Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Cabinet Chief Swinney intervenes in SLCC investigation of claims against crooked lawyers as Law Society 'fearing worst' demands early secret meetings.

John SwinneyCabinet Secretary for Finance John Swinney intervenes in investigation after Law Society attempt to dictate remit & scope of inquiries. John Swinney MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, has been forced to intervene in a bitter exchange between officials of the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission and members of the public participating in the first independent investigation to be carried out into compensation claims made against Scottish solicitors, after it emerged the SLCC's Chief Executive, Eileen Masterman had agreed to hand out copies of the research directly to the Law Society of Scotland, but had refused similar requests from members of the public whose views were being sought for the research.

I reported on the first ever independent investigation into claims made against Scottish solicitors in an earlier article, here : Scots public urged to take part in Commission's survey on claims made against lawyers with Law Society's Master Policy & Guarantee Fund

Eileen MastermanSLCC Chief Executive Eileen Masterman refused to hand over copies of research but Law Society to get a copy. The Commission's Chief Executive, Eileen Masterman who received requests from the Law Society of Scotland for copies of the research even before the project began, agreed they would receive the research in a pre publication format, while denying similar requests from participating members of the public, citing among other reasons that the public "were not stakeholders in the research or the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission", despite the fact that £2.5 million pounds of taxpayers money has been poured into the Commission, which has mostly went on officials huge salaries of up to £1350 a week and expenses perks of SLCC board members of up to £350 per day.

However, the Cabinet Chief Mr Swinney was brought into the issue by concerned constituents he has represented in the past on issues relating to claims & complaints against solicitors, over fears the Law Society were attempting to undermine the Commission’s research into claims against crooked lawyers, long known to be stage managed by the legal profession with clients achieving little or no success and most cases even being prevented from reaching court.

It was as we all know, Mr Swinney’s Holyrood confrontation with Law Society Chief Douglas Mill, over claims of corruption within the Master Policy which led to Mill’s downfall from the Society’s top position, which I reported on in early 2008, here : Breaking News : Law Society Chief Executive Douglas Mill who lied to Parliament, pursued 'personal vendetta' against critics - to resign

Mr Swinney has expressed deep concerns to the Commission over the research, and it can be revealed today the Cabinet Chief has written to the SLCC's Chief Executive Eileen Masterman, reminding her that millions of pounds of taxpayers money has been spent on the Commission, making the Scots public "stakeholders" in ‘not only the research but also the organisation itself’.

Mr Swinney contends (and has told SLCC Chief Executive Masterman in no uncertain terms) that members of the public participating in the research should also be given copies of the report at the same time the Law Society receives their copies, to ensure no alteration of the results of the research, which the Law Society is said to 'fear the worst' over, due to constant scandals involving client claims against crooked lawyers which often involve dirty tricks, delay and subterfuge from the Insurers who run the Master Policy on behalf of the Law Society of Scotland.

Philip YellandLaw Society of Scotland Director of Standards Philip Yelland asked for discussions on research before publication. In leaks from sources at the SLCC today, it can also be revealed the Law Society of Scotland have demanded exclusive access to the Master Policy research before it is published, and have also demanded discussion with the Commission, over fears that revelations from what is the first independent investigation ever to be carried out into financial claims made against 'crooked lawyers' in Scotland could be very damaging for the legal profession, the insurers and the Law Society of Scotland itself.

Law Society demands meeting over investigationLeaked emails from Law Society to SLCC demanded discussion of research before publication. Law Society Director Philip Yelland in his email to the SLCC Chief Executive Eileen Masterman asks : "There is the issue of the production of the final report and how the Commission would intend to use this. It is acceptable that in view of the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act at some stage the report will become public and it would be helpful at this stage to know whether it would be the intention of the Board of the Commission, once the report is produced, to discuss the matter with the professional bodies before formal publication or whether the Board would intend to discuss the final report with the professional organisations proper to any publication or indication of the steps that might be taken."

Earlier paragraphs in Mr Yelland's emails to the Commission were attacked by SLCC insiders, who branded them “little more than fishing attempts by the Law Society to gauge the scope of the SLCC's research into the Master Policy, with a view to interfering in its terms & remit to save face and stop the public getting to know the truth."

Mr Yelland's fishing questions : "It is noted clearly that the Commission will want to speak with participants from the professional bodies (presumably the Guarantee Fund and Insurance Committees or members from these Committees) and it is also noted specifically that there is reference to a desire to speak to individuals. Is there any intention for the research to speak with individual solicitors about their views on the Master Policy and Guarantee Fund ?"

Yelland went on to enquire "So far as the Focus Groups are concerned, it is intended that there will be Focus groups involving members of the profession and mixed groups with members of the profession and the public ?"

Masterman agrees to hand over copies to Law SocietyProfessor Alan Paterson told by SLCC Chief Exec. Masterman that Law Society were expecting the worst on investigation of claims against crooked lawyers. Eileen Masterman responded by saying she would hand over copies of the research prior to publication, and in an email to Professor Alan Paterson, a board member of the Commission, & Professor of Law at Strathclyde University, Ms Masterman said : " ..I would be happy to give them (the Law Society) a preview of the report before publication (and I think we'll have to publicise it fairly quickly after the Board have had an opportunity to consider it) but I don't want us to be under any immediate pressure about how, or if, we're going to take it forward."

