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Published by The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
Stage 1 Report on the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill
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Published: Thursday 08 Feb 2024 (EHRCJS062024R1)
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Membership changes
Introduction
Background
The Roberton Review and Scottish Government Consultation
Structure of the Bill
Changes proposed by the Bill
Consideration by the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Written evidence
Oral evidence
Consideration by other Committees
Consideration by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
Consideration by the Finance and Public Administration Committee
Parliamentary questions
Key issues in the Committee's consideration of the Bill
Regulatory objectives and professional principles
Overarching regulatory framework
The case for independent regulation versus the existing framework
Category 1 and Category 2 regulators
Regulation of legal businesses entity regulation
Complaints
Scottish Legal Complaints Commission remains as the single gateway
Hybrid complaints
Scottish Legal Complaints Commission to be renamed
Extension of the complaints system to investigate unregulated legal service providers
Commission permitted to initiate a complaint in its own name
Rules on monitoring and standard setting
Appeals
Broader complaints issues discussed (not provided in the Bill)
Mechanism to access information in a timely way
Compulsory mediation
Time bar
Request for additional powers for the Law Society of Scotland and the Scottish Solicitors' Discipline Tribunal
Introduction of a complainer's fee
Alternative Business Structures (ABSs)
Regulating the term "lawyer"
Powers to Scottish Government Ministers
The Scottish Government's response
Correspondence
Oral evidence
General principles
Recommendations on the general principles of the Bill
Membership changes
Introduction
Background
The Roberton Review and Scottish Government Consultation
Structure of the Bill
Changes proposed by the Bill
Consideration by the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Consideration by other Committees
Parliamentary questions
Key issues in the Committee's consideration of the Bill
Overarching regulatory framework
Complaints
Appeals
Broader complaints issues discussed (not provided in the Bill)
Alternative Business Structures (ABSs)
Regulating the term "lawyer"
Powers to Scottish Government Ministers
General principles
Sources
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https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/legislation/bills/s6-bills/regulation-of-legal-services-scotland-bill/introduced/bill-as-introduced.pdf
Scottish Government. (2023, April 20). Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill Financial Memorandum. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/legislation/bills/s6-bills/regulation-of-legal-services-scotland-bill/introduced/financial-memorandum-accessible.pdf
Scottish Government. (2023, April 20). Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill Policy Memorandum. Retrieved from
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Evans, A. (2023, August 10). SPICe Briefing - Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill. Retrieved from
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Roberton, E.A. (2018, October). Fit for the Future - Report of the Independent Review of Legal Services Regulation in Scotland. Retrieved from
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Scottish Parliament. (2023, August). Chris Kenny's written response to the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill call for evidence. Retrieved from
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Scottish Parliament. (2023, August). Professor Stephen Mayson's written response to the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill call for evidence. Retrieved from
https://yourviews.parliament.scot/ehrcj/regulation-of-legal-services-bill/consultation/view_respondent?sort=excerpt&order=ascending&uuId=10281480
Mayson, P.S. (2020). Independent Review of Legal Services Regulation: reforming legal services - regulation beyond the echo chambers. Retrieved from
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[accessed 26 January 2024]
Scottish Parliament. (2023, August). Brian Inkster's written response to the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill call for evidence. Retrieved from
https://yourviews.parliament.scot/ehrcj/regulation-of-legal-services-bill/consultation/view_respondent?sort=excerpt&order=ascending&uuId=368043651
Scottish Parliament. (2023, August). Naeema Sajid's written response to the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill call for evidence. Retrieved from
https://yourviews.parliament.scot/ehrcj/regulation-of-legal-services-bill/consultation/view_respondent?sort=excerpt&order=ascending&uuId=542286144
Scottish Parliament. (2023, October 3). Official Report of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. Retrieved from
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Scottish Parliament. (2023, November 21). Official Report of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. Retrieved from
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Scottish Parliament. (2023, October 24). Official Report of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee. Retrieved from
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Scottish Government. (2023, November 16). Letter from the Minister for Victims and Community Safety. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-delegated-powers-and-law-reform-committee/correspondence/2023/regulation-of-legal-services-scotland-bill-letter-from-the-scottish-government
Scottish Parliament. (2023, November 9). Letter to the Lord President of the Court of Session from the Convener of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee. Retrieved from
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Scottish Parliament. (2023, November 17). Letter from the Lord President of the Court of Session to the Convener of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-delegated-powers-and-law-reform-committee/correspondence/2023/regulation-of-legal-services-scotland-bill-letter-from-the-lord-president
Scottish Parliament. (2023, November 20). Letter from the Law Society of Scotland to the Convener of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-delegated-powers-and-law-reform-committee/correspondence/2023/law-society-of-scotland-letter-on-regulation-of-legal-services-scotland-bill
Scottish Parliament. (2023, November 23). Delegated powers in the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1. Retrieved from
https://digitalpublications.parliament.scot/Committees/Report/DPLR/2023/11/23/abb46048-1e05-4cae-a780-05d00f42cfd7#3a85b843-d2e4-41bc-95de-8e4c15887d75.dita
Scottish Parliament. (2023, November 15). Question reference: S6O-02726 - To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the plans for legal services regulation reform will meet the original objectives of the Roberton Review regarding consumer complaints. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament/meeting-of-parliament-15-11-2023?meeting=15545&iob=132651#132651
UK Government. (2010, November 9). Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2010. Retrieved from
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2010/16/contents
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Scottish Parliament. (2023, August). Professor Roderick Paisley, University of Aberdeen and Professor Andrew Steven, University of Edinburgh written response to the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill call for evidence. Retrieved from
https://yourviews.parliament.scot/ehrcj/regulation-of-legal-services-bill/consultation/view_respondent?show_all_questions=0&sort=excerpt&order=ascending&_q__text=university&uuId=338206551
Scottish Government. (2023, September 27). Letter from the Minister for Victims and Community Safety to the Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. Retrieved from
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Scottish Parliament. (2023, October 6). Letter to the Minister for Victims and Community Safety from the Deputy Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-equalities-human-rights-and-civil-justice-committee/correspondence/2023/regulation-of-legal-services-scotland-bill-6-october-2023
Scottish Government. (2023, October 27). Letter from the Minister for Victims and Community Safety to the Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-equalities-human-rights-and-civil-justice-committee/correspondence/2023/regulation-of-legal-services-scotland-bill
Scottish Parliament. (2023, November 24). Letter to the Minister for Victims and Community Safety from the Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-equalities-human-rights-and-civil-justice-committee/correspondence/2023/regulation-of-legal-services-scotland-bill-24-november-2023
Scottish Government. (2023, November 29). Letter from the Minister for Victims and Community Safety to the Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. Retrieved from
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Scottish Parliament. (2024, January 19). Letter from the Lord President of the Court of Session to the Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-equalities-human-rights-and-civil-justice-committee/correspondence/2024/regulation-of-legal-services-scotland-bill-lord-presidents-office-19-january--2024
Scottish Parliament. (2024, January 22). Letter from the Minister for Victims and Community Safety to the Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. Retrieved from
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