The Scottish Law Agents Society have said that according to their own inquiries, the "vast majority" of solicitors in Scotland are not aware that a consultation is underway inviting members to comment on the proposed draft Constitution.

The consultation closes tomorrow.

"According to our own enquiries, the vast majority of practitioners are totally unaware that the Constitution of their Society is about to be radically overhauled in such a way as to change out of recognition the relationship between the member solicitors and the Society’s Council," the group said.

"The SLAS reading of the draft Constitution indicates that the membership as such will have no power to control the policy or activities of Council."

The SLAS have published their own response to the draft proposals, and are "are invited to reply even briefly to this consultation, addressing in particular the issues as to whether the changes are premature, coming before the passing into law of the Legal Services Bill which may necessitate a further constitutional overhaul within the next few months and also whether it is possible to authorise LSS Council to disregard resolutions of General Meetings of the Law Society when it is the Law Society, and not the Council of the Law Society, which carries the statutory obligations of the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980."

The Law Society have also circulated the views of some lay members of the Council, which can be read here.