Fall in SLCC levy

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) has announced a reduction in the general levy paid by advocates, from £159 to £150.

In a covering letter to its proposed budget and operating plan for 2015-16, the SLCC said it had found that both complainers and practitioners in many cases preferred to reach resolution with its help earlier in the process.

"This means that we are closing cases more quickly at lower costs than before...Our 2014-15 budget saw the general levy frozen for all practitioners and reduced for some. This year we are able to reduce the levy for all practitioners; it will be reduced by almost 4%," the SLCC added.

"We recognise that some parts of the profession generate very low volumes of complaints and have gone some way to reflecting this in the levy. Consequently in-house solicitors will see their levy fall by more than 10% and advocates will benefit from a 6% reduction."

The SLCC has asked for comments by 20 March. Full details can be found at http://www.scottishlegalcomplaints.org.uk/for-practitioners/budget-levy/budget-2015-2016.aspx