Eileen Masterman continued to Professor Paterson saying she thought the Law Society might feel they were in trouble with the research : "I get the impression that the Law Society of Scotland are expecting the worst and trying to second guess what that will be."

A legal insider today accused the Law Society of attempting to dictate the terms of the Commission's ground breaking research, and claimed officials at the SLCC "felt vulnerable to demands from the Law Society of Scotland for the inevitable edits of the parts of the research that the profession would not wish the public to read".

He went on : "There is an intense feeling of distrust within the Commission's staff that the Law Society of Scotland is constantly looking over our shoulders at what we are doing, and in reality, little is progressing at the Commission without the cooperation or say so of the profession's governing body."

Kenny MacAskillJustice Secretary MacAskill is blamed by legal insiders for allowing the SLCC to fall victim to Law Society bullying. Many insiders blame the Commission's problems on Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, for taking a back seat while the Commission was being formed, and allowing the Law Society to run the appointments process to the Commission, which has been widely condemned as "full of sleaze" by many consumer groups & law reform campaigners.

Current conditions in the workplace at the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission seem to have deteriorated so much that some members of staff have indicated they feel so ashamed of news reports & public criticism of the Commission, they now feel they cannot admit even to their friends to working at the SLCC, for fear of being told they “are employed at a front organisation set up to protect the legal profession more so than deal with complaints from members of the public.”

John SwinneyCabinet Chief John Swinney, ‘deeply angered’ by difficulties at SLCC. Mr Swinney, while continuing to watch developments, refused to comment on the further difficulties at the embattled Scottish Legal Complaints Commission. However sources close to the Cabinet Secretary admitted Mr Swinney was deeply angered at the way the Commission was handling its role as the independent regulator of complaints against Scotland legal profession which it was assigned in legislation Mr Swinney himself as an MSP campaigned hard to be passed into law as the Legal Profession & Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007.

A source close to Mr Swinney this afternoon said : “John has worked so hard on this problem to see much of his effort twisted around by the Law Society and incompetence from others in Government who are responsible for protecting the public interest and seeing to it what was billed as a clean up of the legal profession’s poor complaints handling process became reality.”

“As the situation goes, there has been no clean up of anything and the SLCC in its current format is widely recognised as being unfit for purpose.”

I think we all feel that way … and certainly there now has to be some reforms of the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission to bring it closer to the public & consumers of legal services, while being more accountable & transparent in its operation. Ultimately, the SLCC will most probably needed to be regulated itself.

67 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes I could imagine Mr Yelland wants to edit the survey after it tells us him and his pals at the Law Society are a bunch of bloody crooks

Anonymous said...

ok so Swinney is angered about it.He is Cabinet Secretary for Finance so what is he going to do about it ?
I think Masterman should be sacked and this Yelland taken into custody.What right has he to interfere in an independent investigation ? You can see in his email he is trying to bully them into taking evidence from lawyers

bloody thieves the lot of them

Anonymous said...

Yes I agree Peter.the SLCC is a waste of space as it stands but who can get past the whims of MacAskill and his bent pals at the Law Society to do something about it ?

Anonymous said...

Sounds like lots of fiddles going on at the slcc.
Good thing your friend Swinney is on top of it !

Anonymous said...

As far as I can see from Yelland's email to Masterman he has no right asking for discussions on this piece of research being carried out by the SLCC.

This is a clear attempt to undermine the results and Masterman herself indicates that in her later email to the Prof.

Anonymous said...

Sorry.I was going to add to my comment your reporting on this news demonstrates that the Law Society must be kept out of regulation completely.

Good luck and keep up the good work Mr Cherbi

Anonymous said...

Mr Swinney contends (and has told SLCC Chief Executive Masterman in no uncertain terms) that members of the public participating in the research should also be given copies of the report at the same time the Law Society receives their copies, to ensure no alteration of the results of the research, (GOOD MAN JOHN, FIGHT FOR THE PUBLIC, WE NEED MORE MSP's LIKE YOU) which the Law Society is said to 'fear the worst' over,(YOUR FAULT LAW SOCIETY, YOU CORRUPT BASTARDS BEING EXPOSED, SCANDAL AFTER SCANDAL BY OUR FREE PRESS, AS ONE OF YOURS SAID "WE HAVE ALL PAID THE PRICE FOR SAVING PRIVATE PENNMAN") due to constant scandals involving client claims against crooked lawyers which often involve dirty tricks, delay and subterfuge from the Insurers who run the Master Policy on behalf of the Law Society of Scotland. A FILTHY CORRUPT SYSTEM, CLEARLY MASTERMAN THERE IS PANIC AMONG YOUR COLLEAGUES, LIKE THE 6th ARMY AT STALINGRAD YOU WILL BE OBLITERATED, NOT BY SHELLS BUT BY PUBLIC OPINION. VICTORY REGARDING INDEPENDENT COMPLAINTS HANDLING IS GOING TO HAPPEN. YOUR POWER IS DANGEROUS TO THE PUBLIC. YOU WILL LOSE.

WHAT ABOUT MACASKILL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR THE VICTIMS OF CROOKED LAWYERS IN YOUR CONSTITUENCY, KENNY BOY? NO ONE CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS KENNY, YOU ARE NOT FIT TO BE JUSTICE MINISTER. GO TO THE LAW SOCIETY/SLCC WHERE YOU BELONG.

