APPLICATION FOR ACCREDITATION AS SENIOR SOLICITOR ADVOCATE FOR LEGAL AID PURPOSES

APPLICANTS SHOULD READ THE RULES AND THE ACCREDITATION CRITERIA ISSUED BY THE SOCIETY BEFORE COMPLETING THIS FORM.

Part 1. General Information about Applicant

1. Surname:
2. First Names:
3. Firm or Employer’s Name:
4. Firm or Employer’s Full Postal Address:
LP Number:
Telephone Number:
Fax Number:
Email address:
Address for correspondence if different from (4.) above
5. Year of Admission as a Solicitor Advocate in Scotland:
6. Year of Admission as a Solicitor in Scotland:
7. Are you in private practice or employed in the public service?
8. If you are in private practice, what is your position in your present firm?
9. If you are not in private practice, please give details of your present employment?
10.How long have you worked as a solicitor in fulltime legal practice preceding this application? / Years:
11. Please provide a brief c.v. of your career (Complete on a separate sheet if required)
12. Are you now or have you ever been a member of any of the following bodies?
The Law Society of England and Wales YES/NO
Any other Law Society or Bar Association (if YES state which)YES/NO
The Faculty of Advocates YES/NO
The Bar of England and Wales YES/NO

Part 2. Fitness

13. Have you ever been convicted of any crime or statutory offence
other than Parking Offences? YES/NO
If YES give full details
14. Are you now or have you ever been subject to any order under
The Mental Health Act 1983 or the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984?YES/NO
If YES give details
15. Are you now or have you ever been the subject of a finding of
Professional Misconduct by the Law Society of Scotland or have you
been the subject of prosecution before the Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline
Tribunal? YES/NO
If YES give full details
16. Have you been the subject of a finding of Inadequate Professional
Service by the Law Society of Scotland within the last 5 years? YES/NO
If YES give full details
17. Are you now or have you ever been the subject of disciplinary
action by any other professional body of which you are or have
been a member? YES/NO
If YES give full details
18. Are there any other matters bearing on your fitness to act as a
solicitor with extended rights of which the Society should be aware? YES/NO
If YES give full details

Part 3. Experience.

Use a separate sheet/s for each question in this section

19. Experience in High Court cases

Give details of the cases in the two years preceding the date of this application when you have conducted trials in the High Court, giving clear information about the case (including the name of the Judge, Advocate Depute, instructing solicitor and counsel for any co-accused) and dates. (Actual cases should be named in each of the years – generalities will not suffice).

20. Experience in Appeal Court cases

Give details of the cases in the two years preceding the date of this application when you have conducted appeals in the High Court, giving clear information about the case (including the name of the Judge, Advocate Depute, instructing solicitor and counsel for any co-accused) and dates. (Actual cases should be named in each of the years – generalities will not suffice).

21. If you have not been a solicitor advocate for at least 7 years please explain why you consider that, nonetheless, your application should be granted.

Part 4.General

22. Please provide details of any other work undertaken by you or in which you were involved personally in the same two year period which you consider relevant to this application. Complete on a separate sheet if necessary.
23. Please give details of your contribution to/attendance at any seminars, conferences or courses in the same two year period which you consider relevant to this application. Complete on a separate sheet if necessary.
24. Are there any other important matters of which the Society
should be aware bearing on your competence or relevant
experience to act as a senior solicitor advocate for legal aid
purposes?YES/NO
If YES give full details

Part 5. Referees

25. Entirely at its discretion the Panel may seek a reference from any of those listed at Part 3 above.
Declaration

I hereby apply for accreditation as a senior solicitor advocate for legal aid purposes.

I declare that the information contained in this application is a full and true account of the matters referred to in it to the best of my knowledge, information and belief.

I understand that the Law Society of Scotland may seek confirmation from third parties of any matters pertinent to a proper consideration of my application (including the seeking of information from any other professional or similar body of which I am now or have been a member).

I understand that any wilful omission or mis-statement made in this application is likely to lead to the refusal of an authorisation, and may moreover be treated as professional misconduct by the Law Society of Scotland for the purposes of the disciplinary provisions of the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980.

I undertake to notify the Law Society of Scotland of any significant change in the information provided in this application whether it arises either before or after the grant of authorisation.

I understand and accept that the Law Society of Scotland may reveal any of the information contained in this application, to the Lord President of the Court of Session, Scottish Ministers or any other Professional Body of which I am a member.

Signature ………………………………………………………………………

Date ……………………………………………………………………………

Note: This application should be submitted to:-

The Secretary, Solicitor Advocate AccreditationCommittee, The Law Society of Scotland, 26 DrumsheughGardens, Edinburgh, EH3 7YR (LP 1 Edinburgh-1).