Blogs & opinions
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Accredited and Trainee Paralegals - Get more out of your CPD
Laura McBain, the Law Society's Member Services Coordinator and Secretary to the Accredited Paralegal Committee, highlights how trainee and Accredited Paralegals can get the most out of their CPD.
Adjudication enforcement – some recent decisions of the Scottish courts
As part of our collaboration with Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Kenneth Salmon MCIArb, looks at three recent cases in which the validity and enforcement of adjudicators’ awards was contested and considered.
Why you should enter the Innovation Cup
Matthew Thomson from Lockton, the brokers for the Law Society’s professional indemnity insurance Master Policy, shares the benefits of putting innovation at the forefront of risk management and why you should enter the Innovation Cup.
Getting the most out of our new AML templates
Our anti-money laundering (AML) team has recently refreshed its AML Policies, Controls and Procedures (PCP) and Client and Matter Level Risk Assessment (CMLRA) templates to help practices better comply with their AML obligations. AML Risk Manager Dale Trahms explains how to make the most of the new templates.
Profile of the Profession: Why do we ask you about your wellbeing?
Ensuring a healthy, sustainable profession is at the heart of our work, making it vital we understand as much as we can about our members' wellbeing, explains our Careers and Wellbeing Manager Olivia Moore.
The journey to becoming an Accredited Paralegal
Kirsty Dutch, an Accredited Paralegal in Wills, Trusts and Executries tells us about her journey to become an Accredited Paralegal.
Danger to lawyers at home and abroad must be tackled by us all
On the Day of the Endangered Lawyer, our Head of Education Rob Marrs reflects on the situation in Afghanistan and asks what we can do to help.
Ransomware Payments and GDPR
Read our blog following advice from the ICO on ransomware attacks and the risks that paying a ransom can create through incentivising further harmful behaviour rather than guaranteeing the safe return of data.
I’m dreaming of a mindful Christmas...
Christmas is a special time of year for a lot of people but for a lot of us, it can also be a very stressful time. Ashleigh Halpin, offers an insight into mindfulness and how it can help with stress.
Why leading by example matters for wellbeing
Olivia Moore, Careers & Wellbeing Manager at the Law Society of Scotland, kicks off our blog series tackling some of the questions we received during our recent annual conference session on wellbeing, by discussing the importance of leading by example.
Register of Overseas Entities opens
The Society's Property Law Committee Convener John Sinclair provides some guidance on the new Register of Overseas Entities which opened on Monday, 1 August.
Cyber and data security – five legal obligations not to ignore
A short reminder of the measures firms must take to remain compliant and protect their clients.
Have a proper break this summer
In this blog Elizabeth Rimmer, Chief Executive of LawCare, reminds us to take a proper break this summer to benefit our mental health, which means trying to switch off completely from work.
The Register of Overseas Entities
John Sinclair, Convener of the Society’s Property Law Committee and Ann Stewart, a member of the Property Law Committee take a look at the Register of Overseas Entities and explain how this will affect solicitors and their clients
Some extra guidance for training managers
We recently launched two surveys aimed at better understanding the training process and where things could possibly be improved. This blog is a nod in the direction of travel.
The student summer switch-off
Olivia Moore, Careers & Wellbeing Manager at the Law Society of Scotland, reflects on how focusing on wellbeing during the summer break can be an essential career-development strategy for law students.
Giving effective feedback to trainees
Rob Marrs, our Head of Education, looks at the best way to give effective, constructive feedback to a trainee that not only helps them develop, but fosters a strong learning environment.
How to support a struggling trainee
Our Head of Education Rob Marrs offers his top tips and advice on how training supervisors can support a trainee who is struggling, prevent the situation from deteriorating (or even happening in the first place) and help them on their way to qualification.
Lockdown lawyer returning to the office
Melissa Laurie, newly qualified solicitor in the TMIC team at CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang, reflects on her experience of returning to the office.
Terminating training contracts: myth v reality
What happens in the rare occurrences when traineeships go wrong and employers or trainees seek to end the training contract early? Our Head of Education Rob Marrs explains what's involved in the process, why it might (and might not) happen and dispels some common myths.
Reflections on how to run a valuable virtual work experience programme
In order to gain insights into how firms and organisations might adapt to run a successful virtual or hybrid summer placement this year, Olivia Moore speaks to Burness Paull and CMS about the programmes they ran last year.
What can we learn from IBA research on mental wellbeing in the profession?
Our Careers and Wellbeing Manager Olivia Moore takes a look at the recent International Bar Association research into mental wellbeing and considers how the findings compare with Society’s own research in this area.
We need to keep showing support for working parents
COPFS' Andrew Laing discusses how employers can continue to offer support to parents who are juggling work and home-schooling during the pandemic.
New Year, New Plan: Make mentoring a resolution you can stick to!
Careers & Outreach Coordinator Lyndsey Thomson explains how mentoring can help you stick to those New Year resolutions and re-focus your career plans.