Thursday, October 20, 2022

SCOTS LAW: Legal Highs, Legal Lows. A legal profession which prides itself in preying on clients, ripping-off Legal Aid, fixing court outcomes, concealing malicious prosecutions & judicial conflicts of interest, obstructing public access to justice - and - Why you should really question much of what your lawyer tells you.

World leading? Not a chance M'lud. ONE DAY is a long time in Scotland’s legal world, let alone a full year – but we all can be assured the consistency of wrongdoing, industrial scale dishonesty, legal fee overcharging & outright malice - from Scotland’s legal profession - whether it be in dealing with clients, working in court in civil hearings or in criminal trials, or working for public authorities – is never ending.

While blog journalists have been working on real life cases for the past year, it may be worth reminding readers your rights with regard to regulation of your legal representatives, are as ineffective and futile as they have ever been in Scotland, right up to this date.

After all, since 2008 and some Thirty Five Million pounds plus, later – much of it recovered from fees you pay to your solicitors *and perhaps money & assets your solicitor strips you of when your case goes not the way you were told it would - the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) has not once named a corrupt solicitor or law firm – or actually had any impact on standards of legal service in Scotland.

Fourteen years for the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission - billed in 2008 as an “independent” regulator of Scotland’s legal services – to have absolutely zero material impact on the scale of dishonesty in Scotland’s legal profession – is itself a tribute to how corrupt Scotland’s legal mcmafia really is, and – an indicator of the sheer level of control exerted by professional groups such as the Law Society of Scotland, and Faculty of Advocates (to name but two) on how MSPS and the Scottish Government can or cannot give increased rights to consumers of legal services in Scotland.

For instance, are you looking for a lawyer right now to conduct legal business or perhaps pursue a civil claim, or defend you in a criminal trial?The fact is, if you are trying to find out if a particular solicitor or law firm has any record of complaints, discipline issues, or are just plain corrupt - you - the consumer - are not going to find out.

So, why would you even bother going to a lawyer or a law firm who has perhaps fleeced one hundred clients before you go through their doors? Think first, readers .. do you really need to spend Five thousand pounds on a batch of letters to, say - your next door neighbour for the next Five years over a fence which is 10cm higher than it should be … and then lose the case in court and have to pay your own solicitor say .. another Twenty Thousand pounds for losing, and then end up sequestrated by the solicitor’s good friend the local Sheriff – when you cannot pay the legal fees?

Yes, it is that easy. It’s your money, your lives, your home, your family, your business – consumers. Think first, Tens of thousands of people have gone before you thinking they are smarter than a Scottish lawyer, and what happened next? Well, the statistics tell their own story. Thousands of complaints a year to Scotland’s so-called ‘independent’ legal regulators – staffed by lawyers and their families – and guess what, a tiny amount of redress if anything, and thousands of clients lives ruined.

The public debate on legal services in Scotland is rather odd, and very biased.

Mostly, any public debate on Scotland’s legal profession, is driven by the legal profession itself.

Having examined Scotland’s cliquey legal profession for decades, worked on thousands of cases, reported on hundreds more – and when assigned cases to assist clients through the often murky, dishonest world of legal services and Scotland’s institutionally dishonest courts system and not forgetting the institutionally everything bad Crown Office – it can be easily said – consumers of legal services in Scotland have about as much chance of obtaining a fair hearing, as a baked pie in front of a group of staring, salivating alligators with Scottish LLB Law degrees & judicial robes.

The world, of course – is a bigger place. And, with the advantage of the internet, and the ability to communicate on global platforms, away from the Scots legal mcmafia sponsored public relations spin, and bought up influencers, clients, consumers, journalists and readers can find a more open and less legal profession driven debate on justice, the courts, legal services, and just about anything else you can think of.

Example - If you are interested in US politics and the US Courts, and judiciary – and trust me – you should be - readers who want to expand their knowledge of what judges and lawyers do in and out of court, should start looking at how the US media cover America’s justice system and the US Supreme Court - because - in the US, journalists and lobby groups are much more open and willing to investigate and write up exactly what is going on with a judges' interests, conflicts of interest and recusals.

Even better, there are Law Professors and Academics in the US, who will tell you – the public - the absolute truth about the workings of the US Judiciary and 'SCOTUS' - otherwise known as the Supreme Court of the United States.

Expand your knowledge, people. Look at how other countries media deal with their justice systems and those parts of the judiciary which consider themselves too powerful to be held accountable to ethics, expectation of justice, or even – the law itself.

Reading up on how other countries report on their judges, courts and the workings of the justice system will easily bring even the occasional reader to conclude much of what you have just read, is never reported in Scotland or the UK. In fact, academics here can very easily be roped into (mostly willingly) in what are absolutely vicious campaigns against journalists looking at the workings of the judiciary.

There are of course, other advantages of reading media outside the sphere of Scotland’s legal profession reach in that journalists don’t have to put up with ranting calls from UK or Scottish Judicial Office Press Officers, who end up screaming down the phone at journalists and editors because the thorny question of judges conflicts of interest, judges unexplained wealth & lifestyle, and participation in political deals, lobbying, international bargaining and political lobbying here in Scotland come up for scrutiny.

As colleagues in the media have observed – reviewing the audio records of those calls, would indeed one day make a good book.

So, what have blog journalists been looking at in the past year.

A deep dive into certain long running news articles in relation to the plight of victims in all kinds of scandals, from medical to ill treatment at the hands of whichever Scottish public service, such as Health, Policing, Courts, Judiciary, Local and Central Government – have revealed that lawyers and their law firms quoted three paragraphs down in the articles – are demanding their ‘clients’ sign up to Non Disclosure Agreements – even before legal representation is taken on – and that any compensation recovered be subject to significant success fees for the law firm involved, with clients also forced to sign an agreement they will not raise a complaint, or their representation will be terminated.

And, it certainly does not take too long for lawyers who give quotes to the media on how they are so involved in representing their clients case – to call in a client for a menacing chat, which – now that we live in a world where everyone records everyone … is much more able to be reviewed by journalists and people outwith the legal profession.

The law firms involved, are – unsurprisingly – all “Award Winning Law Firms” – based in Scotland’s big cities and regularly quoted in whatever scandal is the headliner for the week, or weekend.

Still think you are smarter than a Scottish Lawyer? … hmmm!

Does the following example apply to anyone you know?

A meeting with your lawyer goes like this.

Hello, dear client. Tell me your case. Wow! I have never heard of your predicament before ... This is a disgrace! I can take you on as a client but first, you must sign up to our terms of business, give us Five grand, and you also have to sign a Non Disclosure Agreement - and while you are at it, we would like to store your property titles, just in case you cant pay our fat padded faked-up legal fees and we will take your house instead.

Hey folks, this happens a hundred times a week in Scotland. And, for years. Decades even. So, why not get wise to it instead of being ripped off. Don't say you haven’t been told!

Here’s a question for readers:

Have you ever wondered why – in the past fourteen years from 2008 to 2022 – hardly anyone ever gets to see the actual detail in complaints investigations, outcomes, quantum on actual losses by clients compared to the derisory compensation (if any) paid out by predatory law firms after an ‘investigation’ by the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission?

Small numbers, isn’t it. A handful. And, few if any law firms named – in the past Fourteen Years.

In an active case currently under scrutiny, journalists were handed recordings which reveal clients are being threatened during arbitration hearings organised by the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission.

Yes, you read that correct. Clients who agreed to arbitration hearings organised by Scotland's legal regulator - are being openly threatened and intimidated by solicitors - in front of 'qualified' arbitrators and Legal Complaints Commission staff.

Perhaps, upon reading this, you may think the Arbitrators and SLCC staff may step in, even offer to assist the client over the lawyer's shouting, threats and intimidation and their audible threats of using courts and Scotland's ever-puppet judiciary to go after clients.

Not a chance. In fact, the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission denied the Arbitrators or their own staff members hear or witness anything – yet the audio records confirm these events.

In fact - journalists have also been handed communications where the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission actually threatened clients - who had already been threatened at SLCC run Arbitration hearings - that if they uttered a word of what happened - the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission would act against them in some undefined way.

To say the above is corruption at work, would be an understatement at least - but you can be sure, when our investigation is complete, the material in these cases will be published.

Now, to some other issues journalists have been looking into.

Recent cases brought to this blog's attention reveal solicitors are requesting extra payments over legal fees from clients, in crypto currency.

These payments, in many cases appearing to be forced payments, with a threat that if they are not made legal work will cease on anything from claims against councils, to writing a will - are being demanded by law firms from a wide spectrum of clients, including the elderly - the latter of which first drew journalists attention to - as reports were coming in of elderly clients unable to handle technology to the point law firm employees were visiting home addresses to help their clients set up crypto currency accounts which would pay into accounts held by solicitors or 'other persons' connected to a law firm - but which strangely do not show up in the law firm's accounts to the Law Society of Scotland or HMRC.

So, if any readers have elderly or vulnerable relatives who are being forced into making off-the-books crypto currency payments to Scottish law firms - you can email this blog with the details to add to the information now being collected by journalists.

Oh, and if you were wondering how deep Scotland’s legal profession has dived into crypto currencies - to make it all nice and legal, the Scottish Government working group on crypto assets and crypto currency is headed by a UK Supreme Court judge - Lord Hodge.

A number of cases where criminal complaints and investigations have arisen in relation to activities at properties owned by Scots lawyers, and several members of the judiciary in EU countries and in the Gulf states, have been passed to journalists.

Allegations in respect of these cases range from financial crime to tax avoidance, domestic violence, and sexual assault.

Interestingly, many of those who have passed on information in relation to allegations and criminal complaints in such cases, are from Scotland or the UK, and have attended properties owned by certain high flying Scots lawyers & Advocates - in a guest role, of sorts.

Further information in relation to properties in the Gulf States - owned by leading figures of Scotland’s legal world, including the judiciary document cases where persons employed by the owners have been subject to threats, and in certain cases, swift deportation back to their countries of origin, mostly in Asia after events witnessed at the premises became subject to allegations and investigations.

Several key figures within Scotland's legal establishment - have sought to ensure these cases - do not come to light in the media, however the leads are now being investigated and publication may occur at a later date.

In a case which relates to a cover-up within Scotland’s NHS Estate – journalists have been investigating links between Scotland’s legal world & the misuse of evidence by key NHS organisations, over the past 15 months.

The case extends to cover significant patient risks, concealed by NHS Executives who were involved in switching multi million pound contracts and trying to cover their tracks.

Journalists have been investigating the NHS scandal involving NHS Grampian, in which NHS Executives and staff arranged, and colluded to target and discredit Scottish Medical Providers, in a malicious campaign to remove their business, and transfer the contracts to preferred providers.

The sums involved total millions of pounds, and investigating the trail of wrongdoing within NHS Grampian has led to the detection of organised fraud and collusion within Scotland's entire NHS estate and factual evidence revealing corruption right at the heart of NHS National Procurement.

Some of the documents in relation to the NHS Grampian fraud have been posted to Twitter. However a full investigation and publication of material will appear in due course.

Another issue journalists are looking into - is the wide and varied property ownership of solicitors and law firms.

In towns and cities across Scotland, local law firms and solicitors own and hold interests in multiple properties.

How these properties have come to be owned by solicitors is indeed, a very murky affair and a lengthy battle to reveal.

In many cases, there are solicitors who own twenty plus properties in very intricate ownership arrangements clearly designed to thwart persons from finding out the real owner.

Some lawyers have chosen to spread ownership around their families and relatives, whereas others have created offshore trusts and networks of companies of which the aim is clearly to defeat any link between the solicitor and the properties.

The family ownership link has been known about for some time, and frequently emerges when – for example – a solicitor’s partner decides to separate, and they then find out they own a selection of properties they were unaware of when their solicitor partner unleashes his colleagues on their subsequent separation and divorce.

An interesting revelation from the property scrutiny project – identifies solicitors who own significant numbers of rental properties and who are all receiving Housing Benefit paid rents from – in some cases – their criminal legal aid clients,

Yes, You read that correctly.

Solicitors are housing clients in what are in many cases – run down, rat infested flats and properties around Scotland AND – the rent on the property is paid to the solicitor in Housing Benefit, while the solicitor is also collecting Legal Aid cash for representing the client, his tenant in criminal trials.

