Five Scottish Legal Walks return

The Access to Justice Foundation Scotland committee is looking forward to its planned autumn 2024 events, raising money for much-needed legal advice services in Scotland.

We are delighted that the Law Society of Scotland and Faculty of Advocates are once more national sponsors of the five Scottish Legal Walks 2024:

1. Glasgow Legal Walk – Wednesday 25th September, sponsored by the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow
2. Falkirk Legal Walk – Sunday 29th September, sponsored by Digby Brown
3. Dundee Legal Walk – Tuesday 1st October, sponsored by Thorntons
4. Edinburgh Legal Walk – Thursday 3rd October, sponsored by Addleshaw Goddard
5. Aberdeen Legal Walk – Wednesday 9th October

Details of how to get involved in the upcoming walks can be found on the Foundation’s website here.

You do not have to be a lawyer to take part; anyone with a connection to the law is invited, and anyone else with an interest in improving access to justice is most welcome – as are their friends, families and dogs!

The UK Legal Walks movement has grown over the years, initially in England and Wales with hotspots in London and Leeds, and is now firmly embedded in the Scottish legal scene. The Foundation held its first Scottish Legal Walk in Edinburgh in 2013, with Glasgow added soon after; 11 years on there are five walks taking place, and the Foundation hopes to add an inaugural walk in Inverness next year.

Funding access to justice

As well as boosting wellbeing and promoting exercise, the walks are excellent conduits for fundraising for the Access to Justice Foundation (ATJF) – which does what it says on the tin. With cutbacks in legal aid and the sad creation of legal aid deserts, there has never been a more important time for providing citizens with means to enforce and protect their rights.

In England and Wales principally, there is a scheme for diversion of money by way of pro bono costs orders by courts and tribunals, and this is being considered in Scotland.

For those in our law firms who deal with client funds, did you know the ATJF can be the charitable recipient of those innumerable small credit balances on ledgers that are left over from transactions or courses of work? Any long-suffering law cashier will tell you that with the best will in the world, it is often impossible to arithmetically predict every cost or fee, so a firm will be left with hundreds of balances of £6.72, £23.84… and £0.07. Under the Law Society of Scotland Rules, these balances must all be resolved, and if for whatever good reason they are not to go back to the client – or the client agrees to it – the sums can be swept up and go to a charity, such as the ATJF. And what better cause for solicitors than access to justice?

The Legal Walks act as a focus and reminder of that brilliant idea. But fundraising for charity can take many forms, and there is nothing to stop individuals and firms from collecting or donating in any way they see fit. 

Scottish support

Since 2021, these events, teamed with other strategic development work from the Foundation, have raised over £1m, which has been distributed through more than 53 grants to support vital legal advice to individuals and communities most in need throughout Scotland. Scottish charity grantees include Scottish Child Law Centre, Govan Law Centre, Community Law Advice Network – Clan Childlaw, Castlemilk Law & Money Advice Centre, JustRight Scotland, Legal Services Agency and Ethnic Minorities Law Centre.

I continue to be inspired by the Scottish Legal Walks, which are always great fun, collegiate, beneficial to everyone involved, for a very deserving cause and a real networking opportunity. All walkers are welcome, and all funds raised in Scotland stay in Scotland.

It’s not just about walking though. Other events include the Great Legal Bake, which takes place from 4th to 8th November – which is also Pro Bono Week 2024 – and the Great Legal Quiz on 27th November. More information can be found on the ATJF events page.

There are many ways that you or your organisation can support Access to Justice Foundation Scotland, by sponsoring walkers, donating or fundraising. If you are interested in joining our committee, helping with local events or setting up another Scottish Legal Walk, please get in touch.

Written by Graeme McWilliams, Fellow of the Society, and chair of the Access to Justice Foundation Scotland Committee (gmmcw@aol.com), with input from Austin Lafferty, past Dean of the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow.