Solicitor and firm stopped from undertaking criminal legal aid work
Tuesday 6 February 2007

The Scottish Legal Aid Board announced today that it had removed the firm of Robert Taylor Solicitor, 102 Bath Street, Glasgow and its partner, Robert Taylor, from the list of solicitors registered to provide criminal legal assistance. This means that the firm and solicitor now cannot provide criminal legal aid or criminal advice and assistance.

The removal follows an investigation by the Board into information provided by the Daily Record about the solicitor Robert Taylor. We thank the Record for bringing this to our attention.

The Board has a substantial programme of monitoring and investigating legal aid expenditure involving both legal aid applicants and the legal profession. Under its powers, it can stop solicitors undertaking criminal legal aid work. Where it has concerns about lawyers it has made formal complaints to the appropriate regulatory body. The Board may also forward cases to the Crown Office for consideration of police investigation or prosecution. Last year the Board’s compliance and investigations work lead to savings of over £1 million. The Board is currently working with the Crown Office on a number of investigations involving solicitors, applicants and legally-aided assisted persons.

The Board manages legal aid in Scotland, which is paid for by the taxpayer and delivered by solicitors and advocates. A key part of the Board’s work is investigating and pursuing abuse of legal aid. This work is important in protecting the Legal Aid Fund and the taxpayer. It is also a protection for the vast majority of legal practitioners who provide a quality legal service with honesty and integrity.

Ends

Journalists please contact:

Colin Sim tel (direct) 0131 240 2033, or email simco@slab.org.uk

Notes for editors

1. 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. 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. In 2005-2006 providing legal assistance cost the taxpayer£147.9 million, with 411,290 grants being made.