Society of Law Accountants in Scotland (SOLAS)
News and Updates:
SAVE THE DATE
September Seminar on Wills, Trusts and Executries 19
September 2012, Dewar Conference Centre, Perth.
The SOLAS Spring seminar took place at
the Dewar Conference Centre, Perth Wednesday 7th
March 2012 10.30 am to 4.00 pm. Registration
10am. Presentations were given by:
Bruce Ritchie, Director of Professional
Practice, The Law Society of Scotland "Assessment of Fees and
Taxation of Disputed Accounts"
Morna Grandison, Director of
Interventions, The Law Society of Scotland "Fraud
Update"
Tina Heywood, Head of Financial
Compliance, The Law Society of Scotland "Accounts Rules and
Account Certificate Rules"
Laura Malcolm, solicitor, Professional
Support Team,The Law Society of Scotland "Review of Expected
Standards for Client Care"
Background of the Organisation
The Society of Law Accountants in Scotland dates back to 1912
and with a Membership in the region of 600 represents a significant
proportion of the Cashroom and Accounting Staff who support
Solicitors in Legal Practices in Scotland. To be
a Member of SOLAS and to be entitled to use the initials SLA after
a Member's name, a Member has to have completed the prescribed
seven Courses, passed all the examinations and have had at least
three years working experience in a Legal Office.
The Courses and Examination structure is overseen by a joint
Board of Examiners which operates under a Trust set up jointly
between The Law Society of Scotland and the Society of Law
Accountants in Scotland in 1987. The Board comprises
Members of both bodies and meets quarterly.
The greatest proportion of Members are Cashroom based and their
experience contributes hugely to the smooth running of Cashrooms
with particular emphasis on full compliance with the Accounts Rules
laid down by The Law Society of Scotland.
The Joint Board is currently investigating making the Courses
available on line and by way of distance learning and also the
provision of some of the Courses on a modular basis for those who
are interested in them but do not wish to undertake the whole two
year Course.
If you or a Member of your staff is interested in becoming a
Qualified Law Accountant, please contact the Secretary to the
Board, Katy Elliott at the Law Society of
Scotland.
The current Board Members are:
Elizabeth N. McGillivray (Chair) - Solicitor, Dundee.
Robert Hendry, Solicitor, Inverness and Organiser of the Inverness
area classes.
David Cullen of The Law Society of Scotland and External Adviser
for the Conduct and Investment Business.
Ian Messer of The Law Society of Scotland and External Examiner
for the Cashroom, Accounting and
Administration Course.
Laura Banski, SOLAS Member and Organiser for the Aberdeen area
classes.
Moira Shepherd, SOLAS Member and Organiser for the Dundee area
classes.
John Dryburgh, SOLAS Member and Organiser for the Edinburgh area
classes.
Michelle Lochrie, SOLAS Member and Organiser of the Glasgow area
classes.
For more information about the courses, please visit the SOLAS
wesbite at www.solas.co.uk/
Changes to Office Bearers
Lilias Tennant took over from Moira Shepherd as President of
SOLAS in November 2010. View the text of her welcome address.