New president takes up the reins at the Law Society of Scotland
The next steps in the reviews of legal aid and legal services regulation are likely to be key issues in the year ahead, according to the new President of the Law Society of Scotland.
Alison Atack took over the presidency from Graham Matthews at today’s meeting of the Law Society’s decision-making Council, while Falkirk-based solicitor, John Mulholland, became the new Vice President. Mr Mulholland stood down as treasurer and Graham Watson has taken over the role.
Alison Atack thanked Graham Matthews for all his work on behalf of the profession during a successful and energetic presidency, adding that she now looked forward to working with John Mulholland.
She said: “It is a great privilege to represent the Scottish solicitors’ profession as President of the Law Society. We face a number of important issues in the year ahead, and as we move towards the milestone of the Society’s 70th anniversary in summer 2019, I intend to take forward key areas of work, including the outcomes of the legal aid and legal services regulation reviews.
“Graham has already carried out valuable work in those areas during his year in office and I am determined to build on that, while continuing to provide a strong voice for the legal profession and the clients they serve with such dedication.”
She added that important advances in equality and diversity had been made in recent years within the profession but significant challenges remained, for instance, in relation to the gender pay gap.
She said the results of the Profile of the Profession 2018 survey – which covers bullying, harassment and discrimination issues as well as the demographic makeup of the profession - would provide key data about how the profession has changed over the past five years and help shape the Society’s equality and diversity work for the future.
Graham Matthews paid tribute to the new office bearers, saying: “Alison has been a great support to me during a busy year, sharing the huge privilege of meeting colleagues and others at events and conferences across the country.
“I have had an enormously enjoyable year as president and I am sure Alison, ably assisted by John Mulholland, will take forward our work to promote access to justice and the sustainability of high street practice as well as so many other key issues in the year ahead.”
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