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The Journal asks the eternal question: either a borrower or a lender be...

The growing debate over whether solicitors should continue to act for mortgage lenders as well as borrowers, leads the February issue of the Journal of the Law Society of Scotland, just published.

Currently being reviewed by the Society, the question has been given added importance by the decision of HSBC Bank to cut its panel of solicitors to only four firms in Scotland, which has been criticised as eroding consumer choice. The bank also stands accused of attempting to impose unfair conditions if a borrower chooses to instruct a separate solicitor.

The article looks at the pros and cons of a rule change and asks what other measures might achieve a more level playing field.

Also in this issue, a report on the Society's latest Cost of Time Survey shows how the recession is still hitting many smaller legal firms, although the overall profit per partner across the country has gone up slightly.

And we report on the latest legal developments relating to the independence referendum.

Find the February Journal at www.journalonline.co.uk/magazine