Code of Practice for solicitors takes effect from 1 October

Tuesday 29 September 1998

The Code of Practice for solicitors carrying out criminal legal assistance comes into effect on Thursday 1 October. The Code will ensure that people receiving criminal legal assistance will be assured of a consistent quality of service from their solicitor. At noon today (29/9/98) 680 firms and 1741 individual solicitors have been registered on the Criminal Legal Assistance Register, maintained by the Scottish Legal Aid Board. This will ensure good coverage in all areas of Scotland.

Solicitors can display a new logo in their offices to let the public know that they are registered to provide criminal legal assistance.

Individual solicitors and firms must show that they meet the standards of service set out by the Code in three main areas - management and administration systems, quality of service and standards of professional conduct.

Commenting on the introduction of the Code of Practice, Scottish Legal Aid Board Chief Executive Richard Scott said: "This Code makes it possible for the Board to monitor the quality of criminal legal assistance work carried out in Scotland – giving the public confidence in the consistency of service they should receive from their solicitor and ensuring the Scottish taxpayer gets value for money from the criminal legal aid system.

"We also believe that a similar Code of Practice should be introduced for solicitors who carry out civil legal assistance work to ensure consistency for anyone receiving legal aid in Scotland."

A team of four Compliance Auditors, employed by the Scottish Legal Aid Board, will monitor solicitors’ continued compliance with the standards set by the Code.

Richard Scott said: "Once a firm is registered, we will be monitoring them to make sure they continue to meet the standards set by the Code. If a solicitor or firm fails to comply with the Code, we will act quickly to resolve any problems or, ultimately, to de-register the solicitor if they are not offering an appropriate level of service to their clients."

On 1 October the Board will publish the Criminal Legal Assistance Register which will contain the names and addresses of all solicitors and firms who are registered to provide criminal legal assistance. This will be regularly updated and copies will be available at the Board offices at 44 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh, in all Scottish courts and on the Board’s web site - www.slab.org.uk 

Richard Scott said: "There has been concern that there would be sufficient registered solicitors to offer criminal legal assistance in all areas of Scotland. However, the Board is satisfied that we have achieved a good geographical spread of registered solicitors, including the more remote areas of the Highlands and Islands. We have also set up contingency procedures to deal with any situations that may arise in areas where there is a small number of registered solicitors."

The Code of Practice was introduced by the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Act 1997.

For further information please contact: Charlotte Townsend, Communications Project Officer, the Scottish Legal Aid Board (0131 226 7061)

The Scottish Legal Aid Board is a non-departmental public body which assesses legal aid applications and scrutinises and pays accounts submitted by solicitors and advocates. It also provides advice to the Secretary of state on legal aid matters.