Resurgence of the Edinburgh Agent

With advancements in technology being adopted by the Scottish Courts, there have been questions raised relating to the necessity of Edinburgh Agents. Prior to 2020, and as a result of the Coronavirus Pandemic, every document that were to be lodged in the Court of Session required a person to physically attend the Court. Now, however, that need has surpassed and motions, productions and other court documents can all be lodged electronically. As a result, some have queried whether there is still the need for the Edinburgh Agent, as such advancements allow for principal agents outside of Edinburgh to partake in court proceedings from wherever they are located. We are instructed by hundreds of firms around the nation, and we are trusted by a multitude of solicitors who benefit from our agency work. We at Drummond Miller, therefore, strongly refute the notion that Edinburgh Agents are outdated. We believe that representing a matter in Scotland’s highest civil Supreme Court is about more than giving into the convenience of technology, but about trusting those who know the procedures best.

Court of Session procedures can vary vastly from case-to-case, and they are much different to matters that are raised in the local Sheriff Courts. Such procedures can be far more specialised and there are a multitude of rules, which must be adhered to. We are familiar with the way the Court prefer for documents to be prepared and lodged and we can take off the additional stress of having to prepare bundles and documents for hearings and Proofs. Our team of specialist litigation solicitors know these procedures like their back of their hand, and we have one of the largest litigations teams in Scotland. We have an abundance of knowledge in a variety of courts, in both the Inner and Outer Houses and also in the United Kingdom Supreme Court. We can be instructed a variety of different matters such as, medical and clinical negligence claims, family law matters, Judicial Review and general civil litigation issues.

Another benefit of instructing an Edinburgh Agent is that it allows the party to the action to maintain contact with their principal solicitor whom they have likely worked with for some time. We understand that many cases which reach the Court of Session may have made their way through the system before jumping through the final hoop, and so we appreciate how important it is to find a solicitor who you trust. Similarly, the sheer value of cases which are raised in the Court of Session are such that an individual may like to have a local solicitor whom they can speak with at any given time; as opposed to instructing a solicitor who could be hundreds of miles away. We are aware of the pressure that can accumulate on the lead up to a Proof and we know this can be a lot to handle for one individual. Working in an effective team allows us as Edinburgh Agents to focus on court deadlines and the preparation of court documents, while the principal agent can focus in on the client and manage their expectations. We are there to complement the principal agent and we are certain this approach creates outcomes which are favourable for all those involved.

If you are interested in finding out more about our services for solicitors, you can find this here. Alternatively, please feel free to call us on 0131 226 5151 to discuss our services further.