Wednesday, December 16, 2015

FRATERNITY FRIENDS: ‘Independent’ Scottish Legal Complaints Commission seek new legal & non-legal board members - with an interest in lawyers

Related to a lawyer? Board positions on offer at legal quango. SCOTLAND’S pro-lawyer regulator of solicitors – the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) has announced a new recruitment round for legal and ‘non-legal’ board members.

The five year term for two ‘non-legal’ and one legal board member, scooping up a fee of £212 per day including expenses claims for just about anything candidates can imagine are up for grabs at the ‘independent’ legal complaints quango - now run by a former director of the Law Society of Scotland.

For the daily sum and expenses – funded by hikes in legal fees to clients, SLCC board members will be expected to attend or participate in board meetings held in Edinburgh on the last Tuesday of every second month (January, March etc.).

On the last Tuesday of the other months, members can pick up a fee for attending the “Performance Board” - lasting no more than an hour.

Determination Committees – which rubber stamp ‘recommendations’ from the Law Society of Scotland - are usually held on Wednesdays in Edinburgh.

If appointed you will be expected to take up your position as either Legal or Non-legal Member on 1st April 2016.  Each appointee will be expected to attend a two day induction, which is currently scheduled for 11th and 12th April 2016.

Full details of the ‘skills’, ‘knowledge’ and ‘experience’ required for these appointments are contained in the Applicant Information Pack.

Closing date for applications is Monday 4th January 2016.  Interviews will be held on the 27th and / or 28th January 2016 in Edinburgh.

Interested applicants can contact former Law Society Director Neil Stevenson on 0131 201 2189 or by email at Neil.Stevenson@ScottishLegalComplaints.org.uk.

The recruitment notice put out by the SLCC states Mr Stevenson “can also arrange a chat with one of the current Members” and that “Discussions are confidential, and separate to the recruitment process.”

Neil Stevenson was appointed  to the post of SLCC Chief Executive earlier this year after the resignation of previous Chief Executive Matthew Vickers, and increasing frustration at the Law Society over the direction the SLCC was taking under an ‘independent’ CEO.

Stevenson’s appointment came after a bad year for the Law Society in the wake of the BBC Scotland investigation Lawyers Behaving Badly -  which blew the mask off lawyers investigating their own and legal aid fraud.

With the announcement of the latest round of board positions to the seven year old solicitors complaints quango, it is worth looking back on the register of interests of the current complement of the SLCC’s board – which has managed to steer the legal complaints quango in every direction the Law Society of Scotland insisted.

The changes, and growth of current board members interests in the latest 2015 SLCC board members register can be compared with the 2013 version, reported here: Solicitors regulator SLCC’s Board Members Interests reveals connections, influence & how quango positions, consultancy empires are built behind closed doors

SLCC Board Members Register of Interests 2015:

Bill Brackenridge: Non-Executive Director of the State Hospital Board. Chairman, Argyll & Bute Adult Protection Committee.

George Clark: Formerly Director of Scottish Building Society and SBS Mortgages Limited (retired 30/5/13). Formerly Consultant/Partner with Morton Fraser LLP from 1979 until 2012.

Chair of the Private Rented Housing Panel in Scotland. Previously, Chairman of Edinburgh Solicitors Property Centre from 1988 until 2001. Chairman of Homeowner Housing Panel and Private Rented Housing Panel.

Ian Gibson: Member of consultant's panel for the Charities Aid Foundation. Volunteer business mentor Scottish Chamber of Commerce. Cousin is a partner in Kirklands Solicitors Perth. Nephew is a solicitor advocate with Simpson Marwick; his partner is an advocate in Axiom stables. Trustee CLIC Sargent. Secretary of Newtonmore Camanachd Club.

Dr Samantha Jones: Director of Islandscape Photography (self-employed). Freelance consultant. Formerly, an Associate Consultant with Valuta Ltd during (2010). Previously, Clerk to the Standards Committee and HR Change Programme Manager for Scottish Parliament (2000-2010). During time with Scottish Parliament had regular professional contact with staff of the Government Legal Service for Scotland (GLSS) (2000-2010). A Licentiate of the Royal Photographic Society - voluntary unpaid role. ALB Navigator at Tobermory RNLI and the station's Lifeboat Press Officer - voluntary unpaid role. Local Development Officer, Ulva Ferry (Part time 2.5days per week) funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (from 1 April 2014). Freelance Development Agent, Argyll and the Isles Tourism Co-Operative (up to eight days per month from 1 October 2014).

