Law Society Chief Executive Douglas Mill has been forced to resign after widespread distribution of video clips showing the Law Chief contradicting the content of his own case memos to the Justice 2 Committee of the Scottish Parliament and the now Cabinet Secretary for Finance John Swinney MSP.
Law Society Chief Executive Douglas Mill misleads Scottish Parliament & John Swinney - Q: When is a lie a big lie ? A: When it comes from a Law Chief ...
Mill, who has served as dictator Chief Executive of the Law Society of Scotland for the past 11 years, leaves the profession badly damaged after many failed policies and a disastrous anti client witch hunt which some say has even led to suicides.
Leading members of the legal profession and law critics today suggested there should now be term limits on the post of Chief Executive, as the last 11 years under Douglas Mill's rule has seen record scandals involving solicitors embezzling clients funds, record numbers of complaints many of which went unresolved, record negligence actions which were halted in their tracks by Law Society officials - some of them by Mill himself, and bitter public witch hunts against clients & law critics in the media and in their personal lives - all supported and sanctioned by the Chief Executive's office.
Law campaigner Peter Cherbi said : "Its high time the solicitor membership of the Law Society got themselves a vote in what goes on in their own institution. People in positions such as Douglas Mill cannot be left in office for years to pursue their own policies out of self interest & self preservation at the expense of the rest of society"
A solicitor who did not wish to be identified said : "I am relieved a sad chapter in the history of our profession is coming to an end. Here's hoping a streamlined Law Society might actually speak for the rest of us instead of telling us what to do"
While Mill may be best remembered for telling extensive porkies to John Swinney & the Scottish Parliament, he also smuggled an English QC north of the border to threaten the Parliament with legal action over the LPLA (Scotland) Act 2007, which saw the Law Society lose control of service complaints, and he even had a pop at the FSA, inferring they would come to blows with the Parliament over the same complaints-busting legislation which Mill feared so much.
Lets also not forget the access to legal services debate where Douglas Mill definitely does not want any public choice in an opened up legal services market .. preferring the closed shop monopoly the Law Society has presided over for decades.
Peter Cherbi sums up Mill's departure very well, in what can only be described as a blow by blow account of Mill's blatant and very public hunt against the well known law critic - read that here : Breaking News : Law Society Chief Executive Douglas Mill who lied to Parliament, pursued 'personal vendetta' against critics - to resign
Business Journalist Ian Fraser, who writes for the Herald, has a very good story on Douglas Mill's departure which can be seen here : Douglas Mill takes a hike
Douglas Mill to go in October - a lingering departure of failure .... oh and just a couple of days before the new Scottish Legal Complaints Commission begins its work .. coincidence perhaps ?
The Herald reports :
BRIAN DONNELLY
January 26 2008
The chief executive of the Law Society of Scotland is to leave the post after 11 years, it was announced yesterday.
Douglas Mill, 57, will continue as chief executive until he leaves in October. Mr Mill said: "It has been a time of much change and there is a great deal more to come. I wish the society all the very best for the future and look forward to seeing it continue to thrive."
Richard Henderson, president of the society, said: "I would like to put on record the considerable debt the soc-iety owes to Douglas for his work over the past 11 years."
The Law Society Press Release ... forgive the spin !v:
Chief Executive of Law Society of Scotland to leave in October 2008
Douglas Mill, has decided to leave his position as Chief Executive of the Law Society of Scotland in October 2008.
Until that time Douglas, who joined the Society in 1996, will continue to undertake some of his duties and commitments as Chief Executive and will also undertake some project work for the Society.
In addition Douglas will continue to act as an ambassador for the Scottish Solicitors profession in undertaking his duties as President of ILACE (International Institute of Law Association of Chief Executives).
Richard Henderson, President of the Society said: "I would like to put on record the considerable debt which the Society owes to Douglas for his work over the past eleven years.
"The Society is a more business like and modern organisation than the one Douglas joined as Chief Executive and under his leadership the organisation has met many significant challenges.
"It is indicative of Douglas' professionalism that he is ensuring that the transition can be as smooth as possible."
Douglas Mill said: "It has been an honour to be the Chief Executive of the Law Society of Scotland for the past 11 years. It has been a time of much change and there is a great deal more to come. I wish the Society all the very best for the future and look forward to seeing it continue to thrive."
No comments:
Post a Comment