ABS back on track in Scotland
Alternative Business Structures (ABS) are back on track in Scotland after the AGM of the Law Society of Scotland voted in support of them and against the motion by Michael Sheridan and others against them.
Prior to the AGM I blogged about why solicitors should support Alternative Business Structures at the AGM.
I am pleased that, on the day, common sense prevailed.
Law Society of Scotland bury the news
However, on their website the Law Society of Scotland, unfortunately, bury this important news under the headline “Practising Certificate fee approved at AGM“.
That is an annual almost inevitable event. Although, it is maybe time that solicitors questioned some of the expenditure made by the Law Society of Scotland from that practising certificate fee. But that is a story for another day.
ABS is back on track in Scotland
The headline news should have been that ABS is back on track in Scotland.
Law Society President Susan Murray stated that:
I’m also pleased that members have supported the Law Society Council’s amendment to the member motion which had called for the exclusion of alternative business structures operating in Scotland.
We appreciate that some of our members have strong concerns about alternative business structures and the potential risks associated with them, which were well articulated at the meeting. However, given the current position of the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill and the strong cross-party support for alternative business structures, as well as support for these types of businesses within the profession itself, we believe that the best protection against any risks associated with them, is to make sure we have an effective and robust system of regulation of these new entities.
We will continue to press for amendments to the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill to address deficiencies we have identified in relation to regulating licensed providers of legal services.
ABS Questions for the Law Society of Scotland
I have asked before and will ask again: What are the amendments to the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill that are thought to be needed to address deficiencies that the Law Society of Scotland have identified in relation to regulating licensed providers of legal services?
Is the Law Society putting off allowing applications for licensed providers of legal services (commonly referred to as ABS) in Scotland until this is resolved? If so why did this not appear to be an issue prior to the introduction of the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill?
Is ABS actually properly back on track in Scotland? Can we get a timetable for catching the ABS train when it arrives at the Atria One station?
Can someone at the Law Society of Scotland respond to these questions?
