CAS report casts light on lay representatives

The report, produced in conjunction with Shelter Scotland, seeks to address a lack of public awareness of lay representatives or how they can make the process of pursuing or defending civil rights more accessible.

A statement from CAS explains: “With no single organisation or body responsible for oversight of lay representatives, very little is known about the operation of the sector as a whole.

“It is not known how many lay representatives currently operate within Scotland’s civil courts, how many individuals are assisted by the services they offer, or indeed the types of cases where lay representation is most prevalent.

“This research conducted in partnership between Citizens Advice Scotland and Shelter Scotland aims to address that gap in knowledge.

“Who are lay representatives? What was their experience of becoming a lay representative? And, what is their experience of being a lay representative?

“It is hoped that the ‘on the ground’ perspective offered here will help to inform the development of rules which acknowledge and support this increasingly relied upon form of assistance.”