Ian Leitch: Member of the Law Society of Scotland. Member of Audit Scotland Board and Chair of Remuneration and HR Committee (from 1 April 2014). Chair of Audit Scotland Board (from 1 October 2015).

Iain McGrory: Commissioned the services of Simpson and Marwick Solicitors, Aberdeen and Edinburgh Branches, on behalf of Grampian Police between 2002 and 2010. Independent consultant trading as IJM Professional Services providing a range of services including complaint handling and developing performance and disciplinary procedures. In 2013 chaired a Working Group on behalf of the Scottish Government - Police Reform Team, tasked with producing updated Conduct Regulations for the new Police Service of Scotland. On 8 July 2014 appointed as a Disciplinary Pool Lay Member of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries On 1 July 2015 appointed as a member of the Cabinet Office Security Vetting Appeals Panel. Provides ad hoc consultancy services to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC).

Maurice O'Carroll: Practising Member of the Faculty of Advocates 1995 - date. Ad hoc Advocate Depute for Crown Office 2002 - date.  Brother of Sheriff Derek O'Carroll, resident Sheriff at Airdrie [who was a practising Member of the Faculty of Advocates (2000-2010).] Legal Chairman for the Homeowner Housing Panel and Private Rented Housing Panel 2012 to date.

Fiona Smith: Formerly HR Director for NHS Orkney from 2004 to 2011. Professional dealings with the NHS Central Legal Office between November 2004 and February 2011. Partner in Sorton Partners, a business advice and consultancy partnership. Owner of Niteo, a training and coaching business. Associate of VA Consultants, a training and development provider. Associate of Taylor Clarke, an Organisational Development consultancy business. Director of the Orkney Hyperbaric Trust, an unpaid voluntary role. Committee member of the Orkney West Mainland Industrial and Horticultural Society, an unpaid voluntary role.

Kevin Dunion: Formerly Scottish Information Commissioner from 2003 to 2012. Director, Dunion Associates Ltd, providing research, consultancy and training. Honorary Professor and Executive Director, Centre for Freedom of Information, School of Law, University of Dundee. Visiting Professor, Northumbria University. Board Member, World Bank Access to Information Appeals Board. Retained services of Brodies LLP and Anderson Strathern whilst Scottish Information Commissioner. Member, Standards Commission for Scotland (from September 2015).

As for the remaining staff at the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission a recent media investigation uncovered the quango is staffed mainly by families, friends & associates of solicitors, reported here: 'Independent' Scots legal watchdog consists of solicitors’ husbands, wives, sons, daughters, cousins, friends, & employers.

Previous media investigations, reports and coverage of issues relating to the SLCC can be found here: Scottish Legal Complaints Commission - A history of pro-lawyer regulation.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

You mean Collaborators Wanted!

Anonymous said...

Astonished to hear Kevin Dunion sits on the board of the SLCC.
He is not as vocal compared to when in office as Scottish Information Commissioner.

Anonymous said...

I dont see anyone there who will not have some kind of connection with the legal establishment so the whole thing is a stitch up no matter how you look at it or how well they try to gloss over this supposed 'independence'

Anonymous said...

The Labour Minister admitted at the time the LALP 2008 Act was brought in (remember that the Law Society of Scotland demanded a rewrite of the Bill the night before the vote, changing over 100 clauses) that this was to be an exercise in 'Changing the Public's Perception that Scottish lawyers were to be properly regulated, rather than actually regulating them?'

Even so, with the Legislation on the Statute Book, the police have a duty to uphold the law?

So, since Police Scotland have been told to stand-down and to let the Law Society of Scotland do what ever they like, despite the legislation, then are the Law Society of Scotland not committing treason? They are subverting the law, to protect their own vested interest, which is diametrically opposed to the Public Interest?