There are hundreds of such cases currently being looked at. An example of one such case currently being investigated involves a solicitor and Tribunal judge - who represented a client who was found guilty of sexually assaulting paramedics. The client turned out to be the tenant of the solicitor, who was receiving Housing Benefit for his client’s rent, as well as Criminal Legal Aid for representing his client, found guilty of sexually assaulting paramedics.

Turns out the solicitor & Tribunal judge has been at this for years, raking in public cash for tenants he houses, and represents in criminal court at the same time – and – many solicitors are doing exactly the same.

The petition on the Register of Judges Interests. Yes, the petition rumbles on, and journalists await action by the Scottish Government. However, the time has been spent usefully studying the judiciary, watching how assets move, who talks to who, which judge is threatening who about transparency, and how judges waft around the world doing their wee bit for greed, avarice and sheer dishonesty in the legal world.

An update on the petition will be published in the coming weeks.

So, as you see - never a dull moment in the media, or in the legal profession.

And finally.

Whistleblowers. If you want to speak out on what is occurring in your public service, company or whatever the issue is - use an email service such as Protonmail or wherever, and contact the blog or a journalist that you trust and an editor who will not burn you to his friends in whichever public service you are speaking up against.

125 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bloody Hell Peter!

Way to go exposing Scotlands thoroughly rotten Legal fraternity!
and welcome back!

Whistleblower the Third said...

"Whistleblowers. If you want to speak out on what is occurring in your public service, company or whatever the issue is - use an email service such as Protonmail or wherever, and contact the blog or a journalist that you trust and an editor who will not burn you to his friends in whichever public service you are speaking up against."

Oh.
There is a surprise.
Editors burning whistleblowers to their friends (AND relatives if I may add) in government.
For those who know what you are talking about this will answer why emails and messages to journalists end up in the hands of the heads of certain public organisations you talk about on Twitter.

Thanks for re-enabling anon, comments.
Your comments section is a good indicator of how truthful the news is in Scotland.
Please maintain and publish comments with moderation.

Diary of Injustice said...

Thanks, and noting several unpublished comments and their content in relation to subjects contained in the article - the authors should contact blog journalists via email so further enquiries can be made and cases given attention and any required media.

@ 21 October 2022 at 20:17

Never left ...

@ 22 October 2022 at 16:09

Quite so.

If whistleblowers wish to speak out - as the article recommends, protect yourselves at all times by choosing a journalist you trust - and use an email service outwith the UK.

Comments will be maintained under the specified rules.

Anonymous said...

Going by your post and thousands before, the problem in Scotland is there are very few if any credible websites with coherent or newsworthy debate on lawyers and the work they do or don't do for clients.
From what I have seen if someone starts a Facebook or Twitter page exposing what their lawyers did to them with documents and postings of what happened the account is subject to heckling from lawyers and their fandom resulting in suspension of the Facebook or Twitter page.
This has happened for many years and is an indication of the fear of the Law Society of Scotland and Faculty of Advocates their clients will speak out and tell everyone what really happened to their case or work by the lawyer.
Doesn't anyone feel it is very unusual in this day and age that hardly any website or page exists publishing what lawyers in Scotland and England/Wales do to their clients?
There is a vast network of censorship at work to prevent clients and as you say "consumers" from speaking up and naming lawyers and law firms who do them wrong.
You could say there is a huge Black Hole over the entire United Kingdom if you want to find out who or what your lawyer is and if they are honest or corrupt.
The mainstream media are even worse.
As you say in your post there are news reports all the time of scandals and lawyers doing this or that for their clients but the claims are never backed up with results someone can take a look at independently and way from the lawyer making you realise the entire story in the newspaper is bought and paid for by a lawyer looking to attract more clients for claims money they are never going to receive without a huge deduction for the lawyer and law firm running the story.
I can only say if anyone is going to a lawyer think the worst from the start and if possible don't even walk through their door.
Take it from someone who has been there before Avoid any Scottish lawyer and save your life from years of trouble

Anonymous said...

Welcome back!Clearly you are busy!I follow your BRILLIANT Twitter but not bought a news paper since you stopped writing on the blog
Should I buy again and if so what paper you in now?

Anonymous said...

Great to see you back writing, you contribute more in one article than the lame stream media in Scotland.

For example, still not so much as a peep from the Beeb of STV about the Judicial Register od Interests Petition.

One obvious question to put to the powers that be "Why is taking so bloody long, have you any genuine intention to honour your manifesto commitment Nicola?".

Anonymous said...

It has been shown that MPs could not be relied upon to regulate themselves, nor could the Banks or indeed the Police. So it should come as no surprise to learn that the legal profession in Scotland has never even attempted to hide the fact that they too have no interest in an providing an honest service open to truly independent scrutiny and regulation.

Instead the Public is forced to rely upon a few paper tigers, aka 'consumer organization' who invariably couch any criticism surrounded by caveats. For example 'Solicitors in Scotland may not be providing the best service to their clients etc etc.

Even when a 'super-complaint' is lodged, as Which magazine did, vested interests with too much money to lose by any change in the status quo make sure it has little if any longterm effect and is soon brushed over.

No wonder Moi Ali resigned, that was our loss, she was one of the very few who have been honest and courageous enough to speak truth to power.

Anonymous said...

I daresay there are many others like e who do not use twitter and other social media but rely instead upon blogs such as yours. Great to see you back posting online!

Anonymous said...

I see another fairy tale has appeared in today's Scotsman, this time by Neil Mackenzie KC, the Keeper of the Library at the Faculty of Advocates.

Entitled ‘Loyal and wise’ Advocates have a long history of promoting access to justice, it is a truly sickening misrepresentation of reality which shows just how deep the media in Scotland -= and indeed the UK - is in the back pocket of the vested interests which control the legal profession.

https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/loyal-and-wise-advocates-have-a-long-history-of-promoting-access-to-justice-neil-mackenzie-3888243



Anonymous said...

Err, After reading the article below I think the Colorado State Representative Matt Soper should chose the company he keeps with a great deal more care. Perhaps someone should send him a link to this blog!



Colorado State Representative Matt Soper presents flag to University of Edinburgh


Professor Jo Shaw said: “As Head of Edinburgh Law School, I’m am always happy to see evidence of the global impact of our teaching and research at Edinburgh Law School, and we are pleased to know that we have given Representative Soper a foundation in law that has helped him serve the people of Colorado. The Principal and I were honoured to receive the Colorado State flag from Representative Soper, and do hope it will be an inspiration to our students.”

https://www.law.ed.ac.uk/news-events/news/colorado-state-representative-matt-soper-presents-flag-university-edinburgh

Anonymous said...

Going by the title of your post alone, if anyone wants to do themselves a big favour they should walk away immediately from doing any business with a Scottish lawyer.
Walking through any solicitor's office in Scotland is a trap door leading to a ruined life and business.

Anonymous said...

I see another fairy tale has appeared in today's Scotsman, this time by Neil Mackenzie KC, the Keeper of the Library at the Faculty of Advocates.

Entitled ‘Loyal and wise’ Advocates have a long history of promoting access to justice, it is a truly sickening misrepresentation of reality which shows just how deep the media in Scotland -= and indeed the UK - is in the back pocket of the vested interests which control the legal profession.

https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/loyal-and-wise-advocates-have-a-long-history-of-promoting-access-to-justice-neil-mackenzie-3888243

24 October 2022 at 07:53

Advocates have a long history of child abuse and their Advocate friends in the Faculty and their lawyer friends at the Law Society covering up cbild abuse because there are many lawyers advocates QCs and KCs who are known child abusers and violent thugs at home and in their work life.

John Watt was jailed for Child abuse and they all helped to covered up what he did to kids since 1987

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-62466734

A former Scottish prosecutor has been jailed for 10 years for sexually abusing four young children more than four decades ago.

John Watt QC, who was also a criminal defence lawyer, preyed on three young girls and a boy over a 14-year period.

The 72-year-old had been extradited from the United States to stand trial in July.

Last month, Watt was found guilty of one charge of rape, one of indecent assault and three of indecent conduct committed at houses in the Edinburgh area between September 1973 and August 1987.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Braid said: "In each case the offences have had a profound and life-changing effect on the victims."

The judge said that Watt continued to maintain his innocence over the abuse and added that perhaps explained why he had not demonstrated any remorse or empathy for his victims.

Lord Braid said: "In your role as advocate depute (Crown Office prosecutor) you prosecuted the very type of offence of which you have now been convicted."
Abuse at gatherings

Watt raped a girl under the age of 12 at an address in the west end of Edinburgh.

Two other girls were later molested by him in their beds at a house in Edinburgh and a 10-year-old boy was subjected to sexual abuse at an address in Leith in 1987.

The court previously heard that a number of the victims had relatives who were also legal figures at the time.

During his trial, Watt pinned the blame on a now dead lawyer for attacks on one of the girls.

The female rape victim told the trial that her father, who was also a lawyer, took her to see Watt at a house in Edinburgh. The woman, now aged 55, said: "I did things to the man which he made me do."

Anonymous said...

I read the Scotsman article referred to above, and agree with the comment above that it is a disgusting misrepresentation of the truth. I did a search of the terms 'pro bono' and 'free representation unit' in the caselaw section of the Bailli website, a comprehensive and independent website of past cases here and elsewhere.

The results, which can be seen at the links below showed three such cases in the Court of Session in the last 13 thirteen years, one of which is given of it is only given because the appellant did not know he could apply to the unit without the assistance of a solicitor.

In another of the three examples [10]..."The petitioners were represented by counsel. At the request of the court, counsel appeared on behalf of the mother on a pro bono basis."

https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/lucy_search_1.cgi?query=("free representation unit")&method=boolean&highlight=1&mask_path=scot/cases uk/cases/UKHL uk/cases/UKPC uk/cases/UKSC+scot/cases/ScotCS&datelow=&datehigh=&sort=rank


The single case I found in the Sheriff Court Counsel argued at [36] of the judgment that "Whilst her services had been provided on a pro bono basis in respect of the diet on 3 December 2013 that, she advised the court, was not so as far as 9 January 2014 was concerned."

URL: http://www.bailii.org/scot/cases/ScotSC/2014/55.html


Certainly mention of these terms frequently appears in the caselaw, but rarely that Counsel or a solicitor is participating in the proceedings under these terms. That observation is perhaps best underlined by the Supreme Court case where the Court writes;URL: http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKSC/2012/36.html

6......... It is a remarkable fact, and ironic in an appeal about costs, that all counsel are appearing pro bono.

(see URL: http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKSC/2012/36.html)

It would be interesting to learn of when the case featuring the Advocate John Moir actually took place, I could find no listing of it, and if the Faculty of Advocates will supply a record of cases during the last ten years when their members actually did work 'pro bono' or unpaid as part of the 'service' allegedly offered by the Faculty's free representation unit..

Anonymous said...

A couple of points

1. Anyone basing which lawyer or QC is capable of representing their legal interests on glowing newspaper reports about the legal profession written by or with 'guidance' from lawyers in the *cotsman or any newspaper or from *witter is too far gone to help.

These reports on the pretense of a news item cleared by a news editor are designed to attract the stupid, the uninformed, the greedy and the corrupt.

2. Just because someone is a lawyer or advocate or prosecutor or judge does not make them a better person or someone you should look up to.

Like everyone else the legal profession have drug addicts, drug dealers, murderers fraudsters and gangsters within their ranks.

You can take it from a journalist who has seen the raw end of Scotland's "Legal McMafia" how easily lawyers bring out their criminal talents to further their own ends whenever needed.

Anonymous said...

Any update on the senior legal figure caught with and sharing over 200,000 child abuse images and no longer in office?
Solicitors talking about this case claim there is no public reference because those at the top of Scotland's justice system are creating a workaround to avoid revealing the senior legal figure was found to be sharing his child abuse content with colleagues and others in Scotland's legal fraternity.
Given the fact there are senior and famous legal figures in the sharing list who decide the fate of persons in court I am surprised the newspapers backed off reporting details of the well known but unidentified case.
Perhaps you can stir your media friends into action?
Public have a right to be told child abusers concealed by judges and prosecutors are sentencing people in court and deciding civil cases yes?
Where is the Justice Secretary on this case? Did he forget to read and fail to answer questions to MSPs at Holyrood?

Anonymous said...

