However, this year the Scottish Legal Aid Board have already intimated an increase in civil applications of 24%.  This and the certainty of government cuts to come could mean that this generous benefit to pensioners could be under threat in the future.

David Borrowman, Managing Partner of Caesar and Howie, states “We believe  probably over 80% of Scottish pensioners could have their affairs put in order either free or at a significantly subsidised cost using legal aid.  Having these documents in place is massively helpful to families.  Powers of Attorney in particular, can save families the stress of court actions should a family member become unable to look after themselves.”

It is possible however that legal aid will be less easy to get in the future.  David continues “I understand the Scottish budget is protected for this year but will not be after that.  I hope legal aid is ring fenced since it helps the more vulnerable in our society – but who knows what may be cut in the future.  My advice to senior citizens is to act now – get these family care documents done whilst legal aid is available.”

Equity Release Partner Carmen MacIver comments “we were delighted to receive the invitation to join ERSA – effectively that organisation provides a Kite Mark for quality of service in this particular area of work.  That’s what we aim to do for our Equity Release clients – give a top quality fast service which is impartial and expert.  To be the first firm in Scotland to be asked to join up is pretty special too”.

Like other ERSA members Caesar & Howie have invested significantly in building up the firm’s capability in Equity Release.  “We have been working on our quality of service for nearly three years now ”states Managing Partner David Borrowman“ and this involves creating top quality computer systems which enable us to process work quickly – as well as ensuring staff are well trained and are kept up to date with all developments in Equity Release.  This is a growth area and we are glad we have committed resources to it.  But it is an enjoyable sector to work in also – releasing money from their house makes life very much happier for many clients and it is satisfying to be working for them in the Equity Release process”.

Central Solicitors are banding together to create Central SPC – which will offer all the services locally which the traditional SPC’s offer. The website section of the new project has launched and already over four hundred properties are for sale on www.centralspc.co.uk.  A property newspaper will follow in January – linked to the massively successful GSPC property paper.

An SPC is effectively a solicitors’ cooperative where pooled resources allow solicitors to offer enhanced marketing services for their clients’ properties.

“I’m very excited about the development” says Caesar and Howie Managing Partner David Borrowman.   “ESPC and GSPC have been extremely successful in Edinburgh and Glasgow – and we think this new grouping can do the same out here.  Solicitors pooling our resources and buying power means top quality schedules, very cheap newspaper advertising and massive internet coverage for sellers properties over no less than fifteen different property websites linked to our site.  On top of that we have   a fantastic out of hour’s telephone service for buyers and sellers alike – and that can only help clients selling houses.  All property sales work from valuation, home report production, estate agency,  through to the final conveyancing can  be carried out by each of  our members – so it is a genuine one stop service for clients buying or selling property”.

The new service has been launched under the guidance of GSPC – whose Chief Executive Bill Scouller said “we are delighted to be now helping solicitors in central with their new project.  It is a great service now but the good news is we are working constantly to improve what solicitors can offer and I’ll soon be announcing yet more innovations for clients using Central SPC.  I expect Central SPC to become the main selling force in its market area very quickly indeed – they have a great product which gives an edge to people wanting to sell their house”.

THE FOLLOWING FIRMS ARE FOUNDER MEMBERS OF CSPC:

Whitburn Miner’s Welfare was the latest stop off for the Caesar and Howie Senior Issues Roadshow.  The Scottish Pensions Association hosted the annual meeting of their Whitburn branch and invited the Caesar and Howie team of Terry Ann O’Donnell and Lesley Cunningham to address the gathering.

Terry Ann’s presentation on “Family Care – The Three Legal Documents You Must Sign” was listened to attentively by an audience of between 60 and 70.  As usual Terry Ann’s presentation on the legal issues, folk must deal with to care for their families properly, raised a lot of interest and stimulated lively debate – including what can happen to families if one of their number becomes incapacitated.

One lady from the floor explained how she hadn’t really thought much about getting a Power of Attorney done but she had taken a lawyers advice and done one as had her husband.  “It turned out to be the best thing I ever did as unforeseen circumstances did hit the family and having a Power of Attorney in place was a godsend”

A question and answer session followed with lots of interesting points being discussed.  Caesar and Howie partner Lesley Cunningham commented “I love these nights. Everyone is so interested in what we discuss and talk about being lively – these groups can wear you out!  You need to be on the ball too – because many in the audience are very much on the ball – but that just adds to the fun of the evening.”