Anonymous said...

I smell a cover up in the making !

Anonymous said...

It appears that the Law Society only has to 'suggest' a course of action and Ms. Masterman - and the SLCC - jump's to attention.

Hardly surprising given that the SLCC is populated with many ex-Law Society employees - something Swinney and Co could have stopped, if the will was there.

Anonymous said...

Law Society of Scotland Director of Standards Philip Yelland asked for discussions on research before publication. (YES PHIL, YOU DON'T WANT THIS CAN OF WORMS OPENED).

In leaks from sources at the SLCC today, (WATCH YOU DO NOT GET PROSECUTED AS GUILT IS PRESUMED REMEMBER) it can also be revealed the Law Society of Scotland have demanded exclusive access to the Master Policy research before it is published, (CLEARLY THE MASTER FUND NEVER PAYS OUT THEN) and have also demanded discussion with the Commission, over fears that revelations from what is the first independent investigation ever to be carried out into financial claims made against 'crooked lawyers' in Scotland could be very damaging (THIS WILL RUIN EVERY LAW FIRM IN SCOTLAND) for the legal profession, the insurers (MARSH UK ROYAL SUN ALLIANCE CROOKS) and the Law Society of Scotland itself. (YES WE WILL FIND THAT THE INSURERS PAY OUT NOTHING, WHICH WILL BE A DAMNING INDICTMENT OF YOU ALL.

Anonymous said...

“As the situation goes, there has been no clean up of anything and the SLCC in its current format is widely recognised as being unfit for purpose.”

MacAskill is also unfit for purpose, get him out.

The campaigners will win because we have RIGHT on our side.

Anonymous said...

A source close to Mr Swinney this afternoon said : “John has worked so hard on this problem to see much of his effort twisted around by the Law Society (THERE SHOULD BE CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS FOR COVER UP'S)and incompetence from others in Government who are responsible for protecting the public interest and seeing to it what was billed as a clean up of the legal profession’s poor complaints handling process became reality.”

“As the situation goes, there has been no clean up of anything and the SLCC in its current format is widely recognised as being unfit for purpose.” (THE LAWYERS ARE THE PROBLEM AND MASTERMAN WE ARE STAKEHOLDERS, YOU HAVE HAD A LOT OF OUR MONEY TO SET UP THE SLCC AND LAWYERS SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN A PART OF IT. THAT IS THE PROBLEM, A COMPLAINT GOES TO THE SLCC AND MASTERMAN WANTS TO DO WHAT SHE IS DOING HERE, NOT ACCEPTABLE).

Anonymous said...

I am beginning to think MacAskill has dossiers on all his colleagues which keeps him in his job.This is a terrible state of affairs for complaints against lawyers and as Peter says must be cleaned up.

I have emailed the Scotsman about the story and hope someone puts it in the newspaper.

Diary of Injustice said...

# Anonymous @ 3.33pm

Results not to his liking I suspect ... hence the attempt at censorship.

# Anonymous @ 4.04pm

I agree Mr Swinney will have to do more than is being done currently to clean up the SLCC ...

The obstacle to any clean up at the SLCC however, is Kenny MacAskill, and several civil servants within the Justice Department of the Scottish Government. In short, the Justice Department is about as rotten as the Law Society in some respects .. and one can understand from the curious efforts of some civil servants to prolong self regulation of solicitors, why the Law Society is able to flex as much power as it holds.

# Anonymous @ 4.42pm

Mr Swinney might "be on top of it" but I am assured he has encountered a few veiled threats from the legal establishment over his stance against the Law Society and corruption within the legal profession ...

# Anonymous @ 4.55pm

I agree .. the Law Society has no place in this research other than to provide answers to very direct questions ...

# Anonymous @ 4.56pm

I certainly agree with that .. the Law Society should have its powers of regulation and discipline stripped and awarded to a fully independent regulator rather than the halfway house model of the SLCC.

# Anonymous @ 5.02pm

I certainly agree with your comment !

# Anonymous @ 5.08pm

Yes, rather like puppets on a string, the SLCC dance the Law Society's tune almost before its sung ...

# Anonymous @ 5.09pm

I agree .. your comment sums the issue up quite well ...

# Anonymous @ 5.17pm

Yes, I agree that MacAskill is not fit for the position of Justice Secretary, nor is the SLCC fit for the position of regulating complaints against solicitors and protecting the public interest ...

I would encourage as much campaigning as possible on these issues ...

# Anonymous @ 5.35pm

Yes, I agree .. after so much public money has been poured into the SLCC, every single Scot is most certainly a stakeholder in the Commission, and if that's not to the liking of those employed by the Commission or members of its board, they should get out and make way for people who do have a sense of accountability to the public.

# Anonymous @ 6.05pm

I have thought that for a very long time now ...

Anonymous said...

Interesting what you said about the civil serpents at Justice.
I have had a few problems with them too and came to the same conclusion they were gumming up the works for the Law Society.

As a colleague said to me recently a brief investigation into to some of their backgrounds reveals extraordinary details of living ahead of their apparent means.

Perhaps something you might want to share this with your friends in the media (and you may leave the comment up so it can be read by everyone)

Keep up the good work Peter !

