QC becomes tribunal judge on "family friendly" terms

A Scottish Queen's Counsel has been appointed a UK tribunal judge on "family friendly" terms.

Anna Poole QC will take up the post of salaried judge of the Upper Tribunal, Administrative Appeals Chamber from 30 April 2018.

Based in Edinburgh, the position involves a four-day week and school term-time working.

Judges in the Administrative Appeals Chamber hear and determine mainly applications for permission to appeal and appeals in social security and child support cases in the Social Entitlement Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal, though also hear applications and appeals on points of law from decisions of other First-tier chambers.

The appointment was made by the Queen on the advice of the Lord Chancellor, David Gauke MP, and the Senior President of Tribunals, Sir Ernest Ryder, following a selection process by the Judicial Appointments Commission.

Ms Poole was called to the Scottish bar in 1998 and took silk in 2012. She was appointed as a fee-paid judge of the First-tier Tribunal, Social Entitlement Chamber in 2014.

Congratulating her, Angela Grahame QC, Vice Dean of Faculty, said: “It is wonderful to see the family-friendly terms on which this appointment is being made.

“For anyone considering applying for a judicial position, and who may be less inclined to apply because they anticipate that the duties of the role will not fit in with their family commitments, it is excellent to see that a judicial role can be managed on a more flexible basis than was once traditionally believed.

“All in the Faculty wish Anna well in her new role.”