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About the Criminal Quality Assurance Committee

The Criminal Quality Assurance Committee supervises the Criminal Quality Assurance Scheme. The scheme is similar in process to the Civil Peer Review Scheme but differs in that it comes under the auspices of the Scottish Legal Aid Board's Criminal Quality Assurance Committee and is administered and operated by SLAB under Part IVa of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986. The convener of the committee is a member of SLAB and the committee itself is made up of nine members; three representatives from SLAB, three representatives from the Law Society and three lay members.

More information about the scheme can be found here

About the Role

We are looking to appoint up to three solicitor members of the Criminal Quality Assurance Committee.

The role involves working with other members of the Committee to oversee the operation of the Criminal Quality Assurance Scheme, and taking decisions on recommendations made by peer reviewers. Key areas of the Committee’s work include:

• The instruction, receipt and consideration of routine, extended, special and final reviews
• Deciding the outcome of these reviews after receiving recommendations made by Reviewer(s)
• The consideration of whether to make a recommendation to the Conduct Committee of the Society
• Ensuring consistency in the peer review process
• Instructing formal notification of a practice unit’s pass or fail
• Gathering statistics and analysing trends from the quality assurance process
• Fostering/encouraging good practice in the provision of quality assured services.

Committee members do not carry out peer reviews.

Selection Criteria

Due to the nature of the role, candidates must be a solicitor and should:

• Hold a full and current practising certificate
• Be a registered criminal legal aid practitioner
• Have a minimum of five years post qualifying practising experience
• Have been practising within the last two years and continue to practice during the period of the appointment
• Have a good level of experience of dealing with criminal cases at solemn, summary and appeal level
• Have already passed a routine peer review or pass a routine review as a condition of appointment
• Have knowledge of the criminal legal aid system and the compliance regime operated by SLAB, including the quality assurance scheme
• Be aware of the aims and objectives of the Society
• Demonstrated experience promoting high practice standards and professional development in their careers
• Have a common-sense approach with an ability to make decisions and have capacity to absorb a great deal of information

Time Commitment and Expenses

The committee meets once a month on a Friday afternoon (excluding August and December) to discuss reviews carried out and to make decisions on those reviews. Meetings usually last 1-2 hours. Papers are issued electronically one week before each meeting.

Most meetings are held online via MS Teams, but on occasion may take place in person if required.

Occasionally business may be considered via email between meetings.

These positions are voluntary, although reasonable expenses may be claimed.

Length of Term

3 years with the ability to be extended for a further 3-year period

Why get involved?

• Make a meaningful impact by supporting fair and consistent decision-making that directly affects public confidence in legal services
• Develop your skills and professional insight in a role that values sound judgement, attention to detail, and decision-making
• Help uphold high professional standards and ensure solicitors deliver quality, fair, and accountable services to those who need them most.

How to apply

To apply, please submit your CV along with a completed candidate form, which can be found below.

Please ensure your application is submitted by 12noon on 18 June 2025 to LilianaTorresJimenez@lawscot.org.uk.

Please note that the information you will provide will be shared with SLAB, prior to final appointments being made by the Law Society of Scotland.

If this sounds like a good fit for you, put yourself forward and help us to keep the scheme running. The committee, and the scheme, can’t operate without solicitors like you.