Two nominations for Law Society President-elect for 2024/25

Pat Thom and Susan Murray have been nominated as 2024/25 President-elect of the Law Society of Scotland.

The Society’s Council members will now vote for their preferred candidate and the result will be announced next month. The successful candidate will succeed current Vice President, Sheila Webster when she takes up the role of president in May 2023.

Pat Thom recently retired as a partner in her firm. Her career in practice spanned criminal and civil work in Canada and Scotland and she currently provides Child Welfare and Curator reports for the courts and is a Safeguarder to both the courts and the Children’s Panel. She has been a Law Society Council member since 2015, representing her colleagues in Haddington, Peebles, Jedburgh, Duns and Selkirk. Pat is convener of the Society’s Civil Legal Aid Committee.

Susan Murray is a senior litigation solicitor with the NHS Central Legal Office and a Law Society of Scotland accredited specialist in Medical Negligence. She has been a Law Society Council member for her Edinburgh constituency colleagues since 2017, sits on the Society’s Board and is convener of its Equality and Diversity Committee.

Law Society President, Murray Etherington, said, “I am very pleased to congratulate both Pat and Susan on their nominations. They are both very able candidates and will be a great support to Sheila when she takes up the presidency next May.

“Pat and Susan both have a deep understanding of the issues facing the legal profession as we move on from the pandemic, including the need for legal services reform which will enhance public protection and create an environment for a thriving legal sector. They would both be a strong voice for the Society and our commitment to driving positive change which benefits the public and the legal profession.

“It certainly won’t be an easy decision for their fellow Council members to cast their vote for our next vice president.

“I would like to thank Pat and Susan for standing today, and for their contributions to date.

The 2024/25 president-elect will be confirmed on 16 December. Current vice president, Sheila Webster will become president in May 2023 and current President, Murray Etherington, will move into the role of immediate past president at the same time.

(Susan Murray (left) and Pat Thom (right) pictured above)