This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman appointed
20/07/2006
The Minister for Justice today announced the appointment of Mrs Jane Irvine as the Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman with effect from August 1, 2006.
Mrs Irvine took over the post on an interim basis on 26 April 2006, following the resignation of Mrs Linda Costelloe Baker who took up a new post as UK Visas Independent Monitor.
The Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Bill which was introduced on 1 March 2006 proposes to reform existing arrangements for handling complaints handling against the legal profession. If enacted, the Bill will transfer responsibility for consumer complaints from the legal professional bodies to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission and abolish the office of the Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman.
This appointment is for a 2 year period, but can be extended until such time as the new Commission is operational.
Mrs Irvine has specialised in resolving consumer complaints and reviewing the manner of responses to consumer complaints since 1980. She acts as an arbitrator and conciliator in a diverse range of consumer issues from holiday to funeral and financial service complaints.
She also sits on the Disciplinary Board of the Institute of Actuaries, acts as a mediator in consumer and commercial disputes and works voluntarily as a Member of the Mediation Panel for Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
As a past HM Lay Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland Mrs Irvine reviewed the manner of responses by Scottish Police forces to complaints by members of the public for three years between 2001 and 2004. She was also the elected Chair of the Scottish Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators 2003-2005.
Background
The appointment of Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman is made under Section 34 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990. The post was publicly advertised on 31 March.
The post of Ombudsman is independent of both the Executive and the legal profession and the Ombudsman cannot be a lawyer. The Ombudsman investigates concerns about the way a professional body, such as the Law Society of Scotland or the Faculty of Advocates, has handled a complaint against a practitioner.
The Ombudsman sends a report of her investigation to the complainer, the practitioner and the professional organisation. If the Ombudsman is not satisfied that the complaint has been handled fairly, efficiently and thoroughly she can make recommendations to the professional body, including payment of compensation for inconvenience or distress caused by the way the complaint was handled.
Mrs Irvines appointment is full time (37 hours per week), with an annual salary of £55,000. Her office is situated in 17 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3DL.