Scotland is NOT a democracy as long as a Private Corporation (The Law Society of Scotland) are allowed to dictate to Police Scotland, can act above the law and can cut-deals with their friends (Scottish lawyers) at the Crown Office and who can dictate so that MP's & MSP's are stood-down from having a Public Inquiry into their criminal practises?

Anonymous said...

Bill Brackenridge: Non-Executive Director of the State Hospital Board

Well well well!Wonder how many people who are driven nuts by the slcc end up in the place of his second job lol!!

Anonymous said...

As some might say "Coining it in"

Anonymous said...

Why didnt any of this lot speak out when Stevenson was shunted into the SLCC by the Law Society?

Anonymous said...

The recruitment notice put out by the SLCC states Mr Stevenson “can also arrange a chat with one of the current Members” and that “Discussions are confidential, and separate to the recruitment process.”

Yeah I bet.Off the record chats on what to expect and how to dodge it.A tad unfair and very much under the table considering recruitment is supposed to be all above board.

Anonymous said...

Maurice O'Carroll: Practising Member of the Faculty of Advocates 1995 - date. Ad hoc Advocate Depute for Crown Office 2002 - date. Brother of Sheriff Derek O'Carroll, resident Sheriff at Airdrie [who was a practising Member of the Faculty of Advocates (2000-2010).]

So we have an SLCC board member who also works as a prosecutor for the Crown Office and his brother is a judge!

How many lawyers have been recommended for criminal prosecution by the SLCC?

None.

How many allegations of criminal behaviour have been passed to the Crown Office by the SLCC?

None I have ever heard of.

How does an organisation investigating lawyers get away with having Crown Office prosecutors among their board members and this same organisation refuses to send crooked lawyers to the Crown Office!

All those lawyers dipping their hands in the till and stealing from clients - if they were shoplifters they would be prosecuted but the SLCC with all their alleged power and Crown Office connections prosecute no one all they do is bully victims to water down their complaint and the lawyer is off the hook again and again.

Corruption!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

The Labour Minister admitted at the time the LALP 2008 Act was brought in (remember that the Law Society of Scotland demanded a rewrite of the Bill the night before the vote, changing over 100 clauses) that this was to be an exercise in 'Changing the Public's Perception that Scottish lawyers were to be properly regulated, rather than actually regulating them?'

Even so, with the Legislation on the Statute Book, the police have a duty to uphold the law?

So, since Police Scotland have been told to stand-down and to let the Law Society of Scotland do what ever they like, despite the legislation, then are the Law Society of Scotland not committing treason? They are subverting the law, to protect their own vested interest, which is diametrically opposed to the Public Interest?

Scotland is NOT a democracy as long as a Private Corporation (The Law Society of Scotland) are allowed to dictate to Police Scotland, can act above the law and can cut-deals with their friends (Scottish lawyers) at the Crown Office and who can dictate so that MP's & MSP's are stood-down from having a Public Inquiry into their criminal practises?

16 December 2015 at 16:47
===================================================================================
In the Law Society world there are no laws, no overseers to watch what they do. They are the law and they apply it as they see fit. The goal of self regulation is to bypass the legal system so they can steal and torture clients (mentally). The Law Society control the MSP's this is not a democracy. A tyrannical private union controls the MSP's not the other way around and therefore we have a facade of democracy.

Anonymous said...

Crown Office is the epicentre of ongoing 'legal corruption' in Scotland.

Take a look at the current SCCRC Chair, Ms Jean Couper CBE as a Director of K3 Consultants Ltd providing HR strategic, policy and operational advice to local authorities.

"Jean Couper was Chairman of the Scottish Legal Aid Board from 1998 to 2006 and from 2002 to 2008 was a Commissioner of the Accounts Commission. Since 1990 Mrs Couper has held a number of other public appointments notably Member of the Scottish Legal Aid Board from 1994 to 1998, Member and Vice Chairman of the Health Education Board for Scotland from 1995 to 2002, and member of the Police Advisory Board for Scotland from 2002 to 2007. She is currently Director of K3 Consultants Ltd providing HR strategic, policy and operational advice to local authorities. She is Deputy Chairman of the Ombudsman Service Ltd, Chair of Aberlour Child Care Trust and a Director of the Merchants’ House of Glasgow. She was awarded the CBE in 2006 for services to the administration of justice."

