We are looking at the system of complaints against solicitors and advocates, but we are not looking at the specifics of individual cases

Christine Grahame Justice committee convener

He shouted: "You let the Law Society do things which you won't let us do.

"You let them make opening statements. I'm furious about it."

He asked other campaigners in the public gallery to produce a banner bearing the names of legal firms.

Security guards were then called to lead the protesters out of the chamber.

Independent body

SACL was set up last year and has between 20 and 30 members, all of whom claim to have been the victims of crooked lawyers.

They are demanding that the Law Society be banned from investigating complaints made against lawyers.

Instead, they want an independent body set up to carry out any inquiries.

Outside the parliament, Mr Usher said he was unhappy that the committee convener, Christine Grahame, was herself a member of the Law Society, while vice-convener Gordon Jackson was a QC.

Suspension warning

At the start of the meeting, Ms Grahame had warned Mr Usher and two others that she would suspend the session if they attempted to name any of the lawyers with whom they were in dispute.

She said: "We are looking at the system of complaints against solicitors and advocates, but we are not looking at the specifics of individual cases.

"Unfortunately, if you do go into the specifics of a case, I am not prepared to continue."