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While we live for the most part in the post-pandemic world, Covid-19 and its consequences will remain with us for some time – the courts are still in place, for example, remains a major challenge, although progress is being made. construction.
Recently, the Council of the Law Society addressed the serious issue of intimidation, harassment and some acts of violence against lawyers in the course of their work.
We always call out threatening situations and sarcastic voices. This includes, of course, politicians who try to score small points by criticizing “leftist lawyers” without considering whether they will do more harm than good. The Council has agreed to a study to measure the extent of harassment and abuse, but one lawyer was harassed for simply doing their job which is too much.
The ongoing crisis in legal aid remains a major concern. You may have seen our campaign, led by social justice campaigner Darren McGarvey, to call for urgent action. Everyone, regardless of their circumstances, should have access to legal advice to enforce their rights, but the system is failing the minority who rely on them.
The Scottish Government’s recent commitment to an £11 million increase in criminal and civil legal aid fees is a significant step forward, but not enough to solve the problem. all due to deep issues arising from more than two decades of financial failure. Regular cost reviews should be included, in addition to the proposed costs being implemented as soon as possible.
There are also plenty of reasons for optimism, as the legal profession has taken the storm of the past few years. That goodwill is reflected in the priorities chosen for the Justice League’s new five-year strategy that was launched.
It shows how we make sure we are an authority, but also a strong voice not only for our industry but for the public. It is committed to health and wellness, innovation and efficiency and the use of technology.
Another important part of our strategy is focusing on sustainability and planning how our industry will respond to the climate crisis. We recently announced the formation of a new Sustainable Committee to build on the great work done before COP26.
Of course, lawyers are already thinking about the impact of climate change on themselves, and many are involved in advising clients and employers on issues related to this. important issue. But we must ensure that our industry is fully informed and prepared for the challenges ahead, and that we are ready to engage with policy and regulatory developments.
Finally, we are looking forward to the Scottish Government’s announcement of its intention to introduce new legislation to reform the provision of legal services.
Change is desperately needed, with much of the current legislation inadequate for the needs of Scotland’s modern legal sector and the global market in which we now compete. We are excited about the change now, but we need to look at the details before deciding whether the change is justified.
Improvements must be made to better protect consumers while allowing the legal profession to thrive.
– Murray Etherington is President of the Law Society of Scotland
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