I read Twitter however you cannot learn anything from it other than who in Scotland is telling the biggest lies.
The Law Society Faculty of Advocates Scottish Legal Complaints Commission Judiciary and all their ilk tweet about how great they are and how the Scottish legal profession is the finest in the world.
None of what they say is true and equally false output comes from most of their members on Twitter in a lie fest which even beats the Tories.
Another thing about Scottish Twitter (the worst Twitter) your readers may wish to see for themselves are the gangs of Unionist nuts and their lawyer friendly output which is so lawyer friendly the postings back up the lie after lie from the Law Society and their partners in crime.
Tory Unionist Twitter = Law Society of Scotland Twitter.

Anonymous said...

Welcome back Peter!!!

Anonymous said...

A genuine question everyone

Why are there no genuine Whistle-blowers from the lawyers and advocates in Scotland ?

I do not recall one single lawyer blowing the whistle on how lawyers really treat their clients and what their profession gets up to in Scotland.

Are they all too involved in the corruption ?

Anonymous said...

The Neil Mackenzie KC Keeper of Library at the Faculty of Advocates‘Loyal and wise’ Advocates have a long history of promoting access to justice guff in the Scotsman fails to mention advocate Brian McConnachie QC who wanted to have sex with the head of RapeCrisis Scotland so he could have something on her

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/brian-mcconnachie-qc-rape-charity-26918754

Top QC said he would 's**g' head of Scots rape charity 'just to have something over her'

In a series of salacious messages, Brian McConnachie QC also sent a sexually explicit photograph of himself from the toilets of a high court building minutes after defending a rape accused.

By Annie Brown 10 MAY 2022

A top QC sent texts about the head of Scotland’s largest rape charity saying he would “shag” her “just to have something over her”.

In a series of salacious messages, Brian McConnachie QC also sent a sexually explicit photograph of himself from the toilets of a high court building minutes after defending a rape accused.

In WhatsApp messages to a woman, he also made claims of having sex in various legal buildings including courtrooms and the Crown Office and at an official party for Scotland’s top law officer, the Lord Advocate.

In another text he referred to a client as a “lying c***” and was found to have breached his duty of confidence.

McConnachie, a former high court prosecutor, is one of Scotland’s top legal aid earners and has acted in some of the country’s most high-profile cases.

The woman shared the messages as evidence for a formal complaint she lodged with legal watchdogs regarding McConnachie’s professional conduct.

A disciplinary committee from the Faculty of Advocates has issued a judgment on the complaints but has upheld only a fraction of the shocking allegations as “unsatisfactory professional conduct”.

On October 27, 2020, McConnachie sent a text claiming another QC had said he wanted to have sex with the chief executive of Rape Crisis Scotland, Sandy Brindley.

The committee split this complaint into two parts and referred to the other QC – “a high-profile criminal advocate” – as Mr A. Firstly, McConnachie wrote Mr A had “once said to me he’d shag Sandy Brindley”.

Secondly, he added: “I might shag her, just to have something over her, but I wouldn’t enjoy it.”

The Faculty of Advocates states QCs are obliged to ensure their personal as well as their professional “honour, honesty and integrity are beyond doubt”.

Yet the committee found McConnachie had been guilty of “unsatisfactory professional conduct” only in relation to the first part of the message and because it showed “disloyalty” to his fellow advocate by sharing his comments.

The committee said if Mr A had not made the remarks McConnachie should not be linking him “with distasteful and base comments” which could prove embarrassing.

The committee’s concern was that if a third party had seen the messages they could have jeopardised the reputation of Mr A and the Faculty.

The committee didn’t regard the behaviour as “serious and reprehensible” enough to meet the bar of the more serious “professional misconduct”.

But it said while the second part of the message was “distasteful”, it “concerned only McConnachie’s” feelings and wishes about “hypothetical sexual activity that he might engage in” with the head of Rape Crisis Scotland.

It dismissed this part of the complaint, saying it didn’t involve another QC, was a “private” communication and therefore didn’t directly concern the Faculty of Advocates.

Anonymous said...

/2
Last night, a spokesperson for Rape Crisis Scotland branded McConnachie’s derogatory sexual references to Brindley as “unacceptable” and called for the faculty to urgently address misogyny in its ranks.

The spokesperson said: “We are shocked and extremely disappointed to see such sexist and misogynistic behaviour directed towards our chief executive.

“For senior members of the faculty to discuss our staff in such a sexist and demeaning way is completely unacceptable.

“If senior QCs are willing to behave in this way towards someone in Rape Crisis, how are they behaving towards young women entering the profession or women they are cross-examining in sexual offence cases?

“We are calling on the faculty and other legal professional bodies in Scotland to commit to taking urgent action to address the misogynistic attitudes which clearly exist within the profession.”

On the same date of those messages, McConnachie sent a sexually explicit photograph to a woman, declaring he was in an aroused state in the toilets of Livingston’s High Court.

McConnachie, who had just finished defending a rape accused, didn’t deny the picture was taken in the court toilets but insisted it was a private matter and the committee had no authority to investigate it as he wasn’t engaged with a client when it was sent.

The committee unanimously agreed and dismissed the complaint as the picture was sent a minute after the court day usually ended at 4pm and it couldn’t be proven he was still engaged by a client.

The complaints were first sent to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) – an independent body which handles disputes between the public and lawyers – .

It found there were grounds to refer six conduct complaints to the Faculty of Advocates, which regulates QCs.

The faculty also considered texts where McConnachie had claimed to have engaged in sexual activity with seven different colleagues, from a trainee to fellow advocates, in various Crown locations – including court buildings.

But the disciplinary committee accepted McConnachie’s defence that “the claims were fantasy and that the sexual acts described did not actually happen”. It dismissed that element of the complaint.

However, the committee did find McConnachie had been guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct when he called an unnamed client a “lying c***”, as this was insulting conduct beneath the standard expected of “reputable advocates”.

The Daily Record has contacted McConnachie for a comment on this story.

Anonymous said...

Here is the RapeCrisis Scotland response on what Brian McConnachie QC said

https://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/news/news/response-to-comments-by-brian-mcconnachie-qc/

Response To Conduct Of Brian McConnachie QC
Posted on May 10 2022 at 12:29

This statement is in response to comments made by Brian McConnachie QC revealed in the Daily Record today.

“This situation and the unacceptable comments directed towards our Chief Executive expose a culture of misogyny amongst some members of the Faculty of Advocates and lay bare an environment where entitled, arrogant attitudes and behaviours are clearly present.

We have engaged in good faith with members of the Faculty to try to find common ground to improve the protections and rights of complainers of sexual crimes. For senior members of the Faculty to discuss our staff in such a sexist and demeaning way is deplorable.

Sexist attitudes like these should have no place within the legal profession. If senior QCs are comfortable conversing about someone they have held a professional external relationship with then this raises serious concerns about how they will behave towards other women they encounter, including women entering the profession, or women that they cross examine in sexual offence cases.

We are calling on the Faculty and other legal professional bodies on Scotland to commit to taking urgent action to address the misogynistic attitudes which clearly exist within the profession.” - Spokesperson for Rape Crisis Scotland

Anonymous said...

Note the tiny version on BBC Scotland.
The lack of detail and investigation will be nothing to do with having friends and relatives in the broadcaster I suppose. Utter BBC pro legal profession bias on display even when lawyers are accused of sexual offences and sexual misconduct.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-61260607

Top lawyer in disciplinary hearing over explicit texts
10 May

One of Scotland's leading lawyers has appeared before a disciplinary hearing over allegations he sent sexually explicit WhatsApp and text messages.

The Faculty of Advocates made a finding of unsatisfactory professional conduct against Brian McConnachie QC.

Mr McConnachie has so far not responded to requests to comment.

He has been part of high profile cases, include representing child killer Aaron Campbell, who murdered six-year-old Alesha MacPhail on Bute in 2018.

He also appeared for Rosdeep Adekoya, who killed her three-year-old son Mikaeel Kular in Edinburgh in 2014.

The Daily Record reported that Mr McConnachie was found by the Faculty to have breached his duty of confidence by referring to a client in derogatory terms in a text message.

The newspaper also reported the Faculty partially upheld a complaint over sexual comments allegedly made about Rape Crisis Scotland chief executive Sandy Brindley.

A spokesperson for Rape Crisis Scotland said in a statement: "We have engaged in good faith with members of the Faculty to try to find common ground to improve the protections and rights of complainers of sexual crimes.

"For senior members of the Faculty to discuss our staff in such a sexist and demeaning way is deplorable."

Anonymous said...

Herald on Brian McConnachie QC

https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/20128151.anger-qcs-discuss-rape-charity-boss-sexist-way/

Anger as QCs discuss rape charity boss in 'sexist' way
10th MayBy Andrew Learmonth

RAPE Crisis Scotland has warned of a "culture of misogyny amongst some members of the Faculty of Advocates".

The charity hit out after one of Scotland’s top lawyers was hauled before the professional body after complaints about texts, including one about their Chief Executive, Sandy Brindley.

The faculty has confirmed that a finding of “unsatisfactory professional conduct” had been made against QC Brian McConnachie.

The complaints were first sent to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) – an independent body which handles disputes between the public and lawyers. It found there were grounds to refer six conduct complaints to the Faculty of Advocates, which regulates QCs.

According to the Daily Record, on October 27, 2020, Mr McConnachie sent a text claiming another QC had said he wanted to have sex with the chief executive of Rape Crisis Scotland, Sandy Brindley.

He wrote that a high-profile criminal advocate - referred to as Mr A - had “once said to me he’d shag Sandy Brindley”.

Secondly, he added: “I might shag her, just to have something over her, but I wouldn’t enjoy it.”

The disciplinary committee probing the complaints said Mr McConnachie had been guilty of “unsatisfactory professional conduct” only in relation to the first part of the message and because it showed “disloyalty” to his fellow advocate by sharing his comments.

The committee said if Mr A had not made the remarks Mr McConnachie should not be linking him “with distasteful and base comments” which could prove embarrassing.

The committee’s concern was that if a third party had seen the messages they could have jeopardised the reputation of Mr A and the Faculty.

The committee didn’t regard the behaviour as “serious and reprehensible” enough to meet the bar of the more serious “professional misconduct”.

But it said while the second part of the message was “distasteful”, it “concerned only Mr McConnachie’s” feelings and wishes about “hypothetical sexual activity that he might engage in” with the head of Rape Crisis Scotland.

It dismissed this part of the complaint, saying it didn’t involve another QC, was a “private” communication and therefore didn’t directly concern the Faculty of Advocates.

On the same date, Mr McConnachie sent a sexually explicit photograph to a woman, declaring he was in an aroused state in the toilets of Livingston’s High Court.

Mr McConnachie, who had just finished defending a rape accused, didn’t deny the picture was taken in the court toilets but insisted it was a private matter and the committee had no authority to investigate it as he wasn’t engaged with a client when it was sent.

The committee unanimously agreed and dismissed the complaint as the picture was sent a minute after the court day usually ended at 4pm and it couldn’t be proven he was still engaged by a client.

In other WhatsApp messages to a woman, he also made claims of having sex in various legal buildings including courtrooms and the Crown Office and at an official party for Scotland’s top law officer, the Lord Advocate.

In another text he referred to a client as a “lying c***” and was found to have breached his duty of confidence.

A spokesperson for the Faculty said: “As the process is ongoing it would not be appropriate for Faculty to comment on this matter, beyond confirming it is correct to say that a finding of unsatisfactory professional conduct had been determined regarding Brian McConnachie QC.”

Anonymous said...

/2
Rape Crisis Scotland called on the professional body to address the “misogynistic attitudes which clearly exist within the profession”.

A spokesperson said: “This situation and the unacceptable comments directed towards our chief executive expose a culture of misogyny amongst some members of the Faculty of Advocates and lay bare an environment where entitled, arrogant attitudes and behaviours are clearly present.

“We have engaged in good faith with members of the Faculty to try to find common ground to improve the protections and rights of complainers of sexual crimes.

“For senior members of the Faculty to discuss our staff in such a sexist and demeaning way is deplorable.”

The spokesperson added: “Sexist attitudes like these should have no place within the legal profession.

“If senior QCs are comfortable conversing about someone they have held a professional external relationship with, then this raises serious concerns about how they will behave towards other women they encounter, including women entering the profession, or women that they cross-examine in sexual offence cases.

“We are calling on the Faculty and other legal professional bodies in Scotland to commit to taking urgent action to address the misogynistic attitudes which clearly exist within the profession.”

Anonymous said...

