This comes as the first provisions of the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2025 – including a significant expansion of the remit of the independent Consumer Panel – are commenced.

The Act, passed last year, delivers significant reforms to how legal services are regulated and how complaints are handled. Further commencement orders will follow to bring the remaining provisions into force.

Ms Brown also heard from SLCC staff about their work with consumers and the legal sector to resolve complaints and improve services.

Commenting on the milestone, chair Jane Malcom said: “We were delighted to welcome the minister to our office today to hear more about the SLCC’s work and our plans to implement the changes agreed by Parliament.

“The SLCC has been calling for a more person-centred and proportionate regulatory system for over a decade, and our team is ready to deliver these long-awaited improvements, which will benefit both consumers and legal services providers.

“Stakeholders have called for swift implementation of improvements in the complaints system, so we are working to be ready to deliver those in July 2027. That is dependent on further commencement orders, but we know that after a decade of debate the public and the sector want to see results delivered.

“We look forward to working with the Consumer Panel, the Scottish government and partners across the sector to implement all these reforms swiftly and effectively.”

Gillian Fyfe, chair of the Consumer Panel said: “It is fitting that one of the earliest changes to be made by this legislation is to expand and strengthen consumer insight and input. That marks an important step toward a regulatory system that genuinely serves the public interest and puts consumers at its heart.

“Regulation should be transparent, accountable and firmly focused on people’s needs. Strengthening the Consumer Panel’s remit and powers will help deliver that, ensuring consumer voices are heard and their experiences shape how the system evolves.”

“We’ll be working closely with the Scottish government and others to make sure we have the capacity, resources and independence to fulfil our new responsibilities and help achieve the more consumer-focused regulatory framework the Act sets out.”