Fair to say a member of the 'establishment'.

Track the incorporation of K3 Consultants Ltd and Jean Couper as Commissioner with Accounts Commission, Audit Scotland [AS].

Yeah, you've guessed it, AS issued improvement notice reports to numerous Local Authorities - who picked up the sole source contracts ?

Conflict of interest, anyone ?

This is the corruption;
An individual of the same Audit Commission of AS who have reported improvement notices is then providing the commercial services [on a sole source contractual agreement] to address the reported deficiencies.

It's nothing more than a publicly funded shakedown by conflicted, corrupt parties seeking financial gain from public funds to the detriment of the public purse.


Folks, take a serious look at Audit Scotland.

Anonymous said...

How does an organisation investigating lawyers get away with having Crown Office prosecutors among their board members and this same organisation refuses to send crooked lawyers to the Crown Office!
16 December 2015 at 20:55
==================================================================================
They get away with it for the same reason Miss Ali the Judicial Complaints Reviewer who resigned stated the Judges are a law unto themselves. The whole profession is the same, lawyers adore their own and hate the guts of their clients who they regard as legitimate to abuse for profit. Sorry DOI for my repetition but we all know there is no complaints system against these people. Miss Ali was 100% correct, they are a law unto themselves and to quote Thomas Hobbes in Leviathan applying the quote to lawyers 'they have no power to keep them in awe.' Their weapon against the Scottish Public is bureaucracy because they can engineer any outcome they want in a system of bureaus. Just like the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission the Law Society in a revamped package.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

If the Forth Road Bridge collapsed due to a structural engineer's bad design, would the Society of Structural engineers be able to crawl to the Crown Office (instead of reporting their member to the police) to cut-a-deal with the Crown Office to save their member from a criminal prosecution, so that they could deal with their member in-house?

NO.

It is just Scottish lawyers who are protected citizens?
15 December 2015 at 15:52
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
But of course the Structural Engineer could not hide structural failure in the Forth Road Bridge whereas the complaints system against lawyers hides everything. The so called complaints system with its hidden workings are the reason lawyers can be utterly corrupt. Their crimes are not regarded by themselves as crimes and the cosy relationship between for example the Crown Office,(SLCC Law Society same beast) etc ensures the client receives another permanent punishment after being ruined by his lawyer, he becomes an enemy of lawyers who regard his desire for justice as obscene.
It is all about transparency, if it is hidden there will be a great imbalance of power.

Anonymous said...

Friends of mine who would have trusted lawyers do not now Peter after I told them about your experiences and countless others. Look at the PPI Scandal. lawyers knew it would never pay out due to the small print clauses but did nothing anyway because some day it would be a money spinner.

They read your blog and many lawyers hate it because you tell it as it is. Keep up the great work all the best to DOI.

Johannes

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...
Anonymous said...

The Labour Minister admitted at the time the LALP 2008 Act was brought in (remember that the Law Society of Scotland demanded a rewrite of the Bill the night before the vote, changing over 100 clauses) that this was to be an exercise in 'Changing the Public's Perception that Scottish lawyers were to be properly regulated, rather than actually regulating them?'

Even so, with the Legislation on the Statute Book, the police have a duty to uphold the law?

So, since Police Scotland have been told to stand-down and to let the Law Society of Scotland do what ever they like, despite the legislation, then are the Law Society of Scotland not committing treason? They are subverting the law, to protect their own vested interest, which is diametrically opposed to the Public Interest?

Scotland is NOT a democracy as long as a Private Corporation (The Law Society of Scotland) are allowed to dictate to Police Scotland, can act above the law and can cut-deals with their friends (Scottish lawyers) at the Crown Office and who can dictate so that MP's & MSP's are stood-down from having a Public Inquiry into their criminal practises?

16 December 2015 at 16:47
===================================================================================
In the Law Society world there are no laws, no overseers to watch what they do. They are the law and they apply it as they see fit. The goal of self regulation is to bypass the legal system so they can steal and torture clients (mentally). The Law Society control the MSP's this is not a democracy. A tyrannical private union controls the MSP's not the other way around and therefore we have a facade of democracy.

16 December 2015 at 22:41
.............................................................

Good analysis and of course you are 100% correct.