THE Law Society of Scotland yesterday failed to prevent the adjournment of a civil case by a solicitor it has already suspended, writes Chris Holme.

Bernard Hill, of Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, requested more time to prepare his appeal against a sheriff's refusal to allow him interim interdict preventing the Law Society from withdrawing his practising certificate.

However, the appeal before Sheriff Principal Gordon Nicholson QC at Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told that the society's council had already suspended Mr Hill on April 24.

The court was told of a second appeal against refusal to grant interdict on similar terms by one of Mr Hill's clients, property developer Michael McLetchie, of Islay Drive, Newton Mearns, Glasgow.

Mr Hill said both parties were unable to proceed because counsel had become unavailable in the civil cases and for Mr McLetchie's appeal next week against a criminal conviction in 1995 for fraud.

Mr Andrew Gibb, solicitor for the Law Society, said the request was an abuse of process. He said Mr Hill had deliberately taken no steps to comply with the requirements of the Law Society and present his case.

In continuing the appeals until May 19, Sheriff Nicholson said he was reluctant to take a course of action which might be seen as constituting some kind of injustice against Mr Hill.