A report published by the SLCC in March 2023 showed that the majority of complaints investigations were taking longer than the Law Society’s published average timescale to complete.

The SLCC made three recommendations for improvement which would benefit the public who make complaints and solicitors complained about, and ensure the risks associated with delay are minimised.

In response, the Law Society confirmed its commitment to reduce the time taken to report on complaints and continues to deliver its action plan for improvement.

Sarah Hamer, oversight and assurance manager said: “We welcome the work done by the Law Society to date to improve its investigation timescales and processes, and its commitment to continued improvement. This helps to drive public confidence in the regulation of legal services and reduces stress for practitioners.

“Further changes to the complaints system are expected to come through the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill. We look forward to continuing to work with the Law Society to realise the benefits for consumers and the profession.”