We take our duty to the public extremely seriously. From the pages of statute to the activities of our Council and staff, we have a responsibility to protect the public interest and maintain the reputation of the profession we serve.
Setting excellent standards must always be the highest priority for any world-class professional body. If we are to lead legal excellence then we must set and enforce high standards for individuals, from the route to qualification through to continuing professional development and specialist accreditation. By doing this, the qualifications we provide will be recognised and respected, not just in Scotland but around the world.
Equally, the rules which we set must be effective and proportionate, providing a robust and modern framework for firms providing legal services. Alongside setting standards, we must also take action whenever those standards are breached. Within the Scottish system of co-regulation, we will always work in partnership with others such as the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission and Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal in order to protect consumers and maintain both the public’s and the profession’s confidence.
However, we know Scotland’s system of regulation needs to adapt if it is to keep pace with the rapidly changing legal services market. That is why we will argue the case for a new legislative framework which provides a modern approach and better serves the public interest.
By 2020, we will ASSURE our members’ clients and employers by setting and upholding standards that ensure they receive excellent legal and customer service:
- Our education and training standards are flexible, promote equal access to and drive excellence within the legal profession
- Based on a new empowering Act, our regulation is proportionate, effective and responsive for those who depend on legal services
- Our professional standards are recognised as world-class and our members respected for holding one of the most
rigorous and globally valued professional membership accreditations