If you want Caesar and Howie to deliver this FREE seminar to your group, please contact Sandra Pimbley on 01506 815913.

David Borrowman managing partner explains “We take the long view of everything we try to do. It is very easy to be affected by the advocates of doom and gloom, but we are not and we are completely confident about the future. At the moment only conveyancing and estate agency of the various services we provide are a bit slow. Every other part of our business is continuing to grow even in recession and we are certain that the property market will turn round soon as well. Even now – we are selling properties steadily for clients. Sales will be achieved if clients price their properties sensibly and are patient. In the last two years we have opened new offices in Dalkeith and Alloa and these have been very successful – Musselburgh just adds an extra outlet to offer more services to more clients”

Local manager Colin Weatherup shares the firm’s confidence. “I have worked in the property market in this area for some time now and I am delighted to be working with Caesar and Howie. The firm’s methods and thinking are spot on, and if I can provide some local knowledge I feel we have a really good new offering to the people of Musselburgh.”

The office opening hours are 9am until 5pm and there are some good opening “deals” available to new clients.

If you require any further information please contact David Borrowman, Managing Partner, 01506 815900.

Members of the Firm’s Senior Issues team Terry O’Donnell and Suzanne Borrowman manned an information stall at the event and discussed legal matters of interest with delegates direct.  Managing partner David Borrowman made a keynote speech to the conference on the value of planning ahead to prepare for adverse life events.  Mr Borrowman explained to conference delegates what legal steps individuals could and should take to maximise the care of their family members should adverse life events occur.

The well attended conference heard some stimulating debate on various issues affecting senior citizens The conference’s other guest speaker, Tommy Sheridan, lambasted politicians for not improving the financial position of pensioners – a stance which met wide approval from the floor of the conference.

Mr Borrowman comments. “This legislation is badly thought out, provides no benefit I can see to anyone, and effectively acts like a great big tax on selling your house.  For example on a flat worth around £105, 000 a seller could have to pay nearly £600 before even putting the property on the market then maybe another £180 or so to update the report when a  sale is actually achieved – with much higher fees for higher value properties.  To lump this extra cost on to sellers in a slow property market is simply daft in my view. ”

Mr Borrowman’s letter sparked some press, radio and TV interest, with BBC staff descending on Caesar and Howie’s offices to obtain an interview for the Scotland Today news programme.

“I’ve seen the comments the Minister for Housing and Communities made in response to my letter but I’m afraid I am totally unimpressed.  Sellers hate these reports, hate having to pay for them and worse than all of that I don’t think purchasers are going to trust them either.  We have done a deal with a large surveying firm to ensure that Home Reports obtained through Caesar and Howie are probably the cheapest on the market but still I think this is all an unnecessary expense.

I don’t see why Home Reports could not be voluntary – if a seller wanted to get one that’s fine, but to force them to get one at a cost of hundreds of pounds with a further fine of £500 if you don’t get one is quite ridiculous in my view.  But the Minister for Housing and Communities minister doesn’t agree – he thinks it is good that sellers have to pay all this money and right for them to be fined if they can’t or won’t pay for a report. I sometimes wonder if the Scottish Government cares much about ordinary Scottish folk”

Not content with one award the firm then went on to win the “Up and Coming Firm of the Year” trophy, sparking off a night of celebration for the partners and staff attending the glittering awards evening.

Senior partner Ivor Klayman commented “I am delighted to have won these awards.  We have a great group of people in Caesar and Howie and we work extremely hard to ensure we give the best possible service to clients and also to ensure that we are as modern and forward thinking as we can be.  It’s nice to receive recognition from our peers for that.”

Some commentators have suggested that this change will cause the demise of the local “High Street” lawyer.

However David Borrowman – managing partner of Caesar and Howie sees things differently. “This I see as a great opportunity for our firm – not a threat. We have been expecting this decision for some time and we have been working to ensure we are ready to take the opportunities which it brings. We have excellent expertise in various areas of our work and we are sure if others wanted to work with us they would bring in their expertise to the mix. The bottom line is to ensure our clients enjoy the best service we can give them and if that means working in a different way with new techniques and in new structures we are very much up for that”

David continues “The Law Society will insist in their forthcoming work, that any new structures must contain safeguards to ensure no conflict of interest can arise and that lawyers must continue to put clients interests first. Provided that ethical framework remains think how firms law could be transformed for the better by the injection of new investment, new ideas, and modern marketing methods. The next few years will be challenging and interesting times for us all”