accredited Paralegal Committee takes decisions in response to applications for entry to the scheme, in respect of entry standards and the ‘character and suitability’ requirements. The committee also approves any new practice area in which an accredited paralegal is accredited. You can find out more details about the Accredited Paralegal Status here.
Members
Convener: Karen Leslie
Secretary: Laura McBain (lauramcbain@lawscot.org.uk)
Accredited Paralegals
Fiona Allison
Sharon Connelly
Laura Mack
Sandra Reid
Solicitors
Denise Loney
Caitlyn Maccabe
Convener: Iain Nicol
Secretary: Lucy Stewart (LucyDurie@lawscot.org.uk)
- to promote the interests of solicitors by examining and questioning the current methods used to resolve all civil disputes
- to include a review of:
- the organisation of the civil courts
- use of information technology
- representation by solicitors at tribunals
- speculative and contingency actions and the insurance cover available
- the efficiency of the courts and the roles of the regular users
Members
Iain Nicol (Convener)
Ronald Conway
Julie Hamilton
Mark Higgins
Gordon Keyden
Graeme MacLeod
Cameron McNaught
David Taylor
Patricia Thom
Robert Wilson
Steven Smart
Claire MacPherson
Clare Crawford
Pamela Stevenson
Kay McCorquodale
Lucy Durie (Secretary)
Convener: Stuart Munro
Secretary: Ann Marie Partridge (annmariepartridge@lawscot.org.uk)
- to advise the Council and the profession on criminal law matters; to promote its reform; to respond to proposals for reform from bodies including the government and to enhance the profile of criminal law, encouraging best practice and professional ethics
- to improve the criminal law, both practice and procedure, in the Scottish legal system for the benefit of the public and the profession through lobbying for change and through responding effectively to criminal law reform proposals from Westminster, Holyrood, Brussels and beyond
- to advance the Law Society of Scotland as key in improving, commenting and analysing proposals for criminal law which emanate from the UK Parliament and UK ministries, the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government, the EU Commission and EU Parliament
Members
Stuart Munro (Convener)
Vikki Bell
Dr Isla Callander
Professor James Chalmers
Gerard Considine
Elizabeth Dougan
Eamon Keane
Stephanie Hednry
Peter Lockhart
Murray Macara
Stephen McGowan
Mhairi McMillan
Rosalyn McTaggart
Grazia Robertson
Laura Sharp (non-solicitor)
Gordon Williams
Ann Marie Partridge (Secretary)
- to engage with in-house solicitors and trainees (not working in private practice), ensuring the Law Society understands and serves their professional needs.
- to promote the interests and status of in-house solicitors and trainees.
- to encourage and assist in the development of better training of solicitors and trainees working in-house.
- to promote the value of employing in-house solicitors and trainees to organisations who do not currently employ solicitors or trainees.
Members
Vlad Valiente (co-convener), Dumfries and Galloway Council
Sheekha Saha (co-convener), Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Arlene Gibbs (vice convener), Aberdeenshire Council
John Morrison (vice convener) Aegon UK
Michael Byrne, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Deborah Carroll, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
Catherine Corr, Scottish Enterprise
John Forsyth, Lloyds Banking Group
Rachael McLean, Scottish Government Legal Directorate
Neil Campbell, NatWest
Hope Craig, University of St Andrews
Lynette Purves, ERG
Anne Garness, Scottish Social Services Council
- to negotiate with Scottish Government, the Scottish Legal Aid Board and other relevant organisations on legal aid issues
- to monitor and evaluate the outcomes of summary and solemn reforms
- to communicate effectively the Society's work on legal aid
- to undertake any other work necessary to deal with legal aid issues affecting practitioners
Members
Ian Moir (Co-convener, criminal)
Patricia Thom (Co-convener, civil)
Stephen Biggam
Jack Grant
Gordon Martin
Keith Murray
Grazia Robertson
Andrew Alexander (Secretary)
Convener: John Sinclair
Secretary: Sarah Alexander (sarahalexander@lawscot.org.uk)
- to consider matters relating to the law and practice of conveyancing
- where appropriate, to provide guidance and information to the profession
Members
Fiona Alexander
Elspeth Annan
Anne Boyd
Derek Duncan
Struan Ferguson
Fiona Gibb
Emma Gray
Emma Guthrie
Niall MacDonald
Sarah Macleod
Ross MacKay
Gemma McClelland
Rob McIntosh
Frances Rooney
Brian Smith
Ann Stewart
John Sinclair (Convener)
Sarah Alexander (Secretary)
Secretary: Sonia Gentile-Mills (SoniaGentile-Mills@lawscot.org.uk)
The Senior Solicitor Advocate Accreditation Committee facilitates and administers the Senior Solicitor Advocate Accreditation Scheme which is designed to address a practical issue in the legal aid system, through which the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) can sanction an enhanced payment in respect of 'senior counsel' in criminal legal aid cases. The scheme creates a list of solicitor advocates who have been identified as suitable for enhanced remuneration by SLAB as 'senior'.
The committee considers applications for accreditation and re-accreditation as a 'senior solicitor advocate', providing recommendations to the Law Society's Council. It is comprised of solicitors and lay members, including the President of the Society of Solicitor Advocates (SSA), the Criminal Vice President of the SSA, and a member of the Council of the Law Society of Scotland.
If you would like any further information regarding senior solicitor advocates, or would like to make an application, please contact Sonia Gentile-Mills at soniagentile-mills@lawscot.org.uk
Members
Vacant (Convener)
John Scott QC
Ross Yuill
Sonia Gentile-Mills (Secretary)
Applications for accreditation
Anyone considering applying for accreditation as a Senior Solicitor Advocate is advised to contact the committee secretary as detailed below.
Senior Solicitor Advocate status
The committee would remind members that accreditation as a Senior Solicitor Advocate is for the sole purpose of enhanced remuneration by SLAB only and is not an alternative to, nor does it confer the rank and dignity of, Queen's Counsel.
If you would like any further information regarding Senior Solicitor Advocates, please contact committee secretary Sonia Gentile-Mills at soniagentile-mills@lawscot.org.uk
Convener: John McKinlay
Secretary: Antony McFadyen (AntonyMcFadyen@lawscot.org.uk)
- to consider matters relating to the technology law and/or practice, and where appropriate
- to provide guidance and information to the profession as it relates to all areas of their professional practice
Members
John McKinlay (Convener)
Hannah Brazel
Abbe Brown
Helena Brown
Angela Daly
John Forsyth
Justin Henderson
Steph Innes
Priya Jhakra
Siobhan Kahmann
Pauline McBride
Molly McGrady
Ramsay Milne
Iain G Mitchell QC
Stuart Munro
Marliese Perks
Martin Sloan
James Stevenson
Sally Shinan Zhu
Antony McFadyen (Secretary)