Anonymous said...

the law society should not be allowed anywhere near this research other than as you say just to give answers to questions

yelland and the law society are not to be trusted

Anonymous said...

Yes it looks like things are not going the lawyers way for once

Keep tackling them Peter they are wearing down you are the best writer on legal stories I have ever seen !

Anonymous said...

Difficult to know whose side you are on after the kicking you gave to Eck (and a good kicking it was too laddie !) but here you are praising John Swinney.
I take it you favour his leadership over that of MacClown in the Justice Dept ?

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to your sources for those documents Peter.Excellent work in exposing these crooked deals between dodgy regulators !

Anonymous said...

Masterman obviously likes her friends at the Law Society more than the public but isn't it just a bit stupid not to give copies of this stuff to the very people who are participating in it in the first place while handing it over quite happily to the Law Society ?

Stinks to high heaven if you ask me !

Anonymous said...

I have heard nothing but bad about the SLCC and the way they handle complaints.Your blog certainly confirms that Peter !

Anonymous said...

Its a good thing there is at least one person in the Government speaking out on this but I agree more has to be done to bring this cabal of lawyers interests to heel.

Keeping the Law Society well out of the slcc's affairs must be a start and with that getting rid of anyone who came over from it - which is just a mad thing to have happened and I don't really care about TUPE - it should never have happened given the problems the Law Society created in the first place.

Its like taking child abusers and getting them to staff a nursery and there is something on the news about that tonight.

Lawyers and anyone connected to them have to be kept out of regulation.

Anonymous said...

Peter you said

"Mr Swinney might "be on top of it" but I am assured he has encountered a few veiled threats from the legal establishment over his stance against the Law Society and corruption within the legal profession" ...

Clearly these bent lawyers have a lot to lose, the legal establishment are Nazi's who would gas us if they could. If they were fair and decent people would not be fighting them, their power is diminishing and they do not like it.

They treat clients like dirt and expect us to accept it, they have had their own way for far too long.

Anonymous said...

The Law Society want to keep their dirt from public gaze. Clearly they want to prejudice things to cover up the fact that the Marsh UK RSA never compensate victims of crooked lawyers.

It is the same as trusting the Nazi's to handover documents which would incriminate them to the allies at the Nuremberg war crimes trial. We need lawyers out of the commission, and I applaud the whistleblowers in the commission. The legal establishment are criminals and they have dangerous power, which must be curtailed at all costs.

Anonymous said...

POST YOUR COMPLAINT ON THE SOLICITORS FROM HELL WEBSITE

Have you been LET DOWN by your Solicitor or Barrister?

Do you feel that there is no recourse when this happens? Well, you're probably right!

It seems that today's legal system is designed to protect the very people it contains. However...

Under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, you have the right to freedom of speech or expression and to voice your complaint!

VISIT SOLICITORS FROM HELL AND POST YOUR COMPLAINT NOW.

Anonymous said...

Mr Cherbi, why do you refer to documents being 'leaked' from the SLCC when in fact they have obviously been obtained from Freedom of Information requests. If they had been 'leaked' they wouldn't havepersonal details blacking out.

Anonymous said...

I forecast lots of trouble on this story tomorrow.Doubtless Yelland will be having a go at Masterman for these documents coming out.

Still its good to see what the public are never allowed to see and my goodness no wonder ! The Law Society wanting to stage manage research and the SLCC looking like they will let them just like in every other episode of this soap !

Anonymous said...

SEND MASTERMAN AND HER LAWYERS BACK TO THE WOLF'S LAIR WHERE MILL ONCE WAS THE FURHER.

Anonymous said...

MacAskill should be hung, drawn and quartered, a lawyer loving Justice Minister.

Anonymous said...

I was in the Law Society's offices in Edinburgh several years ago and found every single member of staff there to be completely against the public.It was almost like a siege mentality they had.One receptionist I recall speaking to said she found it amazing that people had the audacity to complain against their solicitors and as far as she was concerned most clients should have been jailed for even thinking their solicitor had done wrong.That came from a secretary, and the rest of the staff were much worse in their opinions.

That is the kind of mentality you are dealing with from people not only at the Law Society but many connected with those within the gang that run the legal establishment.Its a 'we are right and you are wrong' attitude and I don't think its necessarily over the top to say they have probably killed to keep their dirty secrets hidden in the past and one day I expect to see a case revealing that very fact.

Evil people they are make no mistake about it.

Anonymous said...

Let me tell you something Mr Cherbi.

I know Eileen Masterman quite well.I used to work with her a few years ago.
In this email you have obtained she appears to be writing about something she knows nothing about but she has been working in the legal profession and bodies connected with it for years.This is typical of her style.
She knows exactly what to expect from this research which is taking place so do not be fooled by her babes in arms approach to Mr Yelland and the apparently similarly ignorant law professor.I'm sure this Professor Paterson knows the score with regard to these claims against lawyers unless he has been living under a rock for all these years.

Its all a bit like people writing about something grotesque happening right under their noses which they themselves are a part of but simply don't want to admit it.
I'm sure some of your other readers can think of examples in history which match that description.

Anonymous said...

Good expose

Here's another :

Big time lawyer who mingles with politicians in Govt is actually COCAINE DEALER

Go investigate (and publish this comment please)

Anonymous said...

I can just see Yelland and Masterman now saying none of this ever happened !

