The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission – that extravagant unregulated regulator created out of the mess of the Legal Profession & Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007, has decided it doesn't have enough board members and has gone on a recruitment drive for a further 3 non-lawyers with ‘consumer backgrounds’ and one additional lawyer to 'balance up' the board room table.
The appointments are being made by none other than Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill in an effort to prop up the ailing ‘independent’ regulator which is costing everyone in the Scottish legal profession as well as clients an increasing fortune to maintain, despite the lack of work its members appear to engage in, along with their humungous expenses claims, currently standing at a whopping £135K for only 9 people, many of whom appear to have ‘loads-a-money’ and jobs galore. By our reckoning, if another 4 join up, their expenses claims could push the SLCC into one quarter million pounds expenses territory, and that's only on the accounted claims !
Stern legal critic Peter Cherbi, reporting on his “Diary of Injustice” weblog has (much to the relief of many in the profession we assume) ruled himself out of applying, which is just as well as his own investigations of the SLCC are rumoured to be the cause of these latest appointments, which incidentally the Scottish Government had to change the terms of the Legal Profession & Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007 with a specific amendment to achieve.
However we at Scottish Law Reporter have already heard rumours there are some other ‘consumer trumpet blowers after the £209 quid a day & more letters after their name’ are circling over the appointments, one apparently claiming to have the close ear of a senior Scottish Minister who it is alleged could swing him onto the SLCC (ooh that would be a highly improper interference in an appointments process if it happened – Ed). Strangely enough one of the potential suitors for the position already appears to have had several meetings with SLCC officials in the presence of 'a senior politician' ... so prospective candidates may want to check whether this is actually a fair round of appointments or not ...
Here follows the job advertisement from the Appointments for Scotland website, which has also been listed in several newspapers and around the web. If your legal practice is suffering this year in terms of business, just spare a thought for these ‘consumer hounds’ sapping a little more of your blood to prop up the SLCC..
SCOTTISH LEGAL COMPLAINTS COMMISSION (SLCC) APPOINTMENT OF 3 NON LAWYER MEMBERS
The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) requires 3 non lawyer members to become part of their Board with effect from February 2011. The successful candidates will be appointed by Scottish Ministers in consultation with the Lord President of the Court of Session.
As a non lawyer member you will have the ability to apply objective and impartial judgement to the resolution of disputes, have the ability to offer guidance on one or more of the following Commission activities: regulation, consumer rights, consumer advocacy, consumer needs and have the ability to contribute to an effective team.
The SLCC was established by the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007. The main functions of the Commission are to resolve complaints alleging inadequate professional service or negligence by legal practitioners, to refer complaints which allege professional misconduct or unsatisfactory professional conduct to the relevant professional body and to promote good practice in complaints handling.
Remuneration: £209 per day. Travel and subsistence costs and reasonable receipted childcare and dependent carer expenses directly related to the Commission’s work will be reimbursed.
Term of appointment: 5 years.
Time commitment: Up to 6 days per month. Around one third of the time spent on the work of the Board and two thirds on complaints.
Location of meetings: Scottish Legal Complaints Commission, The Stamp Office, 10-14 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh EH1 3EG.
Closing date for applications is 29 November 2010
An application pack can be downloaded from this site, or alternatively, by contacting the address and/or freephone number below. You should provide your name, address and the appointment that you are interested in.
Download Application Form Here
Submit Completed Application Form Here
E-mail: application requests and returns should be emailed to:
paapplicationsmailbox@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Postal: Scottish Government,
HR Public Appointments
Saughton House (E1 Spur)
Broomhouse Drive
Edinburgh
EH11 3XD
Freephone: 0800 015 8449
Fax: 0131 244 3833
Appointments to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland. All applicants must complete and submit the application form contained in the application pack in order to be considered for appointment. Please note that application forms sent electronically will be in Word format and, if returning electronically, will only be accepted in that format.
Appointed on merit; committed to diversity and equality
SCOTTISH LEGAL COMPLAINTS COMMISSION (SLCC) APPOINTMENT OF LAWYER MEMBER
The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) requires 1 lawyer member to become part of their Board with effect from January 2011. The successful candidate will be appointed by Scottish Ministers in consultation with the Lord President of the Court of Session.
As a lawyer member you must be a practising Advocate in Scotland.
The SLCC was established by the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007. The main functions of the Commission are to resolve complaints alleging inadequate professional service or negligence by legal practitioners, to refer complaints which allege professional misconduct or unsatisfactory professional conduct to the relevant professional body and to promote good practice in complaints handling.
Remuneration: £209 per day. Travel and subsistence costs and reasonable receipted childcare and dependent carer expenses directly related to the Commission’s work will be reimbursed.
Term of appointment: 5 years.
Time commitment: Up to 6 days per month. Around one third of the time spent on the work of the Board and two thirds on complaints.
Location of meetings: Scottish Legal Complaints Commission, The Stamp Office, 10-14 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh EH1 3EG.
Closing date for applications is 23 November 2010
An application pack can be downloaded from this site, or alternatively, by contacting the address and/or freephone number below. You should provide your name, address and the appointment that you are interested in.
Download Application Form Here
Submit Completed Application Form Here
E-mail: application requests and returns should be emailed to:
paapplicationsmailbox@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Postal: Scottish Government,
HR Public Appointments
Saughton House (E1 Spur)
Broomhouse Drive
Edinburgh
EH11 3XD
Freephone: 0800 015 8449
Fax: 0131 244 3833
Appointments to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland. All applicants must complete and submit the application form contained in the application pack in order to be considered for appointment. Please note that application forms sent electronically will be in Word format and, if returning electronically, will only be accepted in that format.
Appointed on merit; committed to diversity and equality
1 comment:
This is essentially a job advertisement by the Scottish Government for anyone harbouring a grudge against the legal profession to apply to join this SLCC!
What a disgrace!
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