 The society has expressed concerns about fee levels |
A row over how much solicitors are paid for acting in the most serious criminal cases has been stepped up. They claim the fee system has not changed for 10 years and accused ministers of dragging their feet.
A Law Society of Scotland meeting voted to "withdraw all co-operation" from the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Legal Aid Board.
The society's council will consider the motion next Friday. It will decide how to implement the threat.
'Disappointment and frustration'
The executive said it was keen to continue talks with solicitors in the hope of negotiating a deal.
The move does not amount to a boycott of criminal legal work as the society has no such powers over solicitors.
The row, which is confined to criminal legal aid in jury cases, is over delays in the introduction of a new system of "block" fees, and an executive offer of an interim increase in fees under the present system.
Law Society president Caroline Flanagan said: "There is a great deal of disappointment and frustration among the profession that a new system of payment will not be in place for at least a further year, two years after it was expected.
"The interim increase offered is much less than anticipated and the society shares the disappointment of the profession."
Under the executive's offer of an interim increase, existing fees would go up by 5% for court work and 8% for other work, backdated to December.
The original deadline for moving to a block fee system was December last year, but has since been put back to April next year.
The new system takes account of changes brought in by the Bonomy reforms on court procedure.
Ms Flanagan said: "The society's current policy is to work with the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Legal Aid Board to promote the interests of the public and the profession in the provision of legal aid advice.
"The vote at the special general meeting today could lead to a change in that policy depending on the council's decision next Friday."
The executive said: "Ministers are disappointed that the motion debated in the Law Society's special general meeting has been passed, but hope that negotiations can continue to find a resolution on fees for solicitors."
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The society's current policy is to work with the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Legal Aid Board to promote the interests of the public and the profession in the provision of legal aid advice