Sack both ?

Anonymous said...

One person said

"Its like taking child abusers and getting them to staff a nursery and there is something on the news about that tonight".

Well said, yes you could not trust these deviants with kids any more than you can trust the Law Society infiltrators to the SLCC. The Law Society may use the Transfer of Undertakings and Protection of Employment Rights TUPE to try and keep Masterman and her lawyer crooks in the commission, but their motive for being there is to prevent the commission doing it's job of protecting the public. Lawyers in the commission will do what the Germans did to their (scuttled them) ships in Scapa Flow at the end of World War One.
Masterman is there to scuttle complaints against the legal profession, and scuttle is the right word. She is the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission's version of Douglas Mill, perhaps the University of Glasgow will have a position for her should she fall?

Anonymous said...

"I am calling on Nicola Sturgeon to personally apologise to every family that has lost their home as a result of her inaction".

Cathy Jamieson
Labour MSP

Well Cathy, what about an apology from you for allowing the Law Society to railroad their lawyers into the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission? You were the justice minister that said "Scotland needs a justice system that is accessible, efficient and fair"

Well it is not accessible because we are solicitor barred.

It is not efficient, lawyers milking legal aid, poor service to clients, and no right of redress for clients.

You also lack understanding regarding the word fair.

In July 2005 I received a letter about a consultation paper "REFORMING COMPLAINTS HANDLING, BUILDING CONSUMER CONFIDENCE"
You also said

"I understand that you had recent experience of making a complaint to the Law Society of Scotland about the conduct or service of a solicitor".

Miss Jamieson, our complaints system protects the guilty with no justice for the victims of crooked lawyers, doctors, accountants etc.

I and many others put our views to this consultation forward, and the corruption from the SLCC is there for everyone to see. I think you failed in your duty to your constituents as an MSP, and your duty to the people of Scotland as their justice minister. Now we have an agent of the Law Society who states "Scotland owes a great debt to the legal profession). He means gratitude, for what, lawyer criminals and a criminal justice system, and professional body that protect these crooks. It is no surprise the reputation of every Scottish law firm is in the gutter.

NHS patients know that the same situation occurs with complaints against doctors, primary care managers will not expose corrupt doctors, patients need to do this themselves.

Anonymous said...

Ipsos MORI Scotland - Crime and Justice
Current Projects

Consumer views and experiences of using the civil courts in Scotland

Ipsos MORI Scotland has been commissioned by the Scottish Legal Aid Board and Consumer Focus Scotland to collect people’s views and experiences of using the Sheriff Courts. Qualitative telephone interviews will be used to explore civil litigants' experiences of and attitudes to court processes and how they think the court system can be changed for the better. A SYSTEM WHERE DURIES AND LITIGANTS CAN ESTABLISH THE INTEGRITIES OF THE SHERIFF AND LAWYERS WOULD BE A GOOD START.

The research will provide input to the Gill Review, making recommendations for changes with a view to improving access to civil justice in Scotland. I HOPE THIS IS NOT ANOTHER USE OF PUBLIC MONEY TO IMPROVE THINGS THE SAME WAY AS THE SCOTTISH LEGAL COMPLAINTS COMMISSION. WE SHALL SEE? WHO INSURES MORI?

Anonymous said...

Has anyone ever heard of a lawyer taking legal action against another lawyer for a client?

It is for this reason lawyers cannot be involved in the complaints process. Marsh UK Royal Sun Alliance, want lawyers there to prevent any person being compensated, as this could trigger a lot of complaints where the insurers of lawyers have to compensate the victims of lawyers. This conflict of interest and professional loyalties ensure that the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission will never do it's job properly.

Who insures the commission probably Marsh UK Royal Sun Alliance under a contract with the Scottish Government?

Diary of Injustice said...

# Anonymous @ 6.53pm

Any details you wish to send me on those issues will be passed onto the media I can assure you ...

I agree the often missed out part of the debate relates to the actions of civil servants at the Scottish Government, without whom the Law Society would not have been able to maintain a grip on self regulation for so long.

Someone who had a lot of contact with the Justice Department over the years approached me with copies of internal memos which show several officials engaging in bouts of insults and disparaging remarks towards victims of crooked lawyers who had written in to the Justice Minister, and current Justice Secretary.

# Anonymous @ 7.02pm

I agree entirely with your comment.

# Anonymous @ 7.43pm

No, Mr Swinney is best in his current position. Scotland needs at least one Minister with a brain.

I'd vote for Alex Neil for Justice Secretary - at least he is nobody's fool and not a lawyer.

# Anonymous @ 8.01pm

There are more documents yet to be published so watch this space ...

# Anonymous @ 8.37pm

Yes, well it only reinforces the belief you cant teach an old ... new tricks.

# Anonymous @ 9.19pm

Thanks.

# Anonymous @ 9.50pm

I certainly agree with your comment !

# Anonymous @ 10.23pm

Yes, I'm sure they would if they had the chance.

# Anonymous @ 11.08pm

Really ?, not to me. The documents were provided to me as-is from a source, so don't get your hopes up for such controversial stuff to be released through FOI when the SLCC usually lie or withhold papers of such content, as in here : Legal Complaints Commission 'authorised to lie' on FOI query over secret 'research' meetings with accountants regulator ICAS & insurers Marsh

# Anonymous @ 12.57am

Yes, I agree, they are a bad bunch in general .. and don't value anyone outside the sphere of the legal profession (or even some within it, given the attack on Leslie Cumming).

