- Top lawyer admits talking gibberish at work due to hangover
- By David Taylor
- The Sunday Mail - UK
- 15/03/2009 Make a Comment
- Contributed by: The Rooster ( 258 articles in 2009 )
A TOP legal watchdog admitted to her boss she was talking gibberish - because of a hangover.
Lawyer Margaret Scanlan made the confession in a email which described herself as "cross-eyed" after a night on the tiles.
Scanlan was appointed to her job in the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission by anti-booze crusader Kenny MacAskill.
She wrote: "Was out on the razzle, again, last night so bit cross-eyed this morning. Please excuse any consequent gibberish."
Divorce lawyer Scanlan sent the lengthy email at 11.30am one day in November last year to watchdog chief Eileen Masterman.
It was also copied to Alan Paterson, a law professor at Strathclyde University.
Campaigner Peter Cherbi, who champions legal and consumer issues, said: "This is not the sort of service the people of Scotland deserve.
"It's not very good conduct for people who are supposed to be in some of the most respectable positions in the legal profession."
Scanlan was hand picked by Justice Secretary MacAskill as one of five lawyers to serve on the SLCC - a "one-stop shop" for complaints against lawyers.
MacAskill plans to enforce mimimum prices for drink to combat alcoholism and drink-related problems.
The SLCC was set up by the Scottish Government to "modernise the legal complaints" system and ensure gripes are resolved quickly and effectively. It was formed after complaints that self-regulation by the Law Society of Scotland often protected crooked lawyers through cronyism.
Scanlan's email - about an insurance policy to cover solicitors' mistakes and misuse of clients' cash - was released to legal reform campaigners through a Freedom of Information request. The request also released emails from Scanlan attacking outspoken legal reform group Scotland Against Crooked Lawyers.
In one email, she wrote: "I would prefer that we not give any recognition to SACL. "I do not see why we have to name them even if we are bound to engage with them.
"Their website is offensive and so far as I am aware no reputable organisations has anything to do with them"
Scanlan is a specialist in family law at Glasgow-based Russells Gibson McCaffrey.
She has also tutored in family law at Glasgow Caledonian University and was deputy chair of the Scottish Legal Aid Board between 1997 and 2007.
She was also director of the Legal Defence Union between 1998 and 2002.
She earns £350 a day plus expenses for her work with the SLCC.
When asked about the emails, Scanlan told us: "I have nothing to say."
'Was out on the razzle again last night so bit cross-eyed this morning.. please excuse my gibberish.'
- Margaret Scanlan
SUNDAY EMAIL
d.taylor@sundaymail.co.uk
Lawyer Margaret Scanlan made the confession in a email which described herself as "cross-eyed" after a night on the tiles.
Scanlan was appointed to her job in the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission by anti-booze crusader Kenny MacAskill.
She wrote: "Was out on the razzle, again, last night so bit cross-eyed this morning. Please excuse any consequent gibberish."
Divorce lawyer Scanlan sent the lengthy email at 11.30am one day in November last year to watchdog chief Eileen Masterman.
It was also copied to Alan Paterson, a law professor at Strathclyde University.
Campaigner Peter Cherbi, who champions legal and consumer issues, said: "This is not the sort of service the people of Scotland deserve.
"It's not very good conduct for people who are supposed to be in some of the most respectable positions in the legal profession."
Scanlan was hand picked by Justice Secretary MacAskill as one of five lawyers to serve on the SLCC - a "one-stop shop" for complaints against lawyers.
MacAskill plans to enforce mimimum prices for drink to combat alcoholism and drink-related problems.
The SLCC was set up by the Scottish Government to "modernise the legal complaints" system and ensure gripes are resolved quickly and effectively. It was formed after complaints that self-regulation by the Law Society of Scotland often protected crooked lawyers through cronyism.
Scanlan's email - about an insurance policy to cover solicitors' mistakes and misuse of clients' cash - was released to legal reform campaigners through a Freedom of Information request. The request also released emails from Scanlan attacking outspoken legal reform group Scotland Against Crooked Lawyers.
In one email, she wrote: "I would prefer that we not give any recognition to SACL. "I do not see why we have to name them even if we are bound to engage with them.
"Their website is offensive and so far as I am aware no reputable organisations has anything to do with them"
Scanlan is a specialist in family law at Glasgow-based Russells Gibson McCaffrey.
She has also tutored in family law at Glasgow Caledonian University and was deputy chair of the Scottish Legal Aid Board between 1997 and 2007.
She was also director of the Legal Defence Union between 1998 and 2002.
She earns £350 a day plus expenses for her work with the SLCC.
When asked about the emails, Scanlan told us: "I have nothing to say."
'Was out on the razzle again last night so bit cross-eyed this morning.. please excuse my gibberish.'
- Margaret Scanlan
SUNDAY EMAIL
d.taylor@sundaymail.co.uk
Source: https://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2009/03/15/top-lawyer-admits-talking-gibberish-at-work-due-to-hangover-78057-21199097/
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