Solicitor advocates and overseas members invited to apply for Council

Scottish solicitor advocates and Scottish solicitors based outside Great Britain are being invited to put themselves forward for two new places on the Law Society of Scotland's governing Council. 

An evolving member profile prompted an amendment to the constitution at the Society's AGM in May to allow two new Council members, and the meeting approved a motion that these two interest groups should have their own representatives in its decision making process.

An increasingly globalised legal market and the Society’s strategic commitment to becoming a world class organisation, make it timely for the needs and views of the several hundred Scottish solicitors with international careers to be reflected on Council.

The Society now also counts over 350 solicitor advocates amongst its members.

Both members will be elected by their fellow "constituency" members for a three year term and invited to attend nine Council meetings a year, either in person or by videoconference.

Nominations will be accepted from 12 noon on Wednesday 12 July until 12 noon on Wednesday 30 August 2017. Voting will be open from Wednesday 6 September until Wednesday 20 September and successful candidates will be invited to attend their first Council meeting on Friday 27 October.

Society President Graham Matthews commented: “It is vital that we continually strive to ensure that all of our members are represented in the decision making process. The need for international and solicitor advocate members is a positive reflection of the increasing diversity and modernisation of our profession."

He added: “Becoming a Council member is a unique opportunity to expand your network, broaden your understanding of the work of the Law Society and represent the views of solicitors whose interests you share.”