Recruitment of Members 

Advocate, solicitor, consumer representative and LP members
6 to 12 appointments available 

The Scottish Civil Justice Council (SCJC) will be established in May 2013 when the Scottish Government brings into force the relevant provisions of The Scottish Civil Justice Council and Criminal Legal Assistance Act 2013.  The first meeting of the SCJC is due to take place on 10 June 2013.

The SCJC will take on the rule drafting functions of the Court of Session and Sheriff Court Rules Councils and in addition will have a remit to provide advice and make recommendations to the Lord President and the Scottish Ministers on the development of the civil justice system.  The SCJC will in particular be responsible in its early years for implementing the procedural changes to effect the reforms contained in The Scottish Government’s forthcoming Courts Reform (Scotland) Bill, currently being consulted on.

The Lord President is seeking to appoint a minimum of 2 advocates, 2 solicitors and 2 consumer representatives to the Council, and up to 6 LP members (suitable individuals who may be appointed at the Lord President’s discretion).  A summary of the overall membership can be viewed here.

Members should expect approximately 12 days’ commitment a year and, among other matters, will:

• develop draft rules for the Court of Session and sheriff court civil proceedings;

•  advise and make recommendations to the Lord President on the development of the civil justice system;

• develop the SCJC annual programme and report;

• take into account the needs of court users and potential court users; and 

• co-operate with others in the justice system.

Successful candidates will meet one or more of the criteria in the following areas: legal knowledge and skills; understanding of people and society; knowledge and understanding of the wider justice system and issues affecting it; and personal qualities.  

The Lord President is committed to the principles of appointment on merit and to the well-informed choice of individuals who, through their abilities, experience and qualities match the requirement of the post.  Further details as to eligibility and selection criteria are set out in the Lord President’s Statement of Appointment Practice and candidate information forms.

To apply, please download a copy of the application form and submit it with an equal opportunities monitoring form to scjc@scotcourts.gov.uk.

For further information please contact Ondine Tennant at scjc@scotcourts.gov.uk / Scottish Civil Justice Council (Appointments), Parliament House, Edinburgh, EH1 1RQ / 0131 240 6769.

Closing date for applications is 15 April at 12 noon

Interviews will be held on 2 – 9 May

Successful candidates must be available for the first Council meeting
on Monday 10 June 2013

About the Scottish Civil Justice Council

The Scottish Civil Justice Council will be established under the Scottish Civil Justice Council and Criminal Legal Assistance Act 2013.  It will prepare draft rules of procedure for the civil courts and advise the Lord President on the development of the civil justice system in Scotland.

The Scottish Civil Justice Council will replace the existing Court of Session Rules Council and the Sheriff Court Rules Council.  The new Council will take over the rule drafting functions of those bodies and will also have a new, wider, role to advise and make recommendations on the civil justice system.

The creation of a single civil rules council for Scotland was one of the recommendations of the Scottish Civil Courts Review.  Many of the review recommendations will need new rules of court and the Scottish Civil Justice Council, which will have oversight of the entire civil justice system, will be responsible for taking these forward.  It will also be responsible for keeping the civil justice system under constant review.

Functions and Powers

The Council’s functions include:

• keeping the civil justice system under review;
• reviewing the practice and procedure followed in the Court of Session and in civil cases in the sheriff court;
• preparing draft rules of procedure for the civil courts; and
• advising and making recommendations on the development of and changes to the civil justice system in Scotland.

The Council will have broad powers to help it carry out its functions, including the ability to make recommendations to the Scottish Ministers, conduct consultations and commission research.  It will also be able to take into account proposals for reform when preparing draft rules. 

Guiding Principles

In carrying out its functions, the Council must have regard to the following principles:

• the civil justice system should be fair, accessible and efficient;
• rules relating to practice and procedure should be as clear and easy to understand as possible;
• practice and procedure in the civil courts should be as similar as possible, where appropriate; and
• alternative methods of dispute resolution should be promoted, where appropriate.