Besides LawCare, there are other charitable bodies which can provide additional support including the Scottish Solicitors' Benevolent Fund and the Tod Foundation, which are jointly administered by the Scottish Law Agents' Society and the Society, and various educational trusts which are also administered by the Society.
Structure, governance and management
The Scottish Solicitors’ Benevolent Fund is a charitable trust governed by its trust deed. It has been entered into the Scottish Charity Register and is entitled, in accordance with section 13(1) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, to refer to itself as a charity registered in Scotland.
The Benevolent Fund Committee meets twice a year and makes all of the significant decisions in relation to the charity; day-to-day administration is delegated to the management accountant of the Law Society of Scotland and the secretary of the Scottish Law Agents Society. New trustees are appointed by the Benevolent Fund Committee from individuals of the respective societies possessing the relevant skills. Induction and training of new and existing members is dealt with as required.
Objectives, activities and achievements
The fund is intended to assist solicitors qualified in Scotland, or their dependants, who are in need of financial assistance and whose circumstances meet the criteria set by the trustees for the payment of grants. In light of this overarching objective, the Benevolent Fund Committee does not set annual objectives.
Grants policy
Potential beneficiaries are invited to complete the grant application form and submit to the trustees. This document is then considered in detail, so as to determine the suitability of the individual circumstance. A decision is then made on whether the grant application has been successful, and where appropriate, subsequent level of award.
LawCare manages a fund which can be used in certain circumstances to pay for counselling support. For further details, please contact the LawCare telephone helpline 0800 279 688.8
These organisations all welcome applications for assistance which are always received and considered in the utmost confidence. If you have any queries, please contact [email protected] for further information.
