Question reference: S5W-31917
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 21 September 2020
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Current status: Answered by Ash Denham on 5 October 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports (a) that there has been a reduction in the number of young lawyers wishing to do criminal defence work and (b) highlighting figures that show a decline in the number of registered criminal law firms and criminal lawyers of approximately a quarter in the last 10 years.
Answer
Anecdotally, it is reported that the number of legal trainees in criminal practice has decreased, however this appears to reflect the fall in reported crime over several years, the subsequent fall in cases proceeding to court, and the business models of many criminal law practitioners. While Scottish Government can provide support to improve the diversity of the legal profession, it has little in the way of legislative powers to direct activity. Any support needs to be carefully managed to ensure that there is no perception of compromising the independence of the legal profession in Scotland. The Scottish Government has encouraged the Law Society to promote greater diversity, for example through more “family friendly” policies and more open recruitment and promotion in firms.
In addition, we are already working jointly with the Law Society of Scotland and the Scottish Legal Aid Board to identify appropriate ways to support solicitors in responding to changes to their business as a result of the pandemic, and will be working with these stakeholders as part of the reform of legal aid programme.