Society Bulletin

Trainee Summer School

The WS will be hosting its first Trainee Summer School on 18 August 2009 at The Signet Library... more

WS and Heritage Portfolio

The WS has signed a new contract with Heritage Portfolio for events, hospitality and catering at The Signet Library... more

Roseanna Cunningham MSP to speak at Crofting Law Conference

Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Minister for the Environment, will deliver the keynote address at this year’s WS/Crofting Law Association Conference... more

WS to chair D&W

Office bearer David Hardie WS has been voted non-executive chairman of Dundas & Wilson... more


Welcome

Welcome to The Signet Accreditation – recognising excellence in legal services

The Signet Accreditation is a formal qualification for Scottish solicitors signifying proficiency in an area of legal practice. It is an initiative of The Society of Writers to Her Majesty's Signet, Scotland's independent association for lawyers and one of the world's oldest independent professional bodies.

It is an entirely new approach to assessing and accrediting legal services in Scotland. The assessment methodology is cutting edge, offering practical benefit to both lawyers and users of their services by assessing client-focussed skills as well as legal knowledge.

Congratulations to the 21 newly accredited solicitors who were awarded accreditation at the award ceremony on 28 January 2009.

The assessment programme commenced in 2007. In 2008, assessment were offered in all practice areas:

  • Commercial Property
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Corporate
  • In house

To read more about the principles underpinning the scheme please see our aims.

To find out more about how to apply see How to become accredited.


Legal News

Draft Children's Hearings Bill

Scotland's Children's Hearings system is to be reinforced to offer better local support for young people under proposed reforms now published.... more

Dealing with debt

The Scottish Government has announced further measures to help Scots who are struggling to deal with debt. ... more

Copyright measures announced

The Intellectual Property Office has outlined proposals to improve copyright licensing and increase financial penalties for online infringers. ... more

Legal loophole for prisoners closed

The Scottish Parliament has passed a Bill establishing a one year time limit for human rights based claims, closing a loophole which has seen compensation being paid to thousands of prisoners.... more