Solicitors to vote on freezing practising fee for eighth year

Solicitors will vote on maintaining the current practising certificate fee of £550 at the Law Society’s AGM on Thursday, 25 May 2017.

Lorna Jack, chief executive of the Law Society of Scotland, said: “We are aware of the costs involved in practising as a solicitor and are determined to work to keep the cost of the practising certificate at its current level. The society’s Council has agreed that the practising certificate fee should be frozen again this year, with members able to vote on that decision at the AGM later this month.

“Although it is very encouraging to see some firms experiencing growth, and in recent years we have seen the number of practising solicitors gradually rise by about two percent annually, uncertainties around the economy remain and so we recognise that there are firms, particularly those who carry out legal aid work, that are still facing challenging times.”

She added: “Just as solicitors need to adapt to a changing economic environment, we too need to continue our drive to increase efficiency, to innovate and be enterprising in our approach to make sure we can add value, without imposing any unnecessary additional costs on our members.”

The practising certificate fee, which is compulsory for all practising solicitors, is set by the Law Society Council and voted on by members each year at the society’s annual general meeting. There are currently 11,500 practising Scottish solicitors.

The Law Society AGM will be held at its Edinburgh offices on Thursday, 25 May 2017. The full agenda is available on the Society’s website.