Leadership award for Society chief executive Lorna Jack

Law Society of Scotland chief executive Lorna Jack has won a UK-wide leadership award at a ceremony in London.

Ms Jack was chosen for the UK Association Excellence Award for Leadership, part of the Association Excellence Awards organised by Global Conference Network. The awards recognise and reward individuals, teams and initiatives from associations across the UK, highlighting excellence in how they operate and serve their members.

Judges cited Ms Jack's "clear demonstrable change in the organisation delivered with a combination of leadership and innovation". Since joining the Society as chief executive in January 2009, she has led her team in delivering a programme of modernisation, which has included improved transparency, governance arrangements, business efficiencies and outreach to members and stakeholders. She was also commended on her encouragement of students as the next generation of solicitors and her championing of programmes such as Street Law and the new Lawscot Foundation.

Her current focus is on aligning the Society’s resources against its five year strategy Leading Legal Excellence.

The Society's monthly member email Lawscot News also received a "Mark of Excellence" commendation in the category of Best Association Magazine or Newsletter.

Accepting her accolade, Ms Jack commented: “I am thrilled to have been recognised in this way and by such an esteemed panel of judges. It is of course a personal honour but it is really an award for the passion and commitment that my colleagues, board, committee and Council members bring to our organisation. Leadership is easy when we all believe in what we are trying to do.”

She added that Lawscot News was "evidence of the commitment right across the Society to drive meaningful dialogue with our members and provide world class customer service. To be acknowledged in both of these categories is an incredible achievement and means the world”.

Eilidh Wiseman, President of the Law Society of Scotland said: “I have had the privilege to work alongside Lorna for two years now as an office bearer and I never fail to be amazed by the energy, drive and enthusiasm with which she leads her team. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award and congratulate her on behalf of all her colleagues at Society."