Law Society publishes annual plan for 2023-24

Supporting the legal profession and protecting the public interest lie at the heart of the Law Society of Scotland’s annual plan for 2023-24.

The plan outlines 32 key projects which align with the Society’s overarching strategic goals set out in its five-year strategy 2022-2027.

The projects for 2023-24 include:

• Promoting and protecting the public interest and ensuring public trust in our regulation.
• Licensing of new legal services providers with alternative business structures.
• Leading the conversation on legaltech in Scotland through the new LawscotTech Advisory board and its revised strategy.
• Reducing the stigma around mental health throughout the profession and provision of new resources for member firms and organisations to enable them to support their staff employee wellbeing.
• Working with the profession on climate change related issues through the Lawscot Sustainability initiative
• Promoting the benefits of increased diversity throughout the profession

Diane McGiffen, Chief Executive of the Law Society of Scotland said: “The 32 projects we have set out in this year’s annual plan aim to support our members to thrive, ensure we are a strong regulator and to use our voice on behalf of our members and wider society when speaking out on human rights and the rule of law, and in supporting access to justice.

“The next 12 months are significant for the Society with the Regulation of Legal Services Bill progressing through the Scottish Parliament. We will continue to press for much needed change to modernise regulation, while protecting the independence of the legal profession.

"We will also focus on mental health and wellbeing, an increasingly prominent issue for many of our members as highlighted by our Profile of the Profession research, and will continue to promote the benefits of increased diversity throughout the profession.

“The successful delivery of each of these projects relies on all my colleagues at the Law Society and the hundreds of volunteer solicitors and non-solicitors, who give their time and expertise as Council and committees members. I want to thank them for the huge contribution that they make to the Society and the work we do and I look forward to discussions with our members and others as we make progress on our annual plan projects.”