Welcome to the Legal 500

Ken Dalling, President of the Law Society of Scotland, lauds the work of the industry during some of the most challenging times in recent memory

The last 18 months have not only been among the most challenging of my

professional career, but also the most enlightening.

I have been proud to wear the badge of the Scottish solicitor for over 30 years now, so I am rarely surprised by the breadth and depth of my colleagues’ capabilities. That said, the expertise, tenacity and integrity which define the legal profession’s response to working in the pandemic, have been truly remarkable.

In the course of our working week, we are entrusted with confidences and we are privy to the highs and lows experienced by our clients.

We provide expertise, advice and support, guiding them through some of the most important, distressing and exciting events of their lives. At those times, our listening, talking, advocacy and empathy are invaluable and irreplaceable.

The expertise, tenacity and integrity which define the legal profession’s response to working in the pandemic, have been truly remarkable

Those interpersonal skills, which sit at the core of our profession, were put to the test by the remote working imposed by the pandemic.

Scottish solicitors working in all areas of law, in all kinds of practices and organisations, and all across Scotland, rose to the challenge and overcame

hurdle after hurdle to ensure those who rely on their expertise were not disadvantaged and that our justice systems continued to function.

The rapid transition to online communication and working has been remarkable to witness – taking place over weeks and months rather than years – but it hasn’t been easy.

It has taken hard work, determination and a collaborative and flexible approach by the legal profession and across the justice sector to develop numerous innovative, yet

practical, solutions to ensure colleagues and clients were kept safe whilst business continued.

Throughout the disruption, the Law Society maintained its regulatory functions so as to ensure that the conduct of solicitors continued to be of the highest quality and that the clients we serve can rightly place their trust in our service and advice.

And our clients have been well served. Legal service users in Scotland report higher levels of satisfaction than ever before, but we cannot afford to become complacent.

Most of the legislation covering the operation and regulation of the legal market is over 40 years old. New legislation is needed to better protect consumers and allow the Scottish legal services market to thrive.

The Law Society has led the charge for change and argued that any changes to the system must recognise the importance of the independence of the legal profession and the judiciary’s role and purpose in upholding that independence.

We will continue to engage fully in plans for reform so that high standards are maintained and still greater protections for the public are in place – we would urge our members to do the same.

New legislation is needed to better protect consumers and allow the Scottish legal services market to thrive

As we look ahead to the coming year, the signs are that with an improving public health outlook, life will not be as difficult as it has been these past 18 months.

There are, nonetheless, some serious challenges ahead, and with the insight I have gathered in the first half of my presidential year, I am confident that the legal profession will carry on with our characteristic, resilience, skill and integrity.

Ken Dalling, President of the Law Society of Scotland