FROM YOUR ARTICLE THIS IS EXACTLY HOW LAWYERS DO IT!

"Does the following example apply to anyone you know?

A meeting with your lawyer goes like this.

Hello, dear client. Tell me your case. Wow! I have never heard of your predicament before ... This is a disgrace! I can take you on as a client but first, you must sign up to our terms of business, give us Five grand, and you also have to sign a Non Disclosure Agreement - and while you are at it, we would like to store your property titles, just in case you cant pay our fat padded faked-up legal fees and we will take your house instead.

Hey folks, this happens a hundred times a week in Scotland. And, for years. Decades even. So, why not get wise to it instead of being ripped off. Don't say you haven’t been told!"

Anonymous said...

Your article suggests 'Twenty Thousand pounds for losing,...' when placing one's trust in a Scottish solicitor; try £150k for a scheduled 4 day proof which never even happened!

Anonymous said...


Why are there no genuine Whistle-blowers from the lawyers and advocates in
Scotland ?

ANSWER : All practicing lawyers in Scotland are required to obtain professional indemnity insurance from the same insurance provider - chosen of course by the Law Society of Scotland.

All practicing lawyers in Scotland are required to inform said insurance provider of any enquiry relating to any suggestion of a claim against one of their members for professional negligence / malpractise regardless of whether they intend to represent the client who has approached them for advice.

Without professional indemnity insurance no solicitor in Scotland can open their doors and earn a living, and who want's to see their insurance premiums hit the roof or the necessary cover suddenly withdrawn?

Anonymous said...

What you write about solicitors taking housing benefit from tenants and representing the same tenant in court on criminal legal aid is bang on.
This has been going on for a long time one of the profession's dirty secrets and the press don't want to touch it.Try asking the Scottish Legal Aid Board for their view and they will send you an aggressive response.

Anonymous said...

As a journalist on Law shouldn't you be writing about secret Chinese Government Police Stations in Glasgow?

Anonymous said...

Thanks to whoever posted the news on Brian McConnachie QC

This is beyond disgusting and a new low for the Faculty of Advocates
Thoroughly disgusted at reading of what McConnachie did.Deplorable.

"A top QC sent texts about the head of Scotland’s largest rape charity saying he would “shag” her “just to have something over her”."

The part about McConnachie saying he wanted to have sex (I presume unwilling sex) with the head of Anti Rape Charity Rape Crisis Scotland "To have something on her" is one of the most evil and despicable things I have ever heard from a lawyer.

The next para is equally sickening

"In a series of salacious messages, Brian McConnachie QC also sent a sexually explicit photograph of himself from the toilets of a high court building minutes after defending a rape accused."

Good to see Rape Crisis Scotland react to the McConnacie story however there needs to be a much wider investigation and appropriate action by the authorities and regulators.

There can be no place for persons who talk and act like this in the legal profession.

Diary of Injustice said...

@ 22 October 2022 at 18:47

Thanks for your comment - which describes out quite well the lack of genuine public debate on the legal profession in Scotland, mostly due to censorship tactics employed by the legal profession.

@ 22 October 2022 at 20:02

By all means buy a paper you trust!

Print News and investigations with regard to Scotland's legal profession and legal services - has been proven to last much longer than brief now deleted television investigations of Scotland's legal profession.

@ 23 October 2022 at 18:19

Asking for help from Consumer organisations against the legal profession - has been proved over time to be a failure since the demise of the Scottish Consumer Council - which did take up the issue of independent regulation of the legal profession.

Wouldn't really listen to anyone who has awards in relation to legal services.

Awards make no difference other than perhaps serve as a warning on who to avoid talking to or dealing with.

@ 25 October 2022 at 13:20

Content noted.

Enquiries will be made.

@ 25 October 2022 at 16:08

Fear, and Greed.

@ 25 October 2022 at 21:30

Spread the word.

@ 26 October 2022 at 11:10

These 'facilities' are not secret and have been part of discussions between National/International Police Forces & Border agencies on cross border crime for some time. Guessing much like the ex-RAF Pilots training Pilots in China stories earlier this week - which has also been known about for years - this is more of an anti China line - not really a Scottish Law area.

However, you might want to read up on Police Scotland training forces in Middle East Dictatorships, where torture & abuse is regularly used, and Police Chiefs taking junkets to conferences & secret meetings in same dictatorships - which the same Police Chiefs are blocking from disclosure, and engaged in attempts to deny - where sources in the Middle East have sent pictures to journalists of Scottish cops in their respective countries. Also understand from MSPs there have been officers from dictatorship states with Human Rights violations on their records visiting Police Scotland and touting their friendship with senior Scottish cops ...

Also, you may wish to check out all the Scottish & UK judges working for dictatorships in the Middle East - swearing dual judicial oaths & making themselves available to courts in Scotland & the UK while selling justice to dictator states.

And, for the record - Scottish judge Lord Hodge - of UK Supreme Court has or at least had - a lecturing position in Shanghai - and Lord Hoffmann - the UK judge whose conflict of interest in Hoffmann/Pinochet ruined the UK Law Lords, giving way to the equally dodgy UK Supreme Court - has been quietly sitting on courts in Hong Kong for years.

Lots of other Scottish/UK judges serving in dictator states - Lord Hope, Lord Hamilton, Lord Glennie and many more including Scottish lawyers and Court/Tribunal insiders who waft between Scotland & the Middle East on the sly.

@ 26 October 2022 at 11:30

Quite so. A more thorough investigation and expose of the events in relation to Mr McConnachie and others involved in that case, is required.

Anonymous said...

Seems to be very little PC does not know about or drop in a detailed comment reply.
Same with your Twitter.You say something and hours days or weeks later the subject appears in the news.You are a pretty amazing guy somehow 🏆

Anonymous said...

The news on the QC now KC? is shocking how can anyone be a lawyer with any credibility and talking like this in messages and sending sexually explicit pictures of himself to people

Anonymous said...

Very Interested in what you wrote about Lord Hodge and China!

https://en.law.sjtu.edu.cn/events/3230.html

Sino-British judicial exchange meeting was held at KoGuan School of Law
Date:2018-10-26

On October 24th, the Judicial Exchange Between China and UK was held in conference Room 203, Leo Koguan School of Law Building, Xuhui Campus, Shanghai Jiaotong University. Lord Sergei Hodge, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, and Lord Sevor, the senior judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, attended the meeting, and gave the keynote speech on the theme of the spirit of the rule of law and criminal law. The meeting was hosted by Cheng Jinhua, deputy dean of the Koguan Law School and the distinguished professor. Prof. Kong Xiangjun, chair professor and dean of the Koguan Law School, gave the welcome speech. Sheng Yongqiang, vice president of the Shanghai High People's Court, and Lu Xiaolong, deputy director of the International Cooperation Bureau of the Supreme Court of China attended the exchange meeting. Staff of the Shanghai High People's Court and the British Consulate, some teachers and students of Koguan Law School also attended the meeting.

First, Prof. Kong Xiangjun expressed his welcome to the arrival of the judge and the justice on behalf of Koguan Law School. He introduced the development of legal education in Shanghai Jiaotong University, and the internationalized management and exchange project of Koguan Law School. He pointed out that the UK, as a center of the rule of law and legal education, has a unique and long-standing judicial system that has made important contributions to the world's justice and the rule of law. He hopes that Koguan Law School will have the opportunity to conduct cooperative research with the British legal research institutions, legislation, and judicial departments in the future, and have the opportunity to communicate through student exchanges and teacher visits.
Lord Hodge gave a speech on the theme "The Involvement of the Public in the Criminal Process in the United Kindom". First, he detailed how the British judicial practice allowed citizens to participate universally in the process of criminal judgment. He pointed out that the principle of trial openness is strictly guaranteed in the trial. Apart from eliminating the influence of public opinion on jury verdict and protecting the privacy of the parties, openness to the public and the media of the trial process helps to establish the confidence of the public to the judicial system and the national power.
Subsequently, he described the British jury system, including the selection of jury members, the process and principles of jury verdicts, the role of judges in jury trials, and research on the impartiality of jury referees. He said that the operation of the jury system requires a series of institutional guarantees and strict enforcement and reasonable guidance of the judges. In practice, the jury treats its work very seriously and can usually draw reasonable conclusions under the guidance of the judge. Then he analyzed how the judge disclosed the content of the judicial work and the trial results to the public. He mentioned that changes in the information medium have prompted the court's open approach to shift from traditional media to the Internet, and the way of recording has shifted from mere text to video and other multimedia methods. Finally, Lord Hodge used Confucius's saying that "if the country loses people’s trust, it will fall" to lead to the importance of "trust" in the participation of citizens in the judicial practice system. At the same time, he believes that a judicial system that can be applied to all countries does not exist. However, the pursuit of justice for the people to the greatest extent is the common goal of legal practitioners in every country. He hopes that exchanges and cooperative communications between countries can make positive contributions to achieving this goal.

Anonymous said...

This is very interesting as the judges do not want us looking at where they go and what they say/do for money.

Lord Sevor’s speech entitled “Role of Magistrates in England and Wales Criminal Justice System”. She introduced the Magistrate’s Court dealing with more than 90% of minor criminal cases in England and Wales. Focused on the judicial practice in Scotland and Wales, Lord Sevor discussed the role of judges and sheriffs in the system. Concentrated on democracy and public participation, she introduced the public recruitment principle of the sheriff. The specific content was that the community members in the neighborhood fulfilling the age and health requirements can still apply for registration even if they lack relevant legal background. The Sheriff is a symbol of justice and justice. She described the requirements for the Sheriff, including self-study laws, spectator trials, and advice from legal counsel before formal participation in the trial to compensate for the lack of legal knowledge. At the same time, based on Lord Hodge's speech, Lord Sevor mentioned the difference between the appeal system in England and Wales and the appeal system in Scotland, and emphasized the importance of the sheriff's perception of his value.
In the questioning session, teachers and students engaged in the discussion with the judge and the justice. Some students questioned whether the extension of the sentence in the criminal case can appeal. Lord Sevor said that although it is not common in criminal proceedings and has pre-procedural requirements, it should be guaranteed that the plaintiff has the right to appeal. Lord Hodge indicated that if jury system was implemented, time and economic costs of the trial were very high, and such appeals were especially rare. Some students have raised the question of the application of the Internet in judicial practice, including whether it should support the development of Internet courts and the use of AI and big data technologies. Lord Hodge said that there are now Internet courts in the UK that deal with civil cases, which undoubtedly conforms to the trend of the times. Meanwhile, he also said that the British judicial community is very interested in applying modern technology to judicial practice, and invested a lot of money in research. However, some scholars are still skeptical. There were also students who mentioned how judges and juries should be fair and neutral under the pressure of public opinion. Lord Sevor emphasized that as a judge who take oaths to be impartial and listens to the testimony of both sides, it is not only the expectations of the people but also the requirements by oneself to exclude all adverse effects. Lord Hodge emphasized the role of the judge in guiding the jury to ensure that the jury members understood their duties.

Prof. Cheng Jinhua also raised questions. He mentioned what psychological feelings would arise when the jury and the judges were strongly inconsistent. Lord Hodge said that when contradictions arise, even if they do not understand or even anger emotionally, they must rationally recognize and accept the jury’s verdict which eliminates reasonable doubts. Regarding to the question that whether the Sheriff’s criminal justice system in England and Wales is effective, Lord Sevor believed that justice will be implemented in strict compliance with the law. Even if some magistrates lack sufficient legal knowledge, they will be able to make fair and impartial judgments under the detailed interpretation of the law.
Before the meeting, Jiang Sixian, Party Secretary of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Luo Peng, Director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Division of the School, Sheng Yongqiang, Vice President of the Shanghai High People's Court, Prof. Kong Xiangjun, Dean of Koguan Law School, and Wang Houji, Party Secretary of Koguan Law School, etc. hosted Lord Hodge and Lord Sevor in the VIP room of Koguan Law School. They exchanged views on the possibility of future cooperation.

Anonymous said...

Wow check this out Peter!

