SLCC budget change must mark start of a change in approach

The Law Society of Scotland has welcomed the decision of the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission to reduce its budget for the coming year but warned it must mark the start of a change in attitude in the organisation’s control of costs.

Today’s SLCC announcement comes two weeks after the Society criticised the SLCC for ‘costing more for doing less’. In its formal response to the budget consultation, the Society highlighted how the SLCC would be spending almost record levels, despite handling significantly fewer complaints than three years ago.

The Society called on the SLCC to change course and reduce its budget for the forthcoming year. The SLCC has now announced a 5% reduction in its levy and a 20% reduction for those in their first three years of practice.

Law Society of Scotland President, Amanda Millar said, “Last year, the Law Society delivered an unprecedented £2.2 million package of financial support to the profession, including a 20% cut in our core practising certificate fee. We called on the SLCC to follow our lead and to reduce its financial impact on the legal profession. I am pleased the SLCC listened to the Law Society and has now agreed to reduce its budget.

“However, this needs to mark the start of a much needed change in attitude from the SLCC. It cannot be right that it costs more for doing less given complaints against solicitors are lower than three years ago. This is clearly unacceptable at a time when the legal sector is working so hard to survive the economic fallout of COVID-19.”