Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman

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Scots law This article is part of the series: Courts of Scotland

Administration Scottish Executive Justice Department Minister for Justice Scottish Court Service College of Justice

Civil courts Privy Council House of Lords Court of Session Lord President Lords of Session Sheriff Court Sheriff

Criminal courts High Court of Justiciary Lord Justice-General Lords Commissioner of Justiciary Sheriff Court Sheriff Principal Sheriff District Court Justice of the Peace

Special courts Court of the Lord Lyon Lord Lyon King of Arms Children's Hearings

Criminal justice Lord Advocate Crown Office Advocate Depute Procurator Fiscal

Advocates and solicitors Faculty of Advocates Advocate Law Society of Scotland Solicitor-Advocate Solicitor

The Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman is a non-departmental public body in Scotland appointed by the Scottish Ministers responsible for overseeing the internal complaints procedures of the Faculty of Advocates and the Law Society of Scotland.

The legal profession in Scotland is essentially self-regulating with solicitors licensed by, members of, and responsible to the Law Society of Scotland, with Advocates having the same relationship with the Faculty of Advocates. The Ombudsman is independent from the legal professions and the Scottish Executive; the Ombudsman's findings and recommendations are not reviewed by Scottish Ministers or the Scottish Executive.

It should be noted that any criminal activities of Scottish lawyers is handled by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, the public prosecution service for Scotland headed by the Lord Advocate.

The organisation Scotland Against Crooked Lawyers does not believe the current system provides for sufficient independent scrutiny of the legal profession.

[edit] Decisions

The Ombudsman decides:

• if the professional body has given each complaint proper attention;
• if it has taken appropriate action on the basis of a fair and thorough examination of all the evidence;
• if it has acted reasonably, impartially and effectively.

[edit] External links

• Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman