Job Description

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC)

The SLCC is an independent statutory body and the single point of contact for complaints about legal practitioners in Scotland. We investigate and resolve complaints about inadequate professional services, refer conduct complaints to the relevant professional body, and oversee complaint handling across the profession.

We also oversee certain professional organisation functions, including complaints about their conduct investigations and aspects of indemnity schemes. In addition, we operate a statutory Consumer Panel to inform our work and address wider sector issues.

Taken together, our aim is to improve trust and confidence in Scottish legal services.

Responsibilities

RESPONSIBILITIES

The SLCC has two types of board member - lawyer and non-lawyer (lay), with a majority of lay members.

All our members play an essential dual role at the SLCC: they form the board and make important decisions on individual complaints.

The role of our board members comprises two specific elements:

• Governance - ensuring that strategy, change, and financial plans are set and delivered, performance is monitored, and that risk is managed.
• Adjudication - by law, only board members can make decisions on certain cases. Members make their decisions based on investigation reports, background material, and recommendations, provided by our dedicated staff team. This is an important part of the role, and members need to have time available to deliver this as it directly affects our performance and the service we offer to users. Full training is provided.

A wide range of experience and skills may be valuable to our board, and anyone interested is encouraged to apply. We are seeking one new legal member, who will take up appointment on 1 January 2027.

On this occasion we are particularly keen to appoint a legal member with governance experience and a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. For legal members, experience in the legal sector itself is a requirement.

WEBINAR

For an opportunity to find out more about SLCC board member roles, and to ask questions, you can attend a webinar at 17.00 on Wednesday 7 January 2026. To register, please provide your name and email address to Sheena.Robson@scottishlegalcomplaints.org.uk. Log-in details will be shared with you nearer the time.

Qualifications

Applications are sought from those who meet one of the following criteria:

• Experience as a practising advocate;
• Experience as a practising solicitor.

And all of the following criteria:

• Experience of strategic change and governance;
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion;
• Ability analyse complex information to reach decisions.

You should review the criteria for appointment in the applicant information pack, and craft your application accordingly.

To apply for this role, follow these instructions:

1. Download and save the applicant information pack to refer to.
2. Read the 'person specification' and 'how to apply' section in the pack, and write a supporting statement and career history, noting the word limits.
3. Save a copy of your supporting statement and history to your device as one PDF.
4. Navigate back to this job advert and click 'apply'.
5. Complete the personal information and conflict of interest questions.
6. Attach your PDF and submit your application by 12.00, Monday 12 January 2026.
7. PLEASE NOTE you do not have the option to edit your application once you click 'submit'. You must have all your information and attachments to hand before submitting your application.

Late applications, and those without a completed application form or career history, cannot be considered by the panel.

REMUNERATION AND TIME COMMITMENT

This position attracts a remuneration rate of £238.00 per day, plus reasonable expenses. The time commitment is an average of 18 days annually. Appointment will be for a single term of 5 to 8 years, and is due to start on 1 January 2027.

EQUALITY STATEMENT

Scottish ministers value highly the benefits of diverse Public Body Boards. People from all walks of life are encouraged to apply for public appointments.

Scottish ministers particularly welcome applications from groups currently under-represented on Scotland's public bodies, such as women, disabled people, those from minority ethnic communities, and people aged under 50. The public appointments process promotes, demonstrates and upholds equality of opportunity for all applicants.

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Find out more about public appointments here: Public appointments.

If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the appointments process or further support with your application, please contact the Public Appointments Team by email at public.appointments@gov.scot.

ABOUT US

Public appointments are made by Scottish ministers. The appointments process is regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner you can find out more about the Commissioner here: Public appointments | Ethical Standards Commissioner.