Law Society to consult with solicitors on 2015 SLCC budget and levy

The plan includes SLCC fees which practising solicitors will be required to pay to the Law Society by 30 June of this year.

The proposed SLCC budget sees a reduction of around 2.5 per cent to its overall operating budget, with a reduction in the levy of 4 per cent for solicitors in private practise and 10 per cent for in-house solicitors.

Lorna Jack, chief executive of the Law Society of Scotland, said: “We’re very pleased to see the continued efforts which the SLCC is making to deal with complaints effectively and to control its operating costs for the forthcoming year, with the result that solicitors will see a reduction in this year’s levy.

“It is very important that we have a robust complaints system and adequately funded complaints handling body, however we have urged the SLCC in previous years to review its charging model, particularly in light of the difficulties firms have faced in recent years and in-house lawyers who have to work to very limited and in many cases reduced budgets.”

Ms Jack also commented on chief executive Matthew Vickers, who will leave the SLCC at the end of March.

She said: “We have had a very constructive working relationship with Matthew during his time at the SLCC in tackling some of the ongoing challenges and very much appreciate the work he has done to improve the complaints system to make it more efficient and less expensive. I wish him all the very best in his new role. I also look forward to meeting and to working with his successor in due course.”

Full details of the draft SLCC budget are available on the Law Society website in the SLCC section.

Members have been asked to submit views to the Society by 25 February in advance of its formal response to the SLCC to slcclevy@lawscot.org.uk.

Following the consultation, the SLCC budget will be agreed and laid before the Scottish parliament.