New Director for Public Defence Solicitors in Scotland

Wednesday 9 February 2005

The Scottish Legal Aid Board has announced the appointment of Matthew Auchincloss as Director of PDSO, the Public Defence Solicitors’ Office. Matthew will lead the public defenders at offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness, who provide people with advice and representation in criminal court cases.

Matthew is a leading Edinburgh criminal lawyer who has worked as a solicitor with PDSO in Edinburgh since 2003. He has now taken up his post as Director, succeeding Alistair Watson, the first director of PDSO, who was recently appointed as a Sheriff at the Kilmarnock courts. The post was advertised for open competition.

All the solicitors in the PDSO are experienced criminal court lawyers. They receive a fixed annual salary, unlike private solicitors who are paid through legal aid on a case-by-case basis.

Welcoming the appointment, Jean Couper, Chairman of the Scottish Legal Aid Board said:

“I’m delighted that we have appointed Matthew to lead the PDSO in Scotland. Matthew takes on the role at a key stage in the development of public defenders in Scotland, with new offices recently opened in Glasgow and Inverness. I wish Matthew and his colleagues continued success in providing a high quality professional criminal legal service.”

Following the announcement Matthew Auchincloss said:

“I am very proud to have been appointed as Director. There has never been a time when it has been more important for the public to have access to highly trained and motivated criminal defence lawyers. Our laws are becoming more complex and there are daily threats to our civil liberties. I look forward to building upon the excellent work done by Alistair in order that we continue to provide a high quality service for our clients throughout Scotland.”

“The PDSO is unique in the field of criminal defence as it is a not for profit organisation and has offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness. That, along with the links that the PDSO has made with other organisations, means that we have a wider perspective on the criminal justice system in Scotland.”

Matthew joined the Edinburgh PDSO legal team in November 2003 from the firm Gordon McBain & Co, where he was the sole principal. He graduated in law from the University of Glasgow (M.A., LL.B., Dip.LP.)

The Scottish Legal Aid Board was responsible for setting up the PDSO and the Director of the PDSO reports to the Chief Executive of the Board on administrative issues. In all other ways, the PDSO operates entirely independently. The Board assesses applications for summary criminal legal aid from the PDSO in the same way that it does for applications submitted by private solicitors.

When the first PDSO opened in Edinburgh in 1998, it was the first public defender service in the UK. Two more Public Defence Solicitors’ Offices (PDSOs) were opened in Glasgow and Inverness in May 2004.

In 2003-2004 the Edinburgh PDSO’s caseload increased by 6% on the previous year, with 1,186 cases dealt with, including 28 solemn cases, which are the more serious crimes. Expenditure on PDSO was £376,000 in 2003/2004.

The PDSO started as a five-year pilot to compare criminal legal aid given by private solicitors with that given by salaried solicitors we employed in the PDSO. The Scottish Executive published a detailed research report in 2001, which concluded that the pilot had been worthwhile and had created much useful information on how criminal legal aid was working. Scottish Ministers decided they would continue the PDSO and in October 2003, Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson announced that the two new offices would open in Inverness and Glasgow

ENDS

Journalists please contact: Colin Sim, Scottish Legal Aid Board: direct tel 0131 240 2033 or email simco@slab.org.uk.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. Photography of Matthew Auchincloss is available for use – contact Colin Sim for details. Opportunities for interview are also available.

2. Legal aid allows people who would not otherwise be able to afford it to get help for their legal problems. Legal aid and advice and assistance can only be accessed through a solicitor.

3. The Scottish Legal Aid Board was set up in 1987 to manage legal aid in Scotland. The Board employs around 300 full-time staff. Twelve Board members, appointed by Scottish Ministers, oversee the work. The Board's mission is to promote the development and delivery of appropriate access to quality legal assistance for those eligible, in a cost-effective manner.

4. For more information, visit the Board's website www.slab.org.uk/pdso