What we do
An overview of the Commission’s role, purpose, and areas of work.
Our role
Our role is to recommend reforms to improve, simplify and update the law of Scotland. This covers all areas of Scots law, including those reserved to the UK Parliament at Westminster. Society is constantly developing and it is important that the law keeps pace with changes in the way we live and work. Outdated or unnecessarily complex law makes for injustice and inefficiency and leads to the law being out of step with the needs of people.
What we do
Law reform
We offer the Government independent advice on law reform. This often involves examining whole areas of law and making recommendations to improve them. Public consultation is an essential step in the process to ensure that these recommendations are both workable and acceptable.
Reform of the law itself must be carried out through the Scottish Parliament or, where appropriate, the UK Parliament. The Scottish Parliament has, for example, passed legislation to implement our recommendations for the abolition of feudal tenure of land and for the protection of the rights and interests of adults who are incapable of managing their own affairs.
The Commission was set up by the Law Commissions Act 1965, along with a similar body for England and Wales – the Law Commission of England and Wales. Our funding comes from the Scottish Government.
It is not part of our role to investigate complaints about solicitors or government departments or to give legal advice to individuals. The Law Society of Scotland or a solicitor should be contacted for help in this regard. Alternatively, a Citizens Advice Bureau may be able to offer initial guidance.
Consolidation of legislation
Consolidation is the re-enactment, in one Act, of all the provisions on one topic of the law scattered throughout various pieces of legislation. This does not alter the law but makes it easier to find and use. Consolidation is a vital element of law reform and is a regular part of our work (sometimes undertaken jointly with the Law Commission for England and Wales).
Statute law repeals
This is a spring-cleaning of the Statute Book, some of which is also undertaken jointly with the Law Commission for England and Wales. Statue law repeals seek to repeal Acts of Parliament which have been superseded by other Acts or which deal with situations which have ceased to exist, by a simplified Parliamentary procedure.
Annual report
Each year the Commission produces a report summarising its activities and expenditure.
Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010
Under the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 the Commission, along with other public bodies in Scotland, has a duty to publish an annual statement relating to our expenditure in the following areas:
- Public relations
- Overseas travel
- Hospitality and entertainment
- External consultancy
There are further duties to publish certain information relating to the purchasing of goods, the remuneration of employees and the steps we have taken to improve efficiency, effectiveness and economy in our performance as well as the promotion of sustainable growth.
Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 Statement 2024-2025
View documentWhistleblowing Policy
This sets out the Commission’s whistleblowing policy.
Whistleblowing Policy
View documentEnvironmental Policy
This sets out the Commission’s environmental policy.
Environmental Policy 2023
View documentRe-use of Commission Information
The Commission makes its published information available under the terms of the Open Government Licence, as produced by the National Archives.
Where the Commission holds the copyright in its published information, the information may be copied or reproduced without express permission provided that:
- It is copied or reproduced accurately,
- It is not used in a misleading context, and
- The source of the material is identified
The material we publish is usually subject to Crown copyright. You may re-use this information free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Licence. Please note however that you will need permission from us if you want to use our logo.
Where the Commission or the Crown does not hold the copyright in information we publish, we will make this clear. You will need to obtain permission from any other copyright holder, including in respect of any third party copyright information we have identified.
Personal data may be accessible but that does not automatically make it re-usable. It is the responsibility of the person re-using any personal data to comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation.
If you wish to make a complaint relating to re-use of the Commission’s information please write giving full details of your complaint to:
Email: info@scotlawcom.gov.uk
Post
Chief Executive
Scottish Law Commission
Parliament House
11 Parliament Square
Edinburgh
EH1 1RQ
Your complaint will be considered carefully, and a response will be sent to you within 20 working days.
Procurement
Most of the goods and services procured by the Commission make use of the collaborative contracts put in place by the Scottish Procurement on behalf of Scottish Ministers.
These collaborative contracts are open to use by non-departmental bodies in Scotland such as the Commission.
Legal books and periodicals for the Commission's library are obtained from specialist suppliers.
Commercial Publications
We do not produce any commercial publications. Our Reports (which include Annual Reports and Programmes of Law Reform) as well as Discussion Papers are available on our website.