Society's constitution must be modernised

The Law Society of Scotland plays a vital role in shaping policy and representing the public and solicitors’ profession in Scotland. Four years as a lay observer on the Council leaves me in no doubt about the valuable work carried out.

But more could certainly be done to modernise its structures and processes, particularly for a body that promotes high standards and values. Many organisations of a similar nature have already been through the process of reforming their governance arrangements. If the Society does not do likewise, it risks finding itself increasingly irrelevant in a changing world.

Progress has already been made improving the governance of the Society, including a number of welcome changes to the committee structure and the introduction of a management board. Council meetings are now more focused and offer more opportunity for discussing the real issues. But the ongoing consultation on a revised constitution and standing orders is essential for the Society to operate efficiently and effectively, and I would urge anyone with an interest to respond with their views.

One of the issues at the heart of the process of change is the level of involvement of lay members in the work of the Society. Lay members are, in my view, a valuable means of enabling a profession to see themselves through the eyes of others and to remain in touch with the public. And to learn from other organisations dealing, in some cases, with similar issues. My own experience – within Children in Scotland and other organisations – suggests that this can be particularly important for organisations seeking to manage, rather than to just respond to, changes in the world around them.

A figure of 20% lay membership of the Council has already been put forward, which would build on the contribution already made. This is relatively modest compared with some other professional bodies but offers a good basis for moving forward. Like many other organisations, the Society is on a journey. Some important steps have been taken, but there is still a distance to travel.