The Irish Nationwide Building Society has purchased the Irish mortgage book of Scottish Legal Life for £3 million. Scottish Legal Life has recently sold its mortgage books in Britain following its decision to withdraw from the lending business. Mr Ron Baxter, managing director of Scottish Legal Life said yesterday that the sale of its Irish mortgage book forms part of its overall investment strategy. Scottish Legal Life, which employs 34 people in Dublin and in Cork, has not been active in the mortgage market for some time.