Lord Hodge again and many other judges and lawyers from the UK in China

Are British and Scottish judges running China's legal system?!!
They wont be doing this for nothing.I am sure you will say influence and money and political or judicial interference will be the motives!!

https://www.gbcc.org.uk/assets/files/UK-China-Rule-of-Law-Roundtable-Agenda.pdf

UK Speakers
1. Ms Lise BERTELSEN, Executive Director, China-Britain Business Council
2. Ms Christina BLACKLAWS, Vice President of the Law Society of England and Wales
3. The Rt Hon Liam BYRNE MP, Shadow Digital Minister, GBCC Board Member, Former Chief
Secretary to the Treasury
4. Sir Martin DAVIDSON, GBCC Chairman, former Chief Executive of the British Council
5. The Rt Hon Lord Justice FLAUX, Lord Justice of Appeal, Court of Appeal of England and Wales
6. Mr Craig GILES, Bird & Bird LLP
7. The Rt Hon Lord HODGE, Justice of the UK Supreme Court
8. Mr Andrew LANGDON QC, Chairman of the Bar Council of England and Wales
9. HH John TANZER, Director, Legal IT Strategies Ltd., Former Circuit Judge
10. The Rt Hon Lord THOMAS, former Lord Chief Justice
11. Steven LIM THOMPSON QC, Vice-Chair of the International Committee and Head of the China Interest Group, Bar Council of England and Wales;
12. Mr Phil SHERELL, Bird & Bird LLP
13. Professor Richard SUSSKIND, IT Adviser to the Lord Chief Justice
14. Professor Guido WESTKAMP, Professor of Intellectual Property and Comparative Law, Queen Mary University of London

Anonymous said...

Lord Hodge profile from Hong Kong
Download this everyone before they delete!!

https://gia.info.gov.hk/general/202010/05/P2020100500309_350893_1_1601863266417.pdf

Lord Hodge was involved (2006-2008) in the negotiation with the Scottish Government of the reform of the administration of the courts, which led to the establishment of the Scottish Courts Service, a board with a judicial majority to administer the courts and now also the tribunals in Scotland. He was also the Administrative Judge
responsible for all first instance business in the Court of Session and the reform of the Rules of Court. He served on the Advisory Committee for the Civil Courts Review.
He was a part-time member of the Scottish Law Commission (1997-2003) before he became a judge.
He was an active member of the United Kingdom delegation to the European Network of Councils of the Judiciary from 2008 to 2013.
He is currently an Honorary Professor of Stellenbosch University,South Africa, and of the East China University of Political Science and Law in Shanghai and has lectured in both universities. He is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Private Law in Germany. He chairs the
Scottish Government’s Working Party on the treatment of crypto-assets and related technology in Scots law, and lectures on law and technology. He has contributed articles to books and journals on legal topics including property law, contract law, trusts, the limits of judicial lawmaking, and judicial independence and the rule of law.

Anonymous said...

There are thousands of cases a year of lawyers overcharging their clients so the best advice is never trust a fee note from Faculty Services and never trust your solicitor's fees as both do their best to falsify work and inflate your bill

Anonymous said...

Well Well Bloody Well!

The news reports on Brian McConnachie in the comments section all appear to be from this year, 2022.

However, if you scroll through Peter Cherbi's blog,the Sherlock of all things Scottish Law appears to have beat all the coverage by a full year from 19 May 2021 with postings on Twitter matching this date in 2021.

Read this https://petercherbi.blogspot.com/2021/05/law-lawyers-scottish-legal-complaints.html

"From documents and material handed to the media - which currently cannot be published for legal reasons – there are strong indications both solicitors and advocates have remained in practice, and continued to represent clients in civil hearings, and criminal trials and criminal appeals – while their clients, and accused persons - remained oblivious and uninformed as to to the nature of serious criminal allegations made against their legal representatives."

"And, it appears from scrutiny of the material – which is also in the possession of MSPs – the Law Society of Scotland, the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission, and the Faculty of Advocates – have all sat on cases where allegations of a specific nature of rape, and other serious sexual assault – alleged to have been committed by named individuals within the Scottish legal profession – have been reported by clients, and victims."

"In some cases currently being investigated, it can be revealed allegations reported to legal regulators – alleging serious sexual offences committed by named legal practitioners, and potential sexual misconduct committed over lengthy periods of time relating to lawyers working in the courts, and also those working for the prosecution service - have provided credible testimony where legal representatives have broken legal professional privilege in discussing cases related to clients, and accused – and have in writing – actively sought to undermine criminal trials and appeals by breaking confidentiality rules on multiple occasions."

The article screams the McC case and is very thorough.

Within the article you asked the Judicial Office Crown Office Faculty of Advocates and the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission, and you published their responses suggesting the Lord President Lord Carloway was potentially made aware of your enquiries.

Peter,can you or your colleagues confirm McC is one of the cases your 2021 article refers to?

Anonymous said...

Why are we talking about our pilots in China and not talking about our judges in China?

One pilot flies one plane but a judge or judges can strike down a law for an entire country example Roe v Wade Abortion rights in the US
or a Scotland example detained persons access to lawyers in Cadder v HM Advocate https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2010-0022.html

Therefore what you say in your article on the debate about court and legal stories in the US is correct because here we are being told what to talk about and question than in the US where the press and ordinary people are talking about all the law and judges such as Clarence Thomas participating in cases linked to his wife!

Anonymous said...

Given the property ownership of lawyers in the rental sector the legal aid and housing benefits crossover will involve millions of pounds a year into lawyers pockets

Anonymous said...

The only so-called 'whistleblower' in the legal profession are the staff such as secretaries or other.No solicitor or advocate in Scotland has ever spoke up against their own industry based on what the profession does to clients.

Anonymous said...

Interesting and detailed line on China for someone who says this is "not really a Scottish Law area".Did you get bored working along with your MI5--Crown Office friends you praise on Twitter and returned to duff--ing up Scotland's filthy Law Society? hehe
Pleased to have you back.More regular reports please so we the public read the truth about justice in Scotland and wherever else your work regularly appears.

Anonymous said...

Only Peter Cherbi tells the absolute truth about lawyers and their so-called regulators:

"Fourteen years for the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission - billed in 2008 as an “independent” regulator of Scotland’s legal services – to have absolutely zero material impact on the scale of dishonesty in Scotland’s legal profession – is itself a tribute to how corrupt Scotland’s legal mcmafia really is, and – an indicator of the sheer level of control exerted by professional groups such as the Law Society of Scotland, and Faculty of Advocates (to name but two) on how MSPS and the Scottish Government can or cannot give increased rights to consumers of legal services in Scotland.

For instance, are you looking for a lawyer right now to conduct legal business or perhaps pursue a civil claim, or defend you in a criminal trial?The fact is, if you are trying to find out if a particular solicitor or law firm has any record of complaints, discipline issues, or are just plain corrupt - you - the consumer - are not going to find out.

So, why would you even bother going to a lawyer or a law firm who has perhaps fleeced one hundred clients before you go through their doors? Think first, readers .. do you really need to spend Five thousand pounds on a batch of letters to, say - your next door neighbour for the next Five years over a fence which is 10cm higher than it should be … and then lose the case in court and have to pay your own solicitor say .. another Twenty Thousand pounds for losing, and then end up sequestrated by the solicitor’s good friend the local Sheriff – when you cannot pay the legal fees?

Yes, it is that easy. It’s your money, your lives, your home, your family, your business – consumers. Think first, Tens of thousands of people have gone before you thinking they are smarter than a Scottish lawyer, and what happened next? Well, the statistics tell their own story. Thousands of complaints a year to Scotland’s so-called ‘independent’ legal regulators – staffed by lawyers and their families – and guess what, a tiny amount of redress if anything, and thousands of clients lives ruined."

Anonymous said...

If the vast majority of clients who enter lawyers offices were not so greedy ignorant or stupid the fact is lawyers would not be doing so well ripping off everyone and getting away with it.Learn to do things for yourselves instead of giving control of your life and everything you will ever own over to a lawyer.

Anonymous said...

Legal Aid in Scotland is thoroughly corrupt

Anonymous said...

More and more people are finding out to their cost that the legal profession - including the Courts - are institutionally corrupt, and one guarantor of that fact is that it is neither solicitors, advocates or judges are independently regulated.

Instead the politicians of every party allow this plainly absurd and unsupportable position to remain unchallenged.

Just look at the SNP's stubborn failure to honour their manifesto promise to make a Register of Judicial Interests law.

If every person who commented above was to email their MSP complaining of the fact, and continue to do so, that would be a start. At the very least it would alert the politicians that the Public see them for what they are, utterly complacent and miserably self serving.

Anonymous said...

Had I realised you were on Twitter I would have joined and followed years ago.
Brilliant how you told the Faculty flat tyre and his gang to get stuffed haha I love your style Peter really good get to the story and tell the truth put everything out there for all to see and no messing about!

Anonymous said...

I enjoy reading Peter's blog years back our business in Scotland encountered a small problem then our lawyers made a complete and intentional mess of representing our defence.At the time I was told by a Daily Record journalist to read Peter Cherbi blog and realised was happening to us in court.I quoted a single paragraph from a posting when I gave evidence end of hearing pursuer solicitor asked for meeting and offered settlement.Their advocate was a horrible nasty man who had designs on our company and buildings.During the meeting he said in front of everyone he intended to make our company suffer for making him look a fool in court.Fortunately settlement offer good enough to wipe slate clean and later same year we relocated our business to England.The QC representing pursuer owned a stake in the pursuer business and from Peter's blog I know he should have declared this in court.

BAN LEGAL AID THEFT BY LAWYERS said...

Any form of Taxpayers cash for lawyers should not be allowed because all they do is steal from us and then steal from their clients AND after stealing from everybody they all go on Twitter saying they need more Legal Aid because what they already stole is not enough!

Anonymous said...

Twitter is not worth the effort you cannot learn anything from it and Scotland Twitter as someone says above this is the worst on the planet all the fake name opposition groups calling themselves majority and pretend names are backed by unionist Scotland groups so when you see the name of a user no matter if the user is male or female there are many people logging in to the same Twitter user accounts the whole Scotland Twitter experience is fake there is the unionists screaming at the nationalists and same back then there are journalists who write their rubbish and no one believes any of it the whole thing makes Scotland look idiotic but maybe this is their purpose yes? to make Scotland look incapable of holding any debate and yes I too notice how the unionist Scotland crowd scream in support of lawyers we all now know are rapists and robbers did you know the Ferret news published a good investigation on far right media in Scotland and if you check the name of the consultancy recruiting far right loons you will find a company with many Scottish lawyers on their board and membership and these people are funding the far right Twitter campaigns against anything and anyone they hate

Anonymous said...

I noticed the judges are playing pass the parcel on the covid investigation in Scotland Lady Poole is swapped for Lord Brailsford but when Poole resigned weeks ago all the papers and bbc where screaming at us the covid inquiry is in crisis and they would not be able to find a judge willing to take the job

Anonymous said...

A QC said he wanted to have sex with the boss of Rape Crisis Scotland to have something over her and the Scottish Press keep it quiet for A WHOLE YEAR!
Who else knew about this?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

The only so-called 'whistleblower' in the legal profession are the staff such as secretaries or other.No solicitor or advocate in Scotland has ever spoke up against their own industry based on what the profession does to clients.

27 October 2022 at 09:34

Agree with this comment 100%

Anonymous said...

The real reform needed to how the legal profession regulates itself is to reform the dumb public into not dealing with a lawyer in the first place and then crying about it when ripped off.This blog and to some extent the newspapers printed reports for decades warning of lawyers going to down on their clients assets but the same stories of clients bring ripped off by their lawyer happen every day as everyone well knows and end up in complaints quagmire of the Legal Ombudsman or Scottish Legal Complaints Commission and still lawyers go on to repeat the same tricks ploys fraud theft against clients over and over and over.Public consumers clients whatever you want to call them are not willing to learn to understand their own legal rights and entitlements to deal with a problem that will end up ruining their life if they leave it to lawyers and when lawyers realise they have an absolute mug as most clients are in front of them then the ripping off begins with large fees and a forever run of go nowhere letters and go nowhere court cases and after being ripped off client thinks the regulators will protect them and then when complaints go in we all see how ridiculous the client was all along trusting serial corrupt lawyers who rip everyone off for a living. Somewhere a client of some lawyer will read my comment and say to themselves this will never happen to them and then it happens to them and they end up treated exactly as everyone else who was ripped off before them.
Good luck!

Anonymous said...

mmmm yes read and learn!

Anonymous said...

There are thousands of cases a year of lawyers overcharging their clients so the best advice is never trust a fee note from Faculty Services and never trust your solicitor's fees as both do their best to falsify work and inflate your bill

26 October 2022 at 15:27

Anonymous said...

