Community groups in Scotland involved in land management and building asset transfers are today (29th June) being invited to ask legal questions to Scottish law students to help them bring these resources into communal ownership.
Local groups can ask any questions to SULU (Scottish Universities Land Unit) on complex legal issues such as burdens and servitude rights and property law issues including access rights and encroachment. The questions should be emailed to SULU@dtas.org.uk and they will then be directed to students at one of the four participating Scottish universities. Types of questions community groups have previous asked can ask can be found here (scroll down to the bottom).
Elspeth Mathieson, COSS’ legal adviser, said: “SULU is a fantastic resource available to community groups who are in the early stages of transferring land or build assets such as buying out an old school building or community centre. Students can provide research and background information into a problem relating to land/asset management transfers which can provide additional support to their appointed lawyers / legal team. It should not, however, be seen as an alternative to appointing their own solicitors.”
SULU is run by DTAS’ Community Ownership Support Service (COSS) in partnership with the University of Dundee, University of Aberdeen, University of Glasgow and Strathclyde University. The initiative was set up to encourage Scottish law law students to take an active interest in land reform, community empowerment, and community rights in respect of land.
It is available to community groups (and not individuals) who are involved in the early stages of transferring land/building assets for the benefit of their local community. It is not an alternative for using its own solicitors.