Ross MacKay, convener of the Law Society’s Insurance Committee, has said the Law Society will engage with the conclusions of the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission's research, which criticised solicitors' perception of the purpose of the indemnity insurance and guarantee fund.

“The majority of solicitors in Scotland have an excellent reputation and the vast majority of clients are happy with the services they provide," he said.

"However, any research which helps to improve people’s expectations and understanding of the excellent insurance protections available to clients of Scottish solicitors and how the Master Policy for Professional Indemnity and the Scottish Solicitors’ Guarantee Fund operate is to be welcomed.

“During the course of this research, representatives of the Law Society were interviewed and various Master Policy documents were supplied to the researchers. Some of the information was commercially sensitive and confidential so the researchers were asked not to share it with other parties and that copies were not made or kept.

“The Society will work with the Commission on the points raised in the research.”