Scots lawyers condemn Home Office ‘activist lawyers’ video

Roddy Dunlop QC

The video, which was posted on the Home Office’s Twitter page but later removed, claimed that the UK’s current asylum system is “open to abuse … allowing activist lawyers to delay and disrupt returns”.

Roddy Dunlop QC, Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, said: “Faculty shares the condemnation of attacks on lawyers as ‘activists’ in the Home Office video.

“Lawyers pleading their clients’ case in accordance with the law are not ‘activists’. They are lawyers. Any lawyer pulling his or her punches because the Home Office (or anyone else) doesn’t like it isn’t doing the job properly.

“Independence of thought and fearless scrutiny of executive power is essential to the rule of law, and should not be denigrated by any government.”

The Law Society of Scotland also condemned the video.

Amanda Miller

Amanda Millar, president of the Law Society of Scotland, said: “Like our colleagues in England and Wales, we condemn the description of lawyers who are acting to uphold the law as ‘activist lawyers’. The video is wholly misleading and misrepresents the role of solicitors who work on behalf of their clients. It should be withdrawn.

“Such an attack on the integrity of the legal profession is utterly unwarranted. In a democratic society it is vital that we have an independent legal profession who are able to advise their clients on how they can uphold their rights within the law. Solicitors must be able to work without fear or favour on behalf of their clients, just as the judiciary must be able to make impartial decisions in accordance with the law set down by parliament.

“We should be proud that we live in a society where anyone, regardless of their status, can seek to uphold their legal rights. Undermining the integrity and legitimate independence of the legal profession by a government department is a dangerous step and attacks the rule of law which serves us all as citizens.”