1. Law Society of Scotland, Annual Members Survey 2018 Report by Mark Diffley Consultancy and Research Ltd

2. Background and Methodology
The Law Society Members Survey explores Members’ views on LSS priorities; the wider policy context of the profession; LSS communication channels; CPD; and support for trainees.
The survey is carried out among LSS Members, selected using stratified random sampling of the LSS Membership database.
Telephone interviewing took place between the 20th of November and the 18th of December 2018.
In total 512 members completed the survey (covering key firm types, Big Firm, High Street, In-house Public, In-house Private, and Trainee solicitors).
Weighting was applied to the data to ensure it was representative of the membership population as a whole.
The survey has been carried out annually since 2011, where relevant, comparisons from previous waves of the survey are made throughout this report.
Throughout, differences between variables are commented upon only where we are sure these are statistically significant i.e. where we can be 95% certain that they have not occurred by chance.

3. Members Priorities for the Society

4. Regulatory and compliance functions continue to rank highly among the Society’s priorities
Q. For each of these, can you please tell me how much of a priority for the Society you think these should be?
Base: All respondents

5. Around three-quarters (73%) consider representing the profession on regulatory changes to be a high priority
Those who agree that the society should continue to be responsible for regulation are more likely to consider it to be a high priority for the Society
Medium priority
% Agree that Society should continue to be responsible for representation, support and regulation
% Disagree Society should continue to be responsible for representation, support and regulation
High priority 75 53
Medium priority 25 38
Low priority 1 6
High priority
Base: All respondents

6. Members Perceptions of the Society

7. The Society is viewed positively by Members, in particular there is widespread agreement (93%) that the Society should continue to be responsible for representation, support and regulation - consistent with 2017
Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
Net
+86%
+82%
+78%
+76%
+66%
+58%
+58%
+42%
Base: All respondents, excluding DK responses

8. One area where there is comparatively less agreement is that “the Society is focused on the issues that affect me” – 28% disagree with this statement – however, it should be noted that agreement at this statement has increased between 2017 and (68% compared with 64% in 2017)
Don’t know
Strongly disagree
Strongly agree
Women were more likely than men to agree that the Society is focused on the issues that affect me
Gender
Female %
Male %
Strongly agree 16 5
Tend to agree 62 51
Tend to disagree 15 28
Strongly disagree 10
Don’t know 2 7
Tend to disagree
Base: All respondents

9. Policy Context

10. A majority (85%) agree that additional resources should be allocated to legal aid rates; while confidence in economic prospects is low at 39%
Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements…? 
Net
+79%
+79%
+42%
+3%
Base: All respondents

11. Confidence in economic prospects has fallen from 49% in 2017 to 39% in 2018
Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?: I am more confident in the economic prospects for my business over the next 12 months compared to the previous 12 months
Net
There was variance in the results by type of firm
+3%
Agree %
Disagree%
Big Firm 60 40
High Street 37 63
In-house Public 44 56
In-house Private 27 73
+9%
Base: All respondents

12. Impact of Brexit on the business/organisation
There is a relationship between economic confidence and the perceived impact of Brexit on the business/organisation in the next two years
Relationship between confidence in economic prospects for my business in the next 12 months by attitudes to the impact of Brexit on the business/organisation over the next 2 years
Confidence in economic prospects
Impact of Brexit on the business/organisation
Positive impact %
Negative impact %
No difference %
DK %
Agree 46 32 59 22
Disagree 54 58 24 44 DK * 10 17 34
59% of those who agree that they are confident in the economic prospects of their business think that Brexit will make no difference to their business/organisation over the next 2 years.
58% of those who disagree that they are confident in the economic prospects of their business think that Brexit will have a negative impact on their business/organisation over the next 2 years.

13. While the key recommendation in the independent report on the regulation of legal services is the creation of a new regulator with all regulatory powers taken away from the Law Society and given to a new body; a majority of Members think that regulatory powers should/possibly should be retained by the Society
Q. Which of the following regulatory powers, if any, should by retained by the Law Society and should not transfer to the new body?  
Base: All respondents

14. Looking at aspects of regulation more specifically, almost all (97%) agree that there should be a legal restriction on who can describe themselves as a “lawyer”
Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? 
Base: All respondents

15. Communications

16. Almost all (90%) agree that the Journal is a good quality, trusted magazine; and, that the Society keeps me well informed with accurate and reliable information
Q. How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?? 
Base: All respondents

17. A majority (77%) feel that they have the opportunity to interact with and provide input to the Society and its services
Q. How much you agree or disagree with each of these: I have the opportunity to interact with and provide input to the Society and its services
Don’t know
Strongly disagree
Strongly agree
Tend to disagree
Tend to agree
Base: All respondents

18. Almost all (95%) are proud to be part of the Scottish legal profession
Q. How proud are you to be a part of the Scottish legal profession?     
Not at all proud
Don’t know
Not very proud
Somewhat proud
Very proud
Base: All respondents

19. Professional Practice Team

20. Seven-in-ten are aware of the Professional Practice Team
Q. The Society provides a dedicated team of solicitors and an accredited paralegal for its members and can assist with enquiries on legal practice. Are you aware of this service?      
Variation by type of firm %
High Street
83%
In-house Public
75%
Big Firm
67%
In-house Private
52%
Base: All respondents

21. Results of the awareness of the Professional Practice Team are reversed when we explore use of the team services – 36% had used the service in the past 12 months compared with 63% who had not
Q. Have you used the Professional Practice team for phone or advice in the past 12 months?   
Corresponding with awareness, high street firms were more likely to have used the Professional Practice team than any other firm type
Variation by type of firm %
High Street
58%
Big Firm
26%
In-house Public
23%
In-house Private
17%
Base: All respondents

22. Trainees

23. Almost all trainees (85%) felt that providing assistance to those beginning and during their traineeships should be a high priority for the Society
Q. The Society provides support for trainee solicitors Can you please tell me how much of a priority for the Society you think these should be?  
Base: All trainees (130)

24. A similar proportion (81%) expressed satisfaction with the assistance provided to those beginning and during their traineeships
Q. Based on your experience, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with each of the following services and areas of support? 
Base: All trainees (130)

25. Paralegal Accreditation

26. Almost all (89%) agree that the paralegal accreditation scheme provides a professional qualification and identifiable quality standard for paralegals across the profession
Q. As you may know, the Society has an accreditation scheme in place for paralegals. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “It is important for the legal sector that paralegals have a recognised professional qualification”
Base: All respondents

27. Current issues

28. Brexit was the single biggest issue facing solicitors in Scotland
Q. Thinking about your current role, what is the single biggest issue facing you as a Scottish solicitor? 
Base: All respondents

29. Members are more likely to think Brexit will have a negative impact on their business than a positive one
Q. What impact do you think Brexit will have on your business or organisation over the next two years/ five years? 
Net
-46%
-39%
Base: All respondents

30. For a quarter (24%), Brexit featured in their advice to clients a great deal/ a fair amount
Q. To what extent has Brexit featured in advice you have given to your clients? 
Highest a great deal/ a fair amount response % %
Big Firm
28%
Base: All respondents

31. For more information Please contact our research team at research@lawscot.org.uk