Several Scottish clients of a long-standing law firm might still be oblivious to the fact that the firm has gone into administration, according to campaigners.
McClure solicitors maintained offices all over Scotland and the north of England until its abrupt bankruptcy in 2021.
A plethora of former clients have expressed their grievances over challenges or expenses incurred while trying to access their documents now.
All cases dealt by McClure have been handed over to the Jones Whyte, a law firm based in Glasgow, following its failure.
Many discontentments have arisen from McClure’s deployment of so-called “family protection trusts” and the legal fees involved in their revision or alteration.
This situation can result in families spending numerous months or even years resolving the estate of a recently deceased relative.
A Facebook community named Victims of McClures solicitors, currently has a membership of over 2,000 individuals, with a sizable portion advocating for political intervention.
Stuart McMillan, an SNP MSP, has initiated a motion in the Scottish Parliament related to this issue, with support from all ends of the political spectrum.
The motion urges the Scottish Parliament to acknowledge the fact that “a considerable section of the firm’s ex-clients are still unknown to its closure and the transfer of their files to a different law firm”.
Moreover, it adds that “Several previous clients have reported irregularities and discrepancies in the work performed by McClure, which has necessitated significant rework or correction, often incurring costs ranging from hundreds to thousands of pounds.”
The motion also implores the Scottish Government to increase awareness among former clients who have yet to be informed about the situation and are unaware that their wills, trusts, and other legal transactions may not be in order.
McMillan reported: “Post McClure’s administration, dozens of constituents and individuals from across the UK have approached my office seeking assistance.”
“There might still be a thousand more who are oblivious to the fact that they might not have received the services that they paid for from McClure.”
McMillan organized an informational event in his Greenock & Inverclyde constituency last month, which was quickly fully occupied.
An event planned for next week is anticipated to attract a similar level of interest.
He added “the scale of the number of people impacted in Inverclyde alone”, is evident from this.
The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) chief executive will be present to elucidate what assistance and options might be available to them.
“For any former McClure patrons interested in lodging a complaint, I would suggest getting in touch with the SLCC.” McMillan advised.
A spokesperson for the SLCC revealed that it is “the first point of contact for all complaints about Scottish lawyers and law firms”.
They added: “If you feel you’ve received substandard service or are discontent with a lawyer’s behaviour, you can contact us via our website www.scottishlegalcomplaints.org.uk or on 0131 201 2130.
“Our service is free and we’re an independent entity. If we uphold a complaint, we can take actions such as compensation, order a firm to apologize, or rectify the situation.”
Greg Whyte, a partner at Jones Whyte, clarified for the record: “It’s important to remember that the validity of any legal document drafted by McClure solicitors, is not affected by their administration.”
“The legal status of any will, power of attorney, or trust remains unchanged.”
“If anyone wishes to update any of these documents due to changes in their personal circumstances, please get in touch with Jones Whyte for assistance.”
“I express my sympathies for the individuals impacted by McCure’s collapse and encourage all those affected to reach out to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission to explore what up shots may be available.” the community safety minister, Siobhian Brown states.
“It’s crucial to seek advice from the Law Society of Scotland. This instance exemplifies the need for the reforms detailed in the Scottish Government’s Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill to provide further support and fortify the public interest and safeguard legal consumers.”
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