Latest News

The Frequently Asked Questions and Appeals guidance notes for complainers and solicitors in section 42ZA Appeals have been updated. (September 2021)

At the Annual General Meeting on 2 June 2021, Nicholas Whyte stood down as Chair of the Tribunal. He will remain a member of the Tribunal until his term of office expires in September 2021. Nicholas has been a member...

Annual Report 2020 According to the latest Annual Report from the Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal, the Tribunal heard and made decisions on 29 cases in the year 2019-2020. There were 16 findings of professional misconduct. Three solicitors were found not...

COVID-19 All Tribunal hearings in March, April and May 2020 were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Most cases were sisted. Lockdown restrictions remain in place in Scotland. Even when these are relaxed, social distancing measures are likely to be...

In view of the evolving situation regarding Coronavirus (Covid-19) and the latest Government advice, all Tribunal hearings in March, April and May are cancelled. Some procedural hearings and compensation hearings will be dealt with by the Chairs by telephone and/or...

Annual Report 2019 According to the latest Annual Report from the Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal, the Tribunal heard and made decisions on forty cases in 2019. There were twenty-nine findings of professional misconduct and one decision under section 53(1)(b) of...

A decision of the Tribunal regarding expenses was judicially reviewed by a Respondent. The decision in Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh-v-The Scottish Solicitors Discipline Tribunal is available here. The Tribunal's guidance on expenses has been updated.

On 6 December 2019, the Tribunal considered the responses made to its consultation on the standard of proof. It has decided to keep using the criminal standard of proof (beyond reasonable doubt) in professional misconduct proceedings. The document outlining its...

The Tribunal is pleased to announce the appointment of three new solicitor members – Deborah Lovell, Vincent McGovern and David Dickson. The Chairman and the Tribunal Office would like to take this opportunity to formally welcome them to the Tribunal...

The Tribunal has decided to extend the period for consultation on the Standard of Proof to be applied in professional misconduct proceedings. Responses are now invited before 4pm on 5 July 2019.

Annual Report 2018 According to the latest Annual Report from the Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal, the Tribunal heard and made decisions on 33 cases in 2018. There were 25 findings of professional misconduct and no decisions under section 53(1)(b) of...

The Tribunal's consultation on the Standard of Proof has opened. Responses are invited from the public and interested parties by 4pm on 21 June 2019. The consultation paper is available here.

The Tribunal is pleased to announce the appointment of two new solicitor members – Ms Carla Fraser and Ms Sally Swinney. The Chairman and the Tribunal Office would like to take this opportunity to formally welcome them to the Tribunal...

The Tribunal has created a new privacy notice which can be accessed here.

An Independent Review of the Regulation of Legal Services was announced by the Scottish Government on 25 April 2017 to “take forward a consultation to review the regulation of the legal profession in Scotland and to support a modern and...

Annual Report 2017 According to the latest Annual Report form the Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal, the Tribunal heard and made decisions on 30 cases in 2017. There were 21 findings of professional misconduct and one decision under section 53(1)(b). Three...

Annual Report 2016 Discipline Tribunals involving solicitors are becoming more complicated and often involve one or more Secondary Complainers who have compensation claims according to the latest Annual Report from the Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal. The Tribunal, which has 12...

The Tribunal is pleased to announce the appointment of three new solicitor members – Mr Christopher Mackay, Ms Catherine Hart and Ms Beverley Atkinson. The Chairman would like to take this opportunity to formally welcome them to the Tribunal and...

Judith Lea has retired from the position of Clerk to the Tribunal after giving 15 years of invaluable service. With effect from 30 June 2016 the new Clerk will be Nicola Ross. The Tribunal Members and Office are looking forward...

At the Annual General Meeting of the Tribunal on 7 June 2016, Dorothy Boyd and Malcolm McPherson, two longstanding valuable members of the Tribunal retired from the Tribunal after a considerable number of years. Their contributions to the workings of...

Annual Report 2015 Discipline Tribunals involving solicitors are becoming more complicated and often involve one or more Secondary Complainers who have compensation claims according to the latest Annual Report from the Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal. The Tribunal, which has 12...

The Tribunal are happy to announce its new website became operational on Monday 14 September 2015.

The Tribunal is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Lay Member – Mr Edward Egan. The Chairman would like to take this opportunity to formally welcome him and we look forward to working with him. (July 2015)

Elaine Noad has retired for personal reasons from being a lay member of the Tribunal. She has been a valuable member who always made a reasoned contribution to decision discussions. The Tribunal would like to express their thanks for her...

Tribunal report highlights main areas of solicitor misconduct Discipline tribunals involving solicitors are becoming increasingly complex according to the latest annual report from the Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal. The tribunal, which has 12 solicitor and 12 non-solicitor members, heard and...