# Anonymous @ 6.35am

Thanks for your comment and interesting information.

I am aware that Ms Masterman has been at the Law Society for a number of years serving on the Professional Practice Committee, among other duties ... so I agree she certainly knows what's been going on for so long.
If you would like to contact me we can discuss those points further ...

# Anonymous @ 8.03am

Thanks for the tip, and if you have any more information on that please contact me. You can be sure it will be passed to the media, as well as the authorities, in that order to ensure justice is done.

# Anonymous @ 11.05am

I'm afraid the IPSOS-Mori research, with the greatest respect to the organisation, is being called "a dud" by an SNP politician who contacted me this morning on this very story.

He tends to share the view that sampling 35 people is not the way to achieve a view of the workings of the Civil Justice system .. however, IPSOS-Mori are not to blame, nor are SLAB and Consumer Focus Scotland - it seems the blame for this mess lands squarely on the Justice Secretary's doorstep.

# Anonymous @ 11.18pm

Brit Insurance PLC insure the SLCC - their Chief Exec used to work with RSA & Marsh .. and the arrangements are very similar to the Master Policy ... and yes, Marsh & RSA also insure the Scottish Government and many public services in Scotland ...

Anonymous said...

I think Mr Swinney will secretly be quite pleased with your reporting on this !

Anonymous said...

I saw a film on BBC several years ago called "Conspiracy" about the Nazis meeting at Wannsee to do the evil things they did to the jews and many others.

I imagine these meetings at the Law Society and SLCC are much the same.They really are awful people who defend lawyers instead of helping poor ordinary people who only wanted a bit of justice.

Its sickening.

Anonymous said...

Little doubt now Masterman must resign and what about this Professor ? Does he ever disagree with all this stuff or just another wave through for bent lawyers ?

Anonymous said...

Top class work Peter - this should definitely be in the newspapers.

Masterman should resign.If she's hard up for work she can always run back to the Law Society.I'm sure they have a seat warm for her already.

Anonymous said...

Evidence enough of collusion between the Law Society and SLCC.
Why doesnt someone just shut this thing down and sue the legal profession for the return of the millions spent on it by the taxpayer ?

Anonymous said...

Comment at 6:35am

I knew Masterman when she was at the RICS.

Plenty to tell when I get around to it.

Max

Anonymous said...

No, Mr Swinney is best in his current position. Scotland needs at least one Minister with a brain.

I'd vote for Alex Neil for Justice Secretary - at least he is nobody's fool and not a lawyer.

haha !
definitely agree with you on that one Peter !

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
I was in the Law Society's offices in Edinburgh several years ago and found every single member of staff there to be completely against the public.It was almost like a siege mentality they had.One receptionist I recall speaking to said she found it amazing that people had the audacity to complain against their solicitors and as far as she was concerned most clients should have been jailed for even thinking their solicitor had done wrong.That came from a secretary, and the rest of the staff were much worse in their opinions.

That is the kind of mentality you are dealing with from people not only at the Law Society but many connected with those within the gang that run the legal establishment.Its a 'we are right and you are wrong' attitude and I don't think its necessarily over the top to say they have probably killed to keep their dirty secrets hidden in the past and one day I expect to see a case revealing that very fact.

Evil people they are make no mistake about it.

12:57 AM

I CAN ASSURE YOU DOCTORS ARE THE SAME.

Anonymous said...

A friend of mine told me to read this tonight and I am glad I did.

My solicitor took 3 years to try and sell my house and wanted to charge me 10,000 at the end of the 3rd year for he said "advertising and his work".

There was plenty of interest and plenty viewers but when he said he could do no more and wanted paid a mysterious buyer turned up (him in the guise of his son)

His son put a bid on for the house of 120k while the valuation was 320k and my solicitor - his dad pressed us to take it.We said no then he started sending me letters saying if he wasnt paid by 7 days he would go after the house until we did.Still didn't pay so he went to court but I was told about it, turned up and the Sheriff allowed me to speak and I told him what my lawyer had been up to.He ran out the court and when I went back home I called the Law Society and complained. Another 3 years down the line this Mr Yelland and his colleagues are still messing us about and trying hard not to do anything against my lawyer but I will not give in and I will definitely not give in now after reading your blog.

I intend to start my own blog when I get time to publish all the letters I have received from Yelland etc and the threats from my lawyer, threats from his son, visits from the Police which I taped and one officer said I should sell up and leave the village we live in.

Certainly you are dead right Mr Cherbi this must all stop and these horrible people should be vilified and kept away from normal law abiding people because THEY are certainly not law abiding at all.

I respect you very much and clap my hands at your effort to deal with crooked lawyers and them who help them.

Anonymous said...

Peter surely a vitally important principle of a true democracy is equal rights for all people. Clearly we do not have that.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

A friend of mine told me to read this tonight and I am glad I did.

Good morning everyone,

I am delighted your friend told you to read Mr Cherbi's diary, your lawyer is clearly a criminal, they are all the same.

I tell everyone I know too, Peter's work is vital, and we must tell everyone we know. These criminals must be stopped at all costs, because they are constantly ruining people's lives because their masters will protect them, as you have found out.

I have said before, lawyers and honesty are mutually exclusive. Criminals protected by politicians, and the law society crooks, they think they do no wrong. But they are criminals in every sense of that word. Please tell everyone you know.

Write to your local newspapers about the Westminster expenses scandal and advise people to look at Peter's site and Scotland Against Crooked Lawyers at www.sacl/info

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

I saw a film on BBC several years ago called "Conspiracy" about the Nazis meeting at Wannsee to do the evil things they did to the jews and many others.

I imagine these meetings at the Law Society and SLCC are much the same.They really are awful people who defend lawyers instead of helping poor ordinary people who only wanted a bit of justice.
Its sickening.

YES MY FRIEND HEIDRICH THE HANGMAN OF PRAGUE, AND ADOLF EICHMANN WHO DEPORTED JEWS FROM THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES.
LIKE THE NAZI'S THESE LAWYERS ARE RUTHLESS AND EVIL AND HAVE DESPOTIC POWER, BUT NOT MILITARY POWER. IF THEY HAD THEY WOULD USE THE EINZATSGRUPPEN (EXECUTION SQUADS) TO MURDER THE PROTESTERS.
HITLER STRIPPED THE JEWISH PEOPLE OF THEIR RIGHTS, AND PEOPLE WITH NO RIGHTS ARE OPPRESSED. WE ARE LUCKY IN THAT WE CAN PROTEST AND FIGHT THEM, AND WE WILL WIN.

Anonymous said...

WARNING TO THE PUBLIC

YOU RISK YOUR HEALTH AND WEALTH WHEN YOU GO TO SEE A LAWYER. THIS PROFESSION WILL TEACH YOU IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS.

Anonymous said...

That is the kind of mentality you are dealing with from people not only at the Law Society but many connected with those within the gang that run the legal establishment.Its a 'we are right and you are wrong' attitude and I don't think its necessarily over the top to say they have probably killed to keep their dirty secrets hidden in the past and one day I expect to see a case revealing that very fact.

Evil people they are make no mistake about it.

12:57 AM


Yes they are all patronising evil bastards.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

A friend of mine told me to read this tonight and I am glad I did. (YOU HAVE A GOOD FRIEND).

My solicitor took 3 years to try and sell my house and wanted to charge me 10,000 at the end of the 3rd year for he said "advertising and his work". (NO SURPRISE THERE).

There was plenty of interest and plenty viewers but when he said he could do no more and wanted paid a mysterious buyer turned up (him in the guise of his son. (THIS SHOULD BE MADE ILLEGAL UNLESS HE IS PREPARED TO PAY THE MARKET PRICE) LIKE MP'S EMPLOYING RELATIVES TOO COSY FOR COMFORT).

His son put a bid on for the house of 120k while the valuation was 320k and my solicitor - his dad pressed us to take it. (A LEGALLY QUALIFIED CRIMINAL). We said no then he started sending me letters saying if he wasnt paid by 7 days he would go after the house until we did. (PRESSURING YOU, THIS IS VILE). Still didn't pay so he went to court but I was told about it, turned up and the Sheriff allowed me to speak ( A DECENT SHERIFF) and I told him what my lawyer had been up to.He ran out the court and when I went back home I called the Law Society (A WASTE OF TIME MY FRIEND, THEY COVER UP EVERYTHING) and complained. Another 3 years down the line this Mr Yelland and his colleagues are still messing us about (OF COURSE THEY LOVE LAWYERS) and trying hard not to do anything against my lawyer but I will not give in and I will definitely not give in now after reading your blog. (PLEASE NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, GIVE IN THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO DO).

I intend to start my own blog when I get time to publish all the letters I have received from Yelland etc and the threats from my lawyer, threats from his son, visits from the Police which I taped and one officer said I should sell up and leave the village we live in.

Certainly you are dead right Mr Cherbi this must all stop and these horrible people should be vilified and kept away from normal law abiding people because THEY are certainly not law abiding at all.

I respect you very much and clap my hands at your effort to deal with crooked lawyers and them who help them.

(SPREAD THE WORD MY FRIEND, WE WILL NEVER QUIT).
9:53 PM

Anonymous said...

Scandals have ruined the reputation of the legal profession. That is the inevitable result of a culture of cover up to protect lawyers.

God help us if Yelland controlled the press like Dr Goebbels in Germany.

Anonymous said...

A doctor who distorts medical evidence to stop litigation in it's tracks is attempting to pervert the course of justice.
If you ever try to sue anyone and it involves medical evidence NEVER TRUST YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR.

Anonymous said...

With the cosy tone between Masterman, Yelland and Paterson I'm surprised they bothered doing any research at all.

They might have just as well said "Everything is fine" and saved a lot of money even though we know they are speaking BS!

Anonymous said...

"That is the kind of mentality you are dealing with from people not only at the Law Society but many connected with those within the gang that run the legal establishment. Its a 'we are right and you are wrong' attitude and I don't think its necessarily over the top to say they have probably killed to keep their dirty secrets hidden in the past and one day I expect to see a case revealing that very fact.

Evil people they are make no mistake about it".

12:57 AM

-----------------------------------

Yes, they remind me of the Nazi's they are evil incarnate and I would not be surprised if they murdered to silence their critics. If they did that they would attract unwanted publicity which would strengthen our position.

