Blogs & opinions
You are currently filtering for: Professional support
Accredited Paralegal Roundup: The start of 2024
In a new regular update, our Member Services Co-Ordinator and Secretary to the Accredited Paralegal Committee, Laura McBain, sits down to share what’s been happening with the Accredited Paralegal status since the start of the new year and some useful information on your learning and development.
Why cyber insurance isn’t a substitute for cyber risk management
Cyber insurance may recoup some costs, provide cyber specialists to investigate the crisis and may even pay the ransom, but there are still issues left unresolved by insurance alone. Law Society of Scotland partner, Mitigo Cybersecurity explain why cyber insurance isn’t a substitute for cyber risk management.
Building an in-house community, one post at a time
In the wake of launching the in-house community platform, co-conveners of the In-house Lawyers Committee (ILC), Vlad Valiente and Sheekha Saha, share the inspiration for the platform and why bringing together the in-house community is so important.
AML Spotlight: Holistic customer due diligence
For our anti-money laundering (AML) blog series spotlighting key topics and concerns, our AML Risk Manager Jenni Rodgers looks at holistic customer due diligence: what it is, why it's important and the steps and risk factors to consider.
AML Spotlight: Human trafficking
For our anti-money laundering (AML) blog series spotlighting key topics and concerns, our AML Risk Manager Jenni Rodgers looks at human trafficking, how to spot the red flags of it and steps to take to prevent it.
AML Spotlight: Terrorist financing
In the first in our anti-money laundering (AML) blog series spotlighting key topics and concerns, our AML Risk Manager Dale Trahms examines terrorist financing, how it impacts the legal sector and how to combat it.
Make sure your online profile is working for you
We are keen to ensure that our members benefit from a powerful marketing tool and receive value adding content and practice updates.
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.