The Law Society's first Access to Justice committee, convened by new council member Mike Dailly, meets tomorrow, with committee members including Law Society council member John McGovern and Patrick Maguire of Thomsons on board.

Dailly says the new committee is formed by "an outstanding group of Scottish access to justice champions, which includes solicitors, solicitor-advocates, advocates, anti-poverty and social justice campaigners, trade unionists, welfare rights specialists, and experts in rights based advocacy and community empowerment."

"This is a committee of the 'coalface', members with direct experience of the myriad of access to justice problems that many citizens face every day in Scotland," he said.

"We're going to take a fresh approach. Our job is to identify and demand radical improvements so that Scotland's system of civil and criminal justice is fit for its people, its communities, and the 21st Century".