Society confirms new office location next to EICC

The new office for the Law Society of Scotland has been confirmed as Atria One, close to the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on Morrison Street in the capital, the Society has confirmed.

Announcing the details at the Society's annual general meeting yesterday evening, chief executive Lorna Jack also confirmed the complete sale of the Society’s current buildings on Drumsheugh Gardens, its home since 1968.

Expected to complete before the end of 2015, the move will provide more modern and environmentally-friendly office premises for staff and visitors.

Atria One, developed by the City of Edinburgh Council, is already home to tenants such as PwC, Brewin Dolphin and Green Investment Bank. It is one of the most sustainable and energy efficient properties in Edinburgh.

Ms Jack commented: “Our office move will help us to be relevant and effective in supporting our members, stakeholders and the public in the years ahead.

“After 47 years, the Law Society offices at Drumsheugh Gardens are increasingly unfit for purpose and expensive to maintain. That is why we have been reviewing our long term office location over the last year. Following that review, it is clear that moving to a new office represents the best decision.

“The legal market is changing and changing fast. Just as Scottish solicitors are changing the way they work, so too must their professional body. The new offices in Atria will provide better facilities for members who rely on our services and the hundreds of people who volunteer their time in delivering our regulatory and representative work.”

Councillor Frank Ross, convener of the city's Economy Committee, said: “We are extremely excited to welcome the Law Society to Atria Edinburgh. It is a prestigious organisation and I’m confident Atria will provide a fitting home whilst allowing it to operate more efficiently and significantly reduce property overheads.

“Both Atria One and Atria Two are getting close to full occupation. This is further endorsement of the council’s decision to build such a fantastic development in order to create much needed grade A office space in the city.”

For more information on the move, see the website www.lawscot.org.uk/officemove.

• Also at the AGM, it was agreed to retain the current practising certificate fee at £550 for the sixth consecutive year, and a draft amendment to the practice rule on ARTL mandates was endorsed, updating the legislative basis on which the rule operates.