We struggle to trust any professional since we because victims of these criminals. When money and reputations are at stake people must understand they cannot trust lawyers, doctors, accountants etc. There are two who can rob you of your life's savings, and the third can do a Shipman. I have no doubt your average GP would murder patients to save their reputation. (GP's respond now). When you find out what they are really like, it is frightening to let them administer drugs to you. I can hear them now, "this person has mental health issues" yes doctors all patients you see have mental health issues if they are a threat to Marsh UK Royal Sun Alliance, or your reputations.

It should be renamed Marsh UK doctors. lawyers. Accountants, government, Royal Sun Alliance. I wonder if these professionals and the Scottish Government have shares in March UK Royal Sun Alliance?

Anonymous said...

"I saw a film on BBC several years ago called "Conspiracy" about the Nazis meeting at Wannsee to do the evil things they did to the jews and many others".
-------------------------------------

We should also remember the meeting at Wannsee had lawyers who formed the Nuremberg Laws.

Nazi doctor's murdered the mentally handicapped so Hiter could have his master race. His propaganda minister Dr Goebbles had a club foot, should he have been murdered with this condition a contradiction in Nazi ideology.

Ernst Rohm the leader of the Brownshirts or SA (storm detachment) was a homosexual. Gay people were presecuted by the Nazi regime, but not Rohm. He was arrested during the Night of the Long Knives (Hitler got rid of those tho threatened his position) because Rohm wanted to replace the German army with his Storm Detachment. So we can see the twisted thinking here, one law for certain groups and another law for the doctor's and Nazi leadership. Reminds me of the law society, their Storm Detachment member attacked Mr Cummings.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

A friend of mine told me to read this tonight and I am glad I did.
-------------------------------------

I note you want to start your own blog. I am not trying to lecture you, but if you "STICK TO THE FACTS THEY CANNOT USE THE LAW OF DEFAMATION AGAINST YOU".

Put your lawyer on THE SOLICITORS FROM HELL WEBSITE WHERE THEY ALL BELONG. GOOD LUCK.

Anonymous said...

You are spot on with your conclusion Peter - the slcc needs oversight too considering this is the way they go about things.

I wonder what other dirty secrets are going on at the slcc we dont know about yet ..

Anonymous said...

If any reader wants to have an understanding of Scot's law Enid Marshall's book "General Principles of Scots Law" is a good start.

You will still be barred from justice but it is interesting reading.

Anonymous said...

THE SCOTTISH LEGAL COMPLAINTS COMMISSION

* Independent
* Impartial
* Accessible


Welcome to the website of the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission. The SLCC was set up under the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007 to investigate complaints made by members of the public about services provided by legal practitioners in Scotland. (IT ACTUALLY PROTECTS CORRUPT LAWYERS).

It operates wholly independently of the legal profession, (THIS IS A LIE, IT IS CONTROLLED BY THE LAW SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND AND KENNY MACASKILL) and opened for business on 1st October 2008.

READERS NOTE, THEY WILL NOT INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS ABOUT LAWYERS MADE BEFORE OCTOBER 2008.
THIS IS TO ENSURE VICTIMS OF CROOKED LAWYERS NEVER GET JUSTICE.

THE LAW SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND HAS ENSURED THAT THESE CRIMINALS GO UNPUNISHED, THIS ORGANISATION IS CLEARLY A DEPARTMENT OF THE LAW SOCIETY. EVERY LAWYER IN SCOTLAND CAN ENGAGE IN SHARP PRACTICE AND CRIMINALITY AGAINST CLIENTS BECAUSE THE LAW SOCIETY/SLCC AND MR MACASKILL WILL BURY EVIDENCE AGAINST CROOKED LAWYERS.

IF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WANT TO TRUST OUR COUNTRIES SELF REGULATORS YOU DESERVE ALL THAT IS COMING TO YOU.

Anonymous said...

Quote of the week: FROM THE SOLICITORS FROM HELL WEBSITE.

"I gave up practising because I realised that the majority of solicitors I dealt with are dishonest. Even if they are negligent you never win. They will forge attendance notes and cover their backs. My firm's senior partner cracked a bottle of champagne when his best client died, knowing he could make a fortune from the probate work"
Retired solicitor from Cambridge.

TRUST THESE CRIMINALS ARE YOUR PERIL.

Anonymous said...

It beggars belief that a profession with the powers lawyers have are allowed to self regulate. This is in conflict with the principles of natural justice such as fairness, transparency, and equal rights.

The fact that lawyers want to maintain their powers to self regulate, clearly demonstrates that they think there would be many prosecutions if independent complaints handling were introduced.

We would see another version of the Westminster scandal on expenses, that is the reality. We campaigners fight on.

Anonymous said...

Comment at 6:35am

I knew Masterman when she was at the RICS.
Plenty to tell when I get around to it.

Max
5:32 PM


Hello Max, I am a Quantity Surveyor and I think the RICS is overated, I will watch this space.

Anonymous said...

She should resign and why on earth Yelland has been able to keep his job for 20 years is beyond me.The guy is an ....

Diary of Injustice said...

Thanks for all your comments on this article.

I have received a number of emails and further comments on particular cases I will get around to looking into shortly.

I can assure readers there will be some interesting reports in the near future on some very corrupt goings on at the Law Society ..