Eilidh Wiseman takes up Society presidency

Eilidh Wiseman has become President of the Law Society of Scotland, after the annual change of office bearers took place at today's meeting of the Society's Council.

Formerly partner and head of employment at Dundas & Wilson, Ms Wiseman was first elected to Council in August 2009 and was re-elected in 2011 and 2014 as one of the representatives for its Edinburgh constituency. She is currently convener of the Education & Training Committee and sits on the editorial board of the Journal magazine. She has previously served on the Employment Law Subcommittee and on two re-accreditation subcommittees of the Education & Training Committee.

On receiving her chain of office Ms Wiseman said: “Being elected as president of the Law Society of Scotland is a tremendous honour. I am very grateful for this opportunity to work on behalf of our members and look forward to the year ahead.

“I want to thank outgoing president Christine McLintock, who has done an outstanding job in a year that included the launch of our new five-year strategy Leading Legal Excellence and the move to brand new premises for the Law Society that better reflect a modern, adaptable and successful Scottish legal profession.

“Christine has also been instrumental in the creation of our new charity, the Lawscot Foundation, which will provide financial support and mentoring for talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds who want to become solicitors. I am excited to take this forward alongside the expansion of our innovative Street Law programme and other work on fair access to the profession and new services for our members in Scotland and beyond.

“I plan to build on the work Christine has done during her term in office, alongside new Vice President Graham Matthews, in leading the Society and ensuring that it can meet the needs of our membership and those who rely on solicitors’ professionalism and expertise.”

Graham Matthews, Council member and convener of the Society’s Professional Practice Committee, has become Vice President. A partner at law firm Peterkins, Inverurie, he has served as the Council member representing Aberdeenshire solicitors since 2005 and has sat on and convened a number of committees including the Society’s Professional Practice and Regulatory Committees.

Speaking at the Society's AGM the previous evening, Ms McLintock commented: “I could not be more delighted to be passing on the presidential role to my great friend Eilidh. She is a talented solicitor, an experienced leader and a passionate supporter of the solicitor profession. She will be a wonderful president.

"Eilidh will be joined by a new Vice President, Graham Matthews. Graham has worked as a high street solicitor for many years and has made a significant contribution to the work of the Law Society over the past decade. I know he will bring a wealth of experience to the role."

At the meeting, a freeze of the practising certificate fee at £550 for the seventh consecutive year was approved, as were a motion on amendments to the Society’s practice rules and a motion on changes to the Society’s constitution.