Thank you for publishing my comment.I am sure a few of your readers will not agree with me but the lack of personal responsibility in people who go to lawyers and don't check their reputations first are spoiling the landscape for many people who already know to avoid trusting a lawyer anywhere in the United Kingdom and not only in Scotland.Your blog is a fine example of journalists maintaining the good fight and keeping everyone informed but there has to be a point where people take in what you are writing and save themselves from becoming another victim of the miserable legal profession.We now live in an age where anyone and everyone does something and expects no come back from whatever they did except when there is a bad result they go running to so-called regulators who do nothing them they go running to everyone else and still nothing is done.All this heartache could be stopped before it even begins by not using lawyers for the slightest thing and not trusting the courts because the courts are run by the same people lawyers and judges.
Your blog educated me Mr Cherbi.Your blog and your reports in the newspapers.I have been lawyer free for 10 years and all my friends who know what I went through avoided anything to do with lawyers.
I wish you were in politics and could tell the truth as you write in the parliament but I see all politicians there are only interested in people when they need a vote and when they are elected no politician wants to help anyone with law or lawyer problems.
To all the people who read this comment and those of you mistreated by lawyers you have my best wishes and my advice is to stay away from lawyers of any kind and live your life with eyes open on courts and the law.Trust neither and expect the worst.Your life will be better for this and your future is worth more than being ruined by a lawyer and their regulators.

Anonymous said...

Full marks to you Peter for all your work and sticking to your standards of speaking out against corruption in Scotland's justice system
and how you kicked the Law Society of Scotland when they followed you on Twitter

https://twitter.com/PeterCherbi/status/1509620688742760453

No thanks, @Lawscot
Over years - Law Society of Scotland members have participated in:
Attacks on journos
Cases where clients committed suicide after being ruined by lawyers
Gave false info to cops to set up journos & public
Briefed MSPs @ScotParl against clients & reforms

BRILLIANT!!

Diary of Injustice said...

@ 26 October 2022 at 13:40

His colleagues are busy lobbying against any further coverage.

@ 26 October 2022 at 14:00

Nice find, thanks.

@ 26 October 2022 at 16:54

Yes, can confirm this is one of the cases within the article.

Given legal restrictions at the time, several paragraphs of the media enquiry to the Judicial Office were redacted for publication, due to the content which would have identified the QC.

The Judicial Office then took nearly one year to issue a weak response.

There are wider aspects of the McConnachie case which are being looked into, including representation of criminal defence clients and conflicts of interest linked to the judiciary - however the judiciary, who clearly realise what occurred, the Crown Office are not keen to provide any answers, particularly in relation to allegations clients now in jail should have been informed of their Counsel's conduct, and given the opportunity to select new, untainted representation.

@ 26 October 2022 at 17:38

Certainly, yes ... and thanks for raising these points.

@ 27 October 2022 at 10:47

Well, to be fair, there are several journalists who do write up well balanced and thought provoking articles on how the Law Society of Scotland and their members damage clients across Scotland, with poor legal services and dodgy self regulation.

The problem more often occurs when a call comes in from the legal profession or the 'media lawyer' mcmafia to cut down articles so as not to ruffle feathers in Scotland's legal establishment.

@ 27 October 2022 at 17:26

Quite agree. Scottish Legal Aid and its distribution is endemically and institutionally corrupt.

@ 28 October 2022 at 09:02

Might want to miss out the MSPs who were asked by lawyers to call in journalists for a 'chat' and an expected unkind word or three ...

Diary of Injustice said...

@ 29 October 2022 at 17:41

Interesting, and thanks for your comment.

The QC representing the pursuer against you owned a stake in the pursuer's business - If there were a register of interests for the wider legal profession this is certainly an issue which should be declared as an interest and consumers made aware of prior to obtaining legal representation. ... am interested to hear what happened in your case and identity of the QC and any ruling. Please contact the blog via email thanks.

@ 30 October 2022 at 16:38

Certainly yes .. the social media of far right supporters particularly on the platform you mention and their following/support for the legal profession has become much more obvious as time goes on.

Observers may well note the remarks of Ruth Davidson at one Holyrood sitting where she compared the First Minister to the current Dean of Faculty, and the Chair of Brodies. It was clear from what Ms Davidson said, and leaked discussions between Tory MSPs & their social media allies, that the legal profession had provided certain information to certain opposition MSPs.

Since commenters are quoting one of the blog journalists Tweets, readers can watch the referred clip here https://twitter.com/PeterCherbi/status/1385925418566434819

@ 31 October 2022 at 14:01

Keeping consumers informed is a way of providing information to assist others, however and even with reforms to regulation, there is only so much that can be done ... so your comment is essentially correct.

@ 31 October 2022 at 16:23

Thanks. Politics, no thanks, however from your comment you seem to have a good understanding of what happens once someone needs to use the justice system or courts - spread the word please!

Just to remind everyone, there are journalists who don't dance to the tune of Scotland's legal profession ... and there are several good journalists who put together articles from good sources for this blog and in the wider media.

@ 31 October 2022 at 18:58

Yes, it was quite a thing. No serious or decent journalist wants anything to do with the lobbyist organisation for all of Scotland's legal profession which dedicates its existence to tampering with the media, bullying journalists, ruining consumers and hounding clients, protecting the worst elements of Scotland's legal mcmafia and whose members have been identified as being involved in attacks on journalists ...

Anonymous said...

Surprised to read LSoS followed you on Twitter.
I know several solicitors who followed you received phone calls and emails from LSoS instructing they immediately unfollow you.
Replies to LSoS questioning why provoked aggressive phone calls and I understand threats relating to Practising Certificate renewal.

Anonymous said...

Why hardly any press coverage of rapist lawyers who rape blackmail molest and abuse their way through colleagues and clients?

Has he too many friends in the press?

Anonymous said...

Is Twitter worth the effort?
I learned more news reading your posts and the comments than from Twitter.
Kudos for linking the grim baron to the Faculty
Makes a good parrot for sleekit lawyers don't you think?
Motive written all over the rant at the FM

Anonymous said...

Handy to know editors are selling out whistleblowers to their chums in public life

Anonymous said...

Greedy clients with pound signs in their cash register eyes being led a tall tale by a solicitor of riches for falling over a cat will always trounce any personal responsibility for the act in visiting a solicitor in the first place.Solicitors easily spot greed and stupidity across the table and in turn make a business out of it.

Anonymous said...

The Judicial Office circulated a photograph of their welcoming new Kings Counsel and the usual high standards in Scotland's legal profession.
One of the KCs pictured was accused of raping a male colleague and was questioned by Police.

Anonymous said...

Great to see you alive and KICKING Mr. Cherbi, you have been missed!

Anonymous said...

Someone going on about Which magazine well they get their facts wrong all the time saying this company or that answers the phone in 2 minutes except when real people call up and takes over an hour to answer Stop paying money and attention to self proclaimed experts with no real experience on everything and use your common sense instead

Anonymous said...

Something of interest for you Peter.

There is a detailed leak roaming newsrooms regarding missing millions from UK, US funding for Afghan legal services and their judiciary. Judges and law firms from Scotland, England including US owned law firms received large amounts of public cash £ Millions for vague contracts resulting in no confirmed work in the UK, Afghanistan and other countries.

An elderly judge named on your blog and a solicitor claiming to act for him are engaged in efforts to persuade against publication citing personal safety of Afghan linked lawyers named in papers and material revealing large scale embezzlement from US and UK funding sources.

Diary of Injustice said...

@ 1 November 2022 at 09:33

Yes, have been sent some of the emails ... grim!

But nice to know Law Society of Scotland keeping such a sharp or stalking eye on their own members free speech when needs must ...

@ 1 November 2022 at 20:58

Thanks, have heard a little of this - the misappropriation is extensive.

If any info please email thanks - need to look at Scottish/UK & US judicial involvement ...

Anonymous said...

You wont find any good in Scottish Twitter save occasional oases of lucidity
Forget all the solicitors and advocates licking their own balls in public telling everyone how brilliant they are because if you knew their real history they are not to be trusted!
Be wary of anyone and their motives who support solicitors and advocates on any form of social media
Any politician giving glowing references to the legal profession at Holyrood or in London is a crook and probably receive a backhander or a favour for their promotion of evil

Anonymous said...

How is it that every time a judge is suspected of doing something illegal or fraud or bullying or rape or whatever immediately someone usually a lawyer or political opens up and says their health and mental welfare and status have to be taken into account and then all their lawyer and politiian friends flood television and newspapers with sympathetic stories for the poor creep judge and all their friends shout at us the judiciary is not crooked

So if a judge or a QC or a lawyer is a fraudster rapist pedo who has politicians round to his house and sits on BBC lecturing us about law and the courts we cant mention he is a fraudster rapist pedo because his welfare privacy and health have to be taken into account?

If a lawyer a QC or a judge or a priest or a Chief constable goes on a fraudster rape pedo rampage none of them do time for it all of them never show up in court and if you ask about it the QCs judges priests and Chief Constables close debate and their friends in television and the papers do them a favour and don't print any news and don't allow any comments

Anonymous said...

McConnachie deleted his Twitter last year however a journalist you know saved all this tweets and uploads.Well worth a look if you are interested..

Anonymous said...

There is no trustworthy media in Scotland except your blog when it comes to anything about anything to do with the law

Anonymous said...

Peter I have been reading and commenting on your blog for 20 plus years at least. I met a friend last month I had not seen in ages and he said he was going to see his lawyer. I told him read A Diary of injustice when you go home. He is shocked. I told him the complaints process is corrupt best not to deal with these people if possible. Personally I am delighted you have cost the legal profession a fortune because it is a business, their idea of justice is ripping clients off because they know they can with impunity. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Is this is the one where judges and lawyers trained by mostly UK law firms ended up buying Range Rovers, Italian sports cars and Rolex watches for their families all paid for by UK and US taxpayers?
How did this escape the GAO's attention?

Anonymous said...

You know what lawyers want. Obedient clients. The official compliants channels are more corrupt than the lawyer that robbed you. Utter scum they all are. The Law Society SLCC this bureaucracy is nightmarish, just what Franz Kafka meant. A bureaucratic torture chamber who cannot bear protecting layers clients. Pure Trash.

Anonymous said...

One thing you are all wrong on
There are no whistle blowers from the legal fraternity
Yes there is
Peter Cherbi
Cherbi gave us years of investigations and information from within the legal fraternity
You may be a journalist Peter but you are also the best whistle blower on judges the legal fraternity courts and lots more!

Anonymous said...

The reason the Law Society of Scotland followed you on Twitter is to threaten you and control what you say about lawyers and judges.
I read your Twitter a lot and you post detailed studies and your freedom of information documents and they are clearly terrified of you and how well you know what the legal establishment do to ordinary people and how they control the news about law in Scotland.
An organisation such as the Law Society that full of corrupt lawyers following a journalist on Twitter is the same as stalking a journalist and is an act of threatening journalists what not to say or else and I have read many times of what the Law Society of Scotland did to you.
Is Twitter worth it?The Law Society of Scotland think so and they want to follow you off Twitter.Your reaction to them was very good and you are correct to say what you did.The real truth they cannot argue against.

Anonymous said...

The news on McConnachie and how the Faculty are covering it up says everything about Scottish lawyers and their ilk as in stay the hell away!

Anonymous said...

Here is my story if you are interested
Our neighbour an old woman living on her own after her husband a nice old guy died came round to ask what I thought of her house and should she sell it I told her to find a good lawyer not in the town because the lawyers in town have a reputation for stealing all the houses for themselves She goes to a lawyer I told her to avoid and she keeps coming round asking me why the house is not selling I told her I am not a lawyer and she should have found another lawyer instead of the one she picked then after a year the house is not sold and she comes round with a letter from her lawyer demanding eleven thousand pounds for fees and selling fees and she cant pay it because she is a pensioner so next thing the for sale sign is taken away and she tells us the lawyer bought her house because no one else was interested he buys it for around sixty thousand it was on sale for one hundred 80 thousand she moves into a small council house then complains about the lawyer and keeps visiting me wanting help writing the letters I say no then she starts writing letters to the council about the fence between my house and her old house owned by the lawyer the council send me letters and I tell them she does not own the house any more she then writes letters complaining about our cat and all the time she is giving her old address of next door to the council the lawyer has the house renovated and using it for rent tenants like he does with other houses he owns in and around the town the old woman then dies and her daughter comes round to the house to apologise for all the letters she found at her mothers the daughter explains to us her father wanted to pass his share of the house next door to his family but her mother stopped him and said there was nothing left to the daughters family by her own father and there are letters between the mother and the lawyer about her dead husband property and bank accounts the mother told the lawyer not to give out any of the wishes of her dead husband to their family she kept it all for herself and the lawyer outsmarted her by robbing her house for a third of the price what I am trying to say is be very careful who you want to help and what they are telling you is true or not because the old woman spend her life robbing her own family and ruining her husband's life she never let the daughter visit him and she wanted it all for herself and in the end it did her no good and the lawyer took everything even the things in their house This is what happens to you when you go to lawyers in Scotland and never listen to advice people give you so read what is on this blog and think before you hand your life away to a Scottish lawyer

Anonymous said...

What are your plans for Twitter? Will you stay or leave like others leaving Twitter

Going by news reports Twitter's influence is diminishing fast and many will not be sorry to see an end to politicians governing by Tweet instead of doing what they were elected for.

Your blog posts and investigations are of considerably more detail than any Tweet.How you interact with comments and your replies is worth visiting the blog daily.

I suggest more regular posts on this blog and less Twitter

Diary of Injustice said...

@ 2 November 2022 at 09:39

Quite a good summary of the legal profession's Social Media PR ...

@ 2 November 2022 at 21:23

Yes .. very interesting - journos aware of content, being looked into.

@ 3 November 2022 at 19:22

Law & Justice related contracts & financial fraud allegedly funnelled through various Gulf States where UK Judges serve ...

@ 4 November 2022 at 16:36

As a journalist and working as part of a media team, may be better to say we give a voice to Whistleblowers and protect their identities ...

@ 4 November 2022 at 20:10

Yes, quite so ... also the Law Society of Scotland and their members have form for intimidating journalists ...

@ 7 November 2022 at 11:11

Thanks for your comment - very interesting and perhaps in need of investigation and media attention given what you say the solicitor has a reputation ... please contact the blog via email.

@ 7 November 2022 at 13:17

The Internet is a large place ... new platforms are created all the time - however, the blog will be kept updated and those who wish to express opinions and leave comments or information for potential investigations and media coverage, can do so on this blog.

Anonymous said...

:D
Welcome back Peter the best law blog by far and most honest!

World Leading Kings Counselling said...

What was that someone saying about the Lord President Carloway aka Colin Sutherland's World Leading World Beating new Kings Counsels

https://www.thefreelibrary.com/ADVOCATE+OUIZZED+ON+SEX+ATTACK%3B+EXCLUSIVE+High-flier+accused+by+male...-a0145119813

ADVOCATE OUIZZED ON SEX ATTACK; EXCLUSIVE High-flier accused by male lawyer.

By JANE HAMILTON

A HIGH-FLYING lawyer has been accused of sexually assaulting a male solicitor at a legal function.

Advocate Gavin Anderson, 34, was reported to the procurator fiscal over the allegation.

Although prosecutors decided he would not face criminal charges, he will now be investigated by the Faculty of Advocates, his professional body.

The alleged victim is based in Glasgow. He says he was assaulted at a function in the city by Anderson, who is from Edinburgh.

A source close to the Faculty of Advocates said: "A complaint has been made following a report to the police and is subject to investigation by the discipline committee.

"They will take their time examining all the evidence before deciding what action, if any, to take.

"It's very unusual for an advocate to be subject of a police investigation and most people are very surprised."

Aberdeen University graduate Anderson became a member of the Faculty of Advocates five years ago after winning a scholarship.

At 29, he was one of the youngest lawyers ever to become a member of the body, which regulates Scotland's elite trial lawyers.

He is a member of the Westwater Stable - or group of advocates - and his professional interests include criminal trials and fatal accident inquries.

A team of investigators for the Faculty, which has 460 members, have been instructed to interview all those concerned in the case and report their findings to the disciplinary committee.

A Faculty spokesman said yesterday: "It is not our policy to discuss whether or not a member of the faculty is the subject of disciplinary proceedings."

A Strathclyde Police spokesman confirmed that a report had been submitted to the procurator fiscal last year over an allegation of indecent assault.

A Crown Office spokesman said: "The fiscal received a report from police last year regarding an allegation of indecent assault but decided not to proceed with the case."

When approached at his Edinburgh flat, Anderson refused to comment.

No comment: Anderson won't talk about alleged attack

Anonymous said...

Anyone on the planet with half a brain should also remember to avoid any and all financial related companies in Scotland including overly corrupt private banks based in Edinburgh I note you have previously written of on this blog.

Scotland's banking establishment is a very corrupt affair and generally goes hand in hand with Scotland's 100% corrupt legal profession.

Anonymous said...

Any news on the 800 year old Scottish judge who battered his wife then had a secret divorce swore everyone to secrecy and threatened them if they told he left her for

Anonymous said...

"As a journalist and working as part of a media team, may be better to say we give a voice to Whistleblowers and protect their identities ..."

Understatement of the century Peter .........

Your blog and your contribution to Scots Law is the best dose of truth and reality we have ever been able to read and learn from in issues to do with the courts and lawyers

Anonymous said...

Certainly yes .. the social media of far right supporters particularly on the platform you mention and their following/support for the legal profession has become much more obvious as time goes on.

Observers may well note the remarks of Ruth Davidson at one Holyrood sitting where she compared the First Minister to the current Dean of Faculty, and the Chair of Brodies. It was clear from what Ms Davidson said, and leaked discussions between Tory MSPs & their social media allies, that the legal profession had provided certain information to certain opposition MSPs.

Since commenters are quoting one of the blog journalists Tweets, readers can watch the referred clip here https://twitter.com/PeterCherbi/status/1385925418566434819

Very revealing as usual PC!

Davidson's quip related to questions to the FM on the Alex Salmond case and the way Davidson speaks you can tell she was using it to have something on the FM or remind her in some way the Tories have something on Sturgeon.

I sense there is much more to this and your posting of the FM client Olga Passportnikov Law Society investigation issue maybe one day you will add the part with the nasty Tories?

Anonymous said...

Any updates on the whats app messages of mostly advocates talking about bombing journalists cars as in yours and poisoning pets?

Anonymous said...

Why does the Scottish press generally give the worst legal profession in the world such an easy ride?

Most of the news in papers quotes "leading lawyers" and "Top lawyers" in carefully groomed news on the same leading lawyers who are in fact closet criminals rapists and worse

Anonymous said...

Twitter is to be paywalled
Time to bail methinks
https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/7/23446262/elon-musk-twitter-paywall-possible

Anonymous said...

What you said in the following paras is very revealing on our bought up press writing begging stories for the legal establishment and lawyers pockets.

Absolutely bang on 100% Peter

"A deep dive into certain long running news articles in relation to the plight of victims in all kinds of scandals, from medical to ill treatment at the hands of whichever Scottish public service, such as Health, Policing, Courts, Judiciary, Local and Central Government – have revealed that lawyers and their law firms quoted three paragraphs down in the articles – are demanding their ‘clients’ sign up to Non Disclosure Agreements – even before legal representation is taken on – and that any compensation recovered be subject to significant success fees for the law firm involved, with clients also forced to sign an agreement they will not raise a complaint, or their representation will be terminated.

And, it certainly does not take too long for lawyers who give quotes to the media on how they are so involved in representing their clients case – to call in a client for a menacing chat, which – now that we live in a world where everyone records everyone … is much more able to be reviewed by journalists and people outwith the legal profession.

The law firms involved, are – unsurprisingly – all “Award Winning Law Firms” – based in Scotland’s big cities and regularly quoted in whatever scandal is the headliner for the week, or weekend."

Diary of Injustice said...

@ 7 November 2022 at 21:14

Indeed, yes ... Banks & Scotland's legal profession are often partners in crime.

@ 7 November 2022 at 22:12

Thanks ... remember to spread the word, reading is free, as is assistance.

@ 7 November 2022 at 22:48

Yes, however take note the same Ruth Davidson recommended ex Sheriff Peter Watson to Alex Salmond for Scotland's Leveson Commission - an attempt to muzzle the press.

See this link for Ruth Davidson's letter praising Mr Watson to Mr Salmond https://twitter.com/PeterCherbi/status/1385999336367181830

Yes, much more to the FM client investigation still to be published.

@ 8 November 2022 at 09:16

Blog journalists took a decision to hold the messages & make enquiries ... the messages were confirmed as authentic via a Whistleblower from the WhatsApp group and numbers matched to those identified in the material.

@ 8 November 2022 at 12:23

Fear and intimidation from Scotland's legal profession ... plus - there are several lawyers known to scout for info and build files on all journalists, to hold for that rainy day ...

@ 8 November 2022 at 13:30

On any article relating to Scotland's legal profession, think first before believing as the Legal McMafia have lied to the public for decades, while their members continue to loot clients & consumers on an industrial scale.

Anonymous said...

Yes Peter you are correct the Law Society of Scotland lawyer members main aim is to loot their clients and get away with it thanks to the same Law Society and the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission

Anonymous said...

Yes I bet there is much more to the FM client story When are you going to publish?

Anonymous said...

The Law Society and it's facelift SLCC bury compliants and keep the network of lawyer criminals they work with untarnished. They don't have a Winston Smith from Orwell's 1984 keeping everything right for the Party. They just leave the client with no solution, no compensation and no rights. Keep up the great work Peter and colleagues exposing the hellish nightmare Law Society SLCC and it's network.

Anonymous said...

Not only Scotland's legal system profession.
London's courts and the legal profession in England is probably the most corrupt in the world hence why oligarchs, tax avoidance and the corrupt flock to English courts to keep their corrupt gains silent.

Anonymous said...

Judging from the number oc comments following your most recent article there is clearly an appetite for real news.

It's all very well talking up honest journalists but they do not decide what appears on the printed page, Editor's have to consider the matter and then place it before the deciding factor, namely, WHATEVER THE LAWYERS SAY!

You will find more real news in one page of Private Eye and this blog than an entire days reporting of the lame stream media and daily press.

Anonymous said...

I was thinking Peter, after reading your blog today.
You can really tell the genuine people from the fake and the corrupt when someone defends judges saying they do not need to declare their interests and should not be held accountable as everyone else.
The same can be said for those who look the other way when the overwhelming priority is for judges to be held accountable to, as you told politicians the same as everyone else in public life.
Anyone who looks away from this question and anyone who says judges should not be applied to the same law and accountability as all others, is a crook and has an interest in protecting judges and their secrecy.
Any judge or court who say they will not declare their interests or be transparent cannot be trusted in any way.
I read your submissions to the Parliament about your petition and others from Moi Ali and people interested in your interest scrutiny Petition PE1458
You are spot on every time in every submission you wrote.
I learned a lot today from reading through your research on judges and the judiciary.
There are things I read in your submissions to the Scottish Parliament I never would have thought of or knew until today and you write the details in a way everyone can understand.
Your work on the judiciary and judges interests must be archived and in some way made more available for everyone to read the reality of what judges do and how the rules have to change so all judges are held to account in every case and every court.

Anonymous said...

"@ 28 October 2022 at 09:02 Might want to miss out the MSPs who were asked by lawyers to call in journalists for a 'chat' and an expected unkind word or three ..."

What does this relate to?

Anonymous said...

There is more to the Sturgeon story? Looking forward to reading!

Anonymous said...

Hopefully our youth will not be taken in and hoodwinked by lawyers as much as their parents were

Anonymous said...

Not tempted to quit journalism and go into Holyrood to expose the secrecy and corruption in Scottish Politics like ummm you know who? 😏

Diary of Injustice said...

@ 9 November 2022 at 15:37

Yes, quite so ... London's courts and the legal profession particularly in London and in some of the Barrister's chambers contain those from Scotland who are either too compromised or have horrendous regulatory histories they must flee to England for work.

Additionally, the arbitration industry in London has serious connections to Scotland's legal profession, with legal teams selling out clients to opposing legal rep.

@ 9 November 2022 at 21:15

Readers may be surprised at who and from which political party defend the legal profession and judiciary more than others ... and the same applies for others in public life, business, and even within the media.

Some very sinister briefings, meetings and events took place during the course of Petition PE 1458 ... and Scotland's legal profession made it their business to lobby, threaten & go after journalists involved in the petition.

@ 9 November 2022 at 22:59

MSPs close to the legal profession who may not appear to have vested interests but do, and are then contacted or lobbied by legal regulators and interested parties to call in journalists for a chat and a warning about too much transparency ...

@ 10 November 2022 at 09:56

Spread the word and protect others ...

@ 10 November 2022 at 18:08

No, never.

Journalists can get investigations into print a lot faster than the time it takes the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government to create judicial transparency - 2012 to 2022 and counting ...

In relation to several unpublished comments, the information will be looked at and enquiries made as appropriate.

Anonymous said...

Mainstream media is not the place to find out which lawyer is good or corrupt at least not since Cherbi paused writing. As people are saying in comments all the news postings with lawyers mentioned are grooming stories to entice public into their offices.
Write a will month in November is a classic example.
Only fools and crooks fall for this.
Who believes a lawyer will give them a free will and donate to charity?
Only suckers and as I see from comments above maybe embittered old people who led greedy lives and want to take it all with them.
Good to see you back Peter!

Anonymous said...

Was wondering what you thought of the following on Gavin Williamson while he was a Minister

A senior civil servant claims Gavin Williamson told them to “slit your throat” in what they felt was a sustained campaign of bullying while he was defence secretary.

The Ministry of Defence official told the Guardian Williamson made the extraordinary remarks in front of other civil servants in a meeting, and on a separate occasion told them to “jump out of the window”.

The Whitehall aide, who worked closely with the cabinet minister, claimed Williamson “deliberately demeaned and intimidated” them on a regular basis.

They reported the behaviour unofficially to the MoD’s head of human resources and took contemporaneous notes of the alleged incidents, but decided against making a formal complaint against the cabinet minister at that time.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/nov/07/senior-civil-servant-claims-gavin-williamson-told-them-slit-your-throat

Anonymous said...

"MSPs close to the legal profession who may not appear to have vested interests but do, and are then contacted or lobbied by legal regulators and interested parties to call in journalists for a chat and a warning about too much transparency ..."

ooft! Who was it Peter? am I correct in reading into this an msp sh*tbag was sent to threaten you about the judges register petition?

Anonymous said...

Have you seen any of The Trials that Boaked Scotland series currently running on BBC?
Absolute ego grooming p*sh of the lowest order!

Anonymous said...

The investigation of the McRapist QC contain leads to connections at the Scottish Information Commissioner and Information Commissioner offices your friends in the press may want to follow up

Anonymous said...

I understand an investigation into a certain QC accused of multiple sexual assault allegations, has recovered messages via Twitter and other platforms from the QC to and from journalists and editors who are named in the evidence.

Not only do the recovered messages reveal admissions of a campaign of rape and sexual assault during the QCs time in the legal profession and in various public roles, there are messages of discussions with editors and journalists to write articles for the Faculty of Advocates, Judiciary of Scotland and Law Society of Scotland which the QC attempted to delete.

The content of the discussions and the familiarity between editors and the QC has been described as stunning by those including politicians at the Scottish Parliament who viewed the message content.

Apparently there are Twitter messages from the QC discussing attacks on Peter Cherbi and other journalists by name. Any comment Peter?

Anonymous said...

Barrister friend of mine says your blog is the only accurate news site on the UK legal industry. I sincerely hope you can update more regularly or as time permits.

Anonymous said...

What is the latest on the judges petition?
Is Sturgeon delaying it on Carloway's orders?

Anonymous said...

What do you think of this?

Judge Mark Wolff is campaigning for an International Corruption Court and he wants it in London!

American judge and academic Mark Wolf, who is trying to establish an international anti-corruption court to bring to justice leaders who abuse their power for private gain. Is this an idea whose time has come, or do we already have sufficient levers to bring the kleptocrats to court?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct32rt

An International Anti-Corruption Court

https://www.amacad.org/news/international-anti-corruption-court

Anonymous said...

Curious why you are not doing anything with the solicitors whats app messaging list and the death threats after reading the content for myself
I know several colleagues who remain shocked at the level of threats against you
Difficult to believe LS not aware given message content wide circulation and what happened post messages to several members of same private group

Anonymous said...

The Law Society and the Scottish Legal Coverup Commission bureaucratic nightmares you will have if you deal with these devils. The game is rigged folks, you clients have no legal protection from Scotland's lawyers. The are there to try and create the illusion clients have rights. Wake up don't learn the hard way.

Diary of Injustice said...

@ 12 November 2022 at 15:48

Deffo not recommended falling for the Write a Will Month PR from the legal profession - The carnage of complaints and plundered deceased estates which come from this Ponzi scheme run into millions a year ...

@ 12 November 2022 at 19:05

This is how people in power speak to each other - and incidentally - this is also how some civil servants and staffers at public orgs and within government talk about the public, who don't get to see it because the same civil servants apply redactions to Freedom of Information releases, and rely on Freedom of Information legislation to cover it up under the free & frank discussions clause.

@ 12 November 2022 at 19:12

More than one ... relevant info now held by journalists.

@ 13 November 2022 at 16:14

Most Advocates like to 'have something on' public orgs by doing work for them to cover-up whatever requires covering up, or infiltrating their staff ...

@ 13 November 2022 at 16:33

The content of the messages to which you refer has been held by several public authorities and MSPs, members of the media for at least a year.

@ 14 November 2022 at 09:43

Thanks, and updates to follow.

@ 15 November 2022 at 20:13

Unexplained delays and tipped aggressive discussions between judges & others against the petition ...

@ 16 November 2022 at 23:18

Like most international courts now, these are partisan political efforts ... and people really need to dump the Stockholm syndrome of believing London courts offer any honesty - they don't.

@ 7 November 2022 at 14:02

It was decided to hold the material and investigate to accumulate intel on those involved, the content of messages and how they also relate to cases in the courts.

@ 17 November 2022 at 21:18

Noted, spread the word and protect consumers.

Thanks in relation to several unpublished comments and information - This will be looked at for further investigation as time permits.

Anonymous said...

Several years ago I interviewed a Scots Law academic on the subject of PC's judicial register.

His comments and responses quickly descended into personal attacks, a form of mild racism and passive aggression.

Then follow a series of highly personal comments and attacks on "who cannot be allowed to be a journalist" on the argument the legal profession can only write about the legal profession.

Puzzled by the Professor's hostility and aggression I asked why he was so angered by PC and his call for transparency in the judiciary.

His response, and the entire call which I shared with colleagues is chilling.

At the close of a long and highly personal rambling attack on PC and the press the Professor states "You can only write what your Editor and your paper's lawyers permit to go into print whereas we cannot get to Cherbi"

Do you want to publish this comment, Peter? I'll leave it to you to decide.

Diary of Injustice said...

@ 19 November 2022 at 11:23

Interesting, thanks for this ... however not surprised to hear given what certain Scots legal mcmafia celebs defined as encouragement by successive Lord Presidents to attack the media - via judges written and verbal statements by quote of "aggressive media" comments to the Petitions Committee and First Minister - available to watch on video in blog articles on Petition PE1458.

Blog journalists keen to know identity of the 'Professor' you interviewed - contact via email or comment form marked Do Not Publish - thanks.

Anonymous said...

Who is that person on Twitter who had a fit when you said Police Scotland was lawyer led and then she argues forever the Chief Constable is not a Law Society of Scotland member when it said in your FOI and in the Herald stories from 2003 he is still a member of the Law Society of Scotland

Anonymous said...

Corruption in this country starts at the top and so it is no surprise that every part of the Scottish legal system is rotten to the core. A truth made abundantly clear by this blog - and the deafening silence from the lamestream media.

Anonymous said...

Seen this? After 50years BBC Scotland decides to write about problems with Scottish lawyers!
and to rub it in the beeb directs people to the Law Society of Scotland and Scottish Legal Complaints Commission!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-64212430

Legal 'nightmare' after law firm McClure goes bust

By Katie Hunter & David MacNicol
BBC Scotland reporter

Lynn Benson needed the trustees to sign paperwork before she could sell her mum's home

Former clients of a law firm that went bust say they have been left out of pocket, frustrated and disappointed.

McClure solicitors, founded in Greenock in 1853, had tens of thousands of clients across Britain and specialised in work such as wills and trusts.

Its collapse meant some struggled to sell their late parents' homes while others faced new legal bills.

McClure's former director said clients should not fear that money had been wasted.

The Law Society of Scotland, which regulates solicitors, said it was monitoring the situation.

'My mum would have been horrified'

Ann Benson put her house in a Trust with McClure solicitors

Years before she died in 2020, Ann Benson put her house in a trust with McClure solicitors.

But in 2021 her daughter Lynn discovered McClure had gone bust. She says that was the start of her "nightmare".

Trusts are used by thousands of people as a way of managing assets like property or money.

Some people set them up in the hope it will protect their home from being sold to pay for care home fees.

After putting a home into a trust, it is the trustees who own it but they have to follow the purpose for which it was set up.

When her mother died, Lynn, from Glasgow, needed the trustees to sign paperwork before she could sell her mum's home.

The trustees were two former McClure's solicitors.

She had to find a new solicitor to deal with this and told the BBC that her mum's first house sale fell through as a result. She finally sold her mum's home just before Christmas more than a year after the first attempt.

Lynn said if her mum had still been alive she would have been horrified.

She said: "Having to deal with this after the death of my mother has been extremely difficult. To even deal with my own grieving process and dealing with matters with regard to the trust that I knew nothing about, for me it's been an emotional rollercoaster ride."

Lynn said there needs to be an awareness of what has happened to McClure and "how they've left many people in a very difficult situation".

A Facebook page called Victims of McClure has more than 600 members from across Britain. A number have contacted the BBC to share their experiences.

When McClure went into administration another law firm called Jones Whyte took on its files.

Jones Whyte has written to a number of former McClure clients saying there are "some systematic issues affecting many of these trusts".

The letter states it is "incredibly important that we review your file" and the cost is £300+VAT per trust. /1

Anonymous said...

see the Law Society of Scotland and Scottish Legal Complaints Commission about it!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-64212430

/2

'You think you're doing the right thing and it backfires'

Retired firefighter Joe Wylie said he spent more than £5,000 setting up wills, powers of attorney and trusts with McClure about three months before the firm entered administration.

He did not want his family to have to deal with extra stress after his death.

Joe found out McClure had gone bust when he received a letter from Jones Whyte in November 2021 offering to carry out a review of his family's two trusts for £720.

He said he was "shocked" because he thought everything was done and dusted.

He did not pay for the review and through his own research discovered his trust had not been set up properly.

Joe is now going to find a new lawyer and start again. He said he was relieved his house was still in his name but gutted to have wasted money.

"I can't really afford to throw away £5,000," Joe said. "I'll just have to write it off as a bad joke. You think you're doing the right thing and it backfires."

"I'd love to be able to get some compensation but that's not going to happen."

He said he wanted to make other people aware of what was going on.

'Not in hiding'

The BBC asked former McClure director Andrew Robertson for an interview. He declined but sent a written response to our questions.

Mr Robertson said it is "not correct that many trusts had issues" and that clients "should not fear that money has been wasted".

He said the trust "was and remains a good service" and the fact McClure no longer exists "does not affect the trust".

On the subject of people struggling to sell their parents' homes he said that, on occasion, the reason was that "the agents dealing with the sale have failed to contact the trustees at the outset".

He said it should not be difficult to contact the trustees, adding "we are not in hiding".

Jones Whyte said it was "prudent" to carry out reviews and there "was no situation in which a law firm could carry out this work free of charge".

The company said from the work it had undertaken so far "the vast, vast majority of trusts are competent and valid".

Rachel Wood, executive director of regulation at the Law Society of Scotland, said McClure had many thousands of clients and Jones Whyte was expected to inform all clients that their documents and funds were now safely held by them.

She said: "While we cannot comment on specific commercial arrangements, anyone who doesn't want to become or remain a client of the acquiring firm is entitled to instruct another solicitor to act on their behalf or ask for the return of the documents and any funds.

"Any client who has suffered loss because of the demise of WW & J McClure and wishes to raise a claim, or to make a complaint, can do so.

"We are monitoring the situation and will take any appropriate regulatory action required."

The law society said that to make a complaint clients should contact the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission in the first instance.

Claims in relation to McClure should be addressed to the administrators of McClure Solicitors at edinburgh@frpadvisory.com.

lizh said...

They are a disgrace ,

Anonymous said...

Lawyers are a